Electronics Technician how-to
How to Make a Good Solder Joint
Reliable joints prevent intermittent failures.
Quick answer
Reliable joints prevent intermittent failures. In short: clean; heat; feed, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Clean the pad and component lead.
Heat the pad and lead together.
Feed solder into the joint, not the iron.
Remove solder, then the iron.
Let it cool without moving.
Inspect for a shiny, concave fillet.
Safety reminders for electronics technicians
- Use ESD protection
- De-energize circuits before rework
- Use fume extraction when soldering
- Respect high voltage and capacitors
Key terms
Schematic · Oscilloscope · Multimeter · Ohm’s law · PCB · Solder joint: see the full electronics technician glossary.