Soldering

Soldering presents several safety risks. The most obvious is soldering iron is hot enough to burn flesh instantly.

If you are unlucky enough to receive burns which require treatment, here's a suggestion of what to do:-

1) Immediately cool the affected area with cold running water for several minutes.

2) Remove any rings etc. before swelling starts.

3) Apply a sterile dressing to protect against infection.

4) Do not apply lotions, ointments etc., nor prick any blisters which form later.

5) Seek professional medical advice where necessary.

Also remember the lead solder and the fumes is toxic. Some thought lead free solder was the answer.

Some recent research has suggested that the fumes and vapors emanating from lead-free solders may be even more dangerous to workers and the environment than those emitted by traditional lead containing solders.

Best intentions have had unintended consequences, particularly at the level of the bench top where workers are 'face to face' with potentially toxic. Invisible, fumes, vapors and gases." seem to pose the most immediate risk.

Solder fume is one of the top eight causes of occupational asthma, 'colophony fume'. Anyone soldering with rosin-based fluxes is at risk of developing asthma.

No doubt lead-free soldering does offer its set of challenges, from the higher melting temperatures and wet metal surfaces more slowly, how well will the board trace hold up to the higher temperatures. The joints also look different in that the surfaces are not as reflective as tin-lead joints – most always looking like a cold solder joint

Regardless what type of solder you work with now or in the future, can almost bet that each will have some type of danger to workers and the environment.

With the current technology in slot machine, a slot tech would have a minimum use of solder on the casino floor. Years a go with the electo-mechincal machines, soldering could have been a daily job. I never had a problem soldering on the casino floor, as there seam to be plenty of airflow.

Most of all soldering and un-soldering is done on the Tech bench. I have not had a problem with fumes and vapors even in this small room. Could use a fan or a modular based filter system with the ability to filter smoke, fumes, gases, solvents, chemicals, and much more. I have both in the shop.

I would also suggest washing your hands after performing soldering tasks and before eating.

Solder can splatter - POP.

Wear an eye protector to prevent eye injury. Soldering flux can splatter resulting in injury to eyes.

Even when your unsoldering, for as many years as I have been working as a slot tech. I have not had any problems with solder popping and splattering everywhere. Till I worked on Future Logic printer (Daugher Cards).

Replaceing the most common failure on the Daugher card – the ILD2 (IC1)

This Opto sits in a podle of drinks. Some type of cemacal reaction will desolve the IC legs and traces.

Just Like any other IC, that I would chang. I cut the IC out – leaving nothing but the legs to unsolder and remove. (Removing the IC [heat sink]) make it much easer to remove and safer for the traces on the board.

Not much to unsolder here, I would unsolder it from the other side.

The four (4) legs that have been desolved is the only ones that give me any problems.

So much so, a guy that sitting 11 feet from me can hear it pop.

Don’t know what it is that will make them blow up like that.

Safety Glasses – is the only thing that saved me eyes. Even with safety glasses on. When they POP – you will still jump back.

Look at what could have been burned into my eyes.

(WARE SAFTY GLASSES – SAVE YOUR EYES – You are only given 2)

Other safety precaution that you should observed-

· Local exhaust ventilation is important

· Wear appropriate gloves and other protective clothing

· Never use an excessive amount of solder

· Always place soldering iron in holder when not in use

· Look, and be certain you picked up the correct end of the soldering iron

· Never hold the work in your hand.

· Do not use “heat and shake” method

· Clean the iron

· Tint and turn the soldering iron off after use.

· Wash your hands.

Cleaning the Soldering Iron Tip

Soldering Iron tip should be bright silver,

should not have Flux residue or solder on it.

Buildup of oxide on the tip can be removed by wiping the tip on a damp sponge.

NOTE: DO NOT WIPE THE EXCESS SOLDER, BURNED FLUX RESIDUE, ONTO THE SPONGE. THE PURPOSE OF SPONGE IS TO SHOCK THE IRON.

THE SPONGE SHOULD REMOVE THE THIN LAYER OF OXIDE THAT BUILDS UP WHEN THE IRON IS HEATED.

Find another place to remove the dirt from your iron. Wipe the dirt from your iron and then touch the sponge.

NOTE 1: When you are not using your iron, make sure you leave a large lump of solder on the tip. The tip will last longer if you leave the solder on it to protect it.

Heat Sinking, is a way to prevent the overheating of components, wires, or circuit boards. A Small metal Clip or clamp which is attached to the area between where the solder connection will be made and the item to be protected.

When, trying to remove an IC form a Circuit board.

You will find some IC's will act like a heat sink.

DO NOT TURN UP THE HEAT ON THE IRON.

All you will do is burn the board - lift the traces.

If I am going to remove an IC - the reason would be because it's BAD - it don't work.

So I will not be trying to save that IC. CUT the legs - and remove the IC.