Why is my solder balling up?
Why is my solder balling up?
Solder balls are caused by gassing and spitting of the flux on the surface of the wave or by solder literally bouncing back from the solder wave. This is caused by excessive back flow in air or too high a drop in nitrogen environments.
How do you prevent soldering balls?
Ways to prevent solder balls from being created
- Make sure the PCB boards are not stored in humid environments.
- Ensure that the board is properly dried or preheated (to evaporate trace water amounts) before printing.
- Clean the printing stencil properly before application of solder paste.
Why does my solder not stick?
A classic reason solder won’t stick to something is because you’re not getting it hot enough. My interns come to me with this problem all the time. Make sure the tip of the iron is nice and shiny. Touch some solder on it, and it should melt almost instantly.
What do you do if solder won’t melt?
One good way to get a tight fit between the two parts is to squeeze them closed then saw through the gap which takes off a sliver but makes for a good tight fit. Slosh the flux around and flux the solder. make sure it all gets hot enough, if the solder isn’t melting at all you simply are not getting enough heat.
Why does solder flow towards heat?
Since viscosity is the retarding force in capillary flow, this means that hot solder flows far more easily into small crevices, which yields the impression that solder flows or is drawn towards the source of heat.
What causes solder balls during reflow?
Does solder stick without flux?
Yes, solder can be used without flux. To do so, you will need something other than flux to break down the oxides on the metal surface, without which your surface may be damaged or not properly cleaned.
Can you use too much flux when soldering?
Re: Too much flux? The flux left inside will wash out. The flux (which is acid) left on the outside of the pipe can continue to corrode. Wiping joints after soldering should remove the excess.
Why do solder tips go bad?
When using many soldering irons, the temperature of the tip will naturally decrease when in use. To compensate for this, many solderers turn up the heat more than is needed. Using excessive temperatures, however, reduces the life of your tips and can lead to sub-optimal results.