Vectronics VEC-1220K - Manual (Page 5)

VEC-1220K/1230K/1240K/1280K Owner's Manual
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4. Omitting or Misreading a Part: This is easier to do than you might think!
Always double-check to make sure you completed each step in an assembly
sequence.
Soldering Tips:
Cleanliness and good heat distribution are the two secrets of professional
soldering. Before you install and solder each part, inspect leads or pins for
oxidation. If the metal surface is dull, sand with fine emery paper until shiny.
Also, clean the oxidation and excess solder from the soldering iron tip to ensure
maximum heat transfer. Allow the tip of your iron to contact both the lead and
pad for about one second (count "one-thousand-one") before feeding solder to
the connection. Surfaces must become hot enough for solder to flow smoothly.
Feed solder to the opposite side of the lead from your iron tip--solder will wick
around the lead toward the tip, wetting all exposed surfaces. Apply solder
sparingly, and do not touch solder directly to the hot iron tip to promote rapid
melting.
Desoldering Tips:
If you make a mistake and need to remove a part, follow these instructions
carefully! First, grasp the component with a pair of hemostats or needle-nose
pliers. Heat the pad beneath the lead you intend to extract, and pull gently. The
lead should come out. Repeat for the other lead. Solder may fill in behind the
lead as you extract it--especially if you are working on a double-sided board with
plate-through holes. Should this happen, try heating the pad again and inserting
a common pin into the hole. Solder won't stick to the pin's chromium plating.
When the pad cools, remove the pin and insert the correct component. For ICs
or multi-pin parts, use desoldering braid to remove excess solder before
attempting to extract the part. Alternatively, a low-cost vacuum-bulb or spring-
loaded solder sucker may be used. Parts damaged or severely overheated during
extraction should be replaced rather than reinstalled.
Work Habits:
Kit construction requires the ability to follow detailed instructions and, in many
cases, to perform new and unfamiliar tasks. To avoid making needless mistakes,
work for short periods when you're fresh and alert. Recreational construction
projects are more informative and more fun when you take your time. Enjoy!
Sorting and Reading Resistors:
The electrical value of resistors is indicated by a color code (shown below). You
don't have to memorize this code to work with resistors, but you do need to
understand how it works: