[sdiy] Soldering Transistors

[harry]

Hi Rob...

This is not usually that much of a problem these days. First would be your
soldering iron.  If it is one of those big trigger action gun types (Weller, Wen, etc)
that might be your problem. The magnetic field that collapses whrn you release the trigger
can kill certain (fragile) transistors.

If your iron is too small, you have to heat the joint for too long. That can do more
damage than a larger iron for much less time. I use a 40 watt. I would not go as low
as 25W unless I had a damn good reason to choose that size (maybe SMT)

The classic fix is to get a tiny alligator clip (or a special aluminum clip designed for
the job) and clip it on the lead you are soldering between the transistor body and the
iron.

Also be sure that you are not killing the trannies by miswiring...

H^) harry

rob wrote:

> I have this problem where every time I solder a transistor I overheat it and it stops working.  What is the correct procedure for preventing this.
> Rob Rickner
>
> PS Thanx for the Stylophone Scematics everyone