Can A Total Beginner Learn Micro Soldering In 20 Minutes?

A couple of videos ago I made a Beginners Tutorial on SMD Soldering, and I made a rather bold statement. I said that SMD is EASY and ANYONE can do it! Well, there is only one way to prove or disprove that one... give a soldering iron to someone who never used one before, and see what happens. Enjoy. And DON'T miss the out-takes at the end :D
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:04 A Total Beginner Tries Micro Soldering
00:27:21 Chat
00:30:02 Out-takes
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Richard

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

27:21 OUT-TAKES

[@englishrupe01]

What a lovely lady that is willing to be your victim and get stuck in soldering. Great video from you both, thanks. On the de-soldering, though, i have come across some power supply boards whose components have a red dot of glue underneath and they will NOT come off. Those are a real bugger. Anyway, thanks Richard and Sarah for a great, fun video.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

@@englishrupe01 Hot air usually desolders those - but sometimes delaminates the PCB in the process

[@shafi.j]

Use k type bit it has length surface you can easily bring both ends to melt then you can take with the tweezers

[@franciscorompana2985]

(Very) Funny.❤

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Today is Sarah's birthday and I promised to publish for her, so it's two videos from me today.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Happy Birthday Sarah 🥳

[@alexguvera4137]

Happy Birthday 🎉❤

[@christopherjackson2157]

Lovely :) happy bday Sarah!

[@williamrudge175]

Happy birthday Sarah

[@RickL_was_here]

Happy belated birthday Sarah! 🎁🎉

[@paul-c7541]

Right then Richard, we'll have Sarah as the New Host, thank you for your service, now push off 🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍😊😊

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Hahaha.. I can see where you are coming from there 🤑

[@ivardahl519]

We sure enjoyed it, y'all. Made me smile big time with the out takes :) And Sarah, don't believe what he says. It's not something that just anyone can do, so you are a natural. A lot of people can, but not everyone. I guess anything is easy when you know, but some people learn faster, and you are obviously one of them.

[@DadofScience]

I love this stuff. Teaching my kids who are currently 6 and 8 to solder and seeing how happy they are when they get something done neat and tidy is just awesome. Great work, Sarah!

[@zarzarel1910]

Excellent teacher but also an excellent student...excellent initiative, Star Trek, the next generation...safe hand, good eye for electronic miniatures...generals become admirals and young people develop their creativity, under the "magnifying glass" of the admiral...and, most importantly, he doesn't need "magnifying glasses" to feel "how and how much"...the 6th sense develops from the beginning...this wonderful young man...with an excellent teacher, the student will be on the same level as the teacher...he still needs the experience and technical knowledge of the admiral teacher... I subscribe from now on to the student's channel, without forgetting what I learned from the teacher... respect and follow with interest, Dan, RO... PS: at least in your country, young people (the future of the human race) have a serious chance of learning and affirmation... here, in S-E Europe, things are at the lowest level... corruption, laziness to read and learn, praise the governing party in 2023....at least you, there, in true freedom, to teach us something....long life to KZbin and to those who still teach us the basics, such as the future admiral of the European fleet. ..it's not praise, it's my opinion and it's the reality from my country

[@gordthor5351]

Sara is an instant pro. Younger people have a big advantage in keen eyesight and steady hands.

[@RectifiedMetals]

The eyes I wish I still had😢

[@gordthor5351]

@@RectifiedMetals I hear ya. I used to have exceptional vision.

[@rogueninja1685]

LER tourism is off the ground! haha, great work

[@jeromeagbojackey553]

Every turn on this project is clear and easy to practice. Please notify me always on any more skills available till I can repair all devices and laptops.Very captivating, thank you.

[@tannerkerrigan1311]

Great Job Sarah! I knew you would do a great job. Enjoy the Carnival.

[@wernervanschie]

Nobody wants to go back anymore from such a fresh supermegahappy smile and such beautiful fingers 👌🏽to the grumpy ‘ole geek with hairy ones… “Yeah…!???” 😄 That was refreshing and fun to watch 👍🏼 Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Sara, gut gemacht! 👍🏼

[@Yreq]

very nice and fun episode. Good job, Sara:D

[@electro9480]

Cracking👍👍 good video, well done Sarah

[@daz41262010]

great video Richard :) happy birthday Sarah :) what a birthday treat to be taught how to micro component solder from Richard :) them outtakes though were awesome to watch and made me smile and laugh at the same time :)

[@Rachel_M_]

I literally subbed last week to learn soldering and some other basics and then this!!! How did you know 🤔... ♥ Thanks ♥

[@RectifiedMetals]

This was definitely a fun video. Happy birthday Sarah.

[@Console_Tech]

Happy birthday Sarah and nice video

[@lgk72]

Nice video as always and kudos to Sarah for her dive into electronics! About the right tool for the job... when it's possible I prefer to use desoldering tweezers to desolder those components, so I can do it from both sides at the same time.

[@michaelboth6844]

Richtig gut gemacht, Sarah!

[@Rasspor]

I loved your guest Sarah. That was a really enjoyable and entertaining video. It also goes to show that anyone is capable of learning surface mount repair. Thanks for the great video.!!!

[@jjohnston7837]

Thank you! I've struggled just enough with this to believe I couldn't do it. Now I think I've got it 😊 Thanks again.

[@jjohnston7837]

This video gave me the courage to try and fix some solder joints that had come loose on my solar charge controller. Now it's up and running.

[@Sam-yz7vm]

Great video, thank you guys😊

[@Johadart]

Great video Richard, had a blast watching it, Sarah’s a fast learner, wow 🤙🏼🇦🇺 Wishing Sarah a Very Happy Birthday, you done very well, keep up the good work. Joe from Australia

[@gordonemery6949]

Well done Sarah and happy birthday 🎂

[@zmagomah]

A very charming student, Richard. Congratulations

[@CandyGramForMongo_]

You’re a wizard, Richard!

[@bennyhill4228]

Haha Sarah seems a lot of fun, very funny out takes xD

[@marcomang6717]

Heartmelting! Good job both of you! Cheers from Germany :)

[@pmcrisp]

Super stuff, refreshing

[@coxyofnewp]

So we know who's going to be opening a shop there soon and being Richards competitor ! ;) Great vid !

[@nizarsami2432]

You are amazing. Thank you

[@CliveChamberlain946]

Happy Birthday Sarah!🤗🥰😘

[@Sctronic209]

Happy birthday Sarah. Good job.

[@Nepartinis]

You guys seem having fun😁

[@sprinter768]

I hope she can make it again in other LER videos. She's great.

[@wisher21uk]

Brilliant Richard and Lovely Sarah thanks and “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” she seems very sweet and doesn’t stop smiling 😊

[@Patecabraltica]

You mention equipment as being an important factor in learning this kind of work. But technique is just as important, and on my view it is the one that makes for the most difficulties at the beginning. I had to find my own soldering technique with trial and error. I wished I saw this vid before. Keep 'em coming, Richard! A fan of you channel.

[@OneTheAndOnlyOne]

haha this was fun! Great video. It made me smile :D PS: Today (march the 17th) it's also my birth day. Happy birthday Sara! I also do SMD without magnification.. But I'm still kinda young :P (in my 40s)

[@garypoplin4599]

31:44 - Thank you, Sarah for letting us learn at your expense. It actually can be done with with just an iron and some good flux. Now I need to practice to get as good as you in this video. Great show, Richard. Fun outtakes. Might be interesting to see some of your own outtakes, sometime (“I do this. You should see some of my outtakes!”)

[@DarrenHughes-Hybrid]

I'm impressed with how respectful the commenters are! Usually, the one thing guys always gotta post is how gorgeous the girl is, in this case, how gorgeous and pretty Sarah is! 🙂 Glad that the guys kept it to how good a student Sarah is and how good a teacher Richard is. Nice episode!

[@tiiams]

Ok, I watch a lot still waiting on BGA part3, but I enjoyed the out takes the best so much so I am Leaving a comment. Good show.

[@franciscorompana2985]

Very nice. Congratulations Sarah. I wish I was next. 😢😅

[@easyspeak101]

Happy Birthday Sarah 🎂🎉

[@juliantambwe8551]

Right on! Could you please share the list of your main tools? Thx

[@jamiejoker118]

Send her to me in the UK I need a refresher course lol GOOD teaching laughed all the way and the end had me in 😅

[@davidcross30]

Sehr Gut Sarah.

[@barkerxsa7002]

Thrown in at the deep end but still comes out a winner, well done to you both.

[@robboinc1]

Great video guys really enjoyed that. I guess the take away for me is flux flux and more flux

[@RetroUpgrade]

Loved the out takes , gj shara , its a lot harder then it looks :), me and Richard make it look easy but its not 😜

[@paulcahoon9971]

Was waiting for the righteous brothers to start singing and you and Sarah sitting like demi and Patrick from Ghost...😂

[@davet3804]

Great fun ,thanks ..really cheered me up. If you watch women do their intricate eye make up you realise what dexterity they develop , often in a mirror with reverse image !

[@Lightrunner.]

One off the best episode Richard. Did you learn enough from Sarah or have to you detentioned??💪👍

[@Edisson.]

Hi Sarah, you were absolutely amazing, you soldered almost like a pro and you have a beautiful laugh. Richard couldn't have chosen a better student, you learn to work very quickly 🤔 ............ 🤔 now you can teach Richard to draw eyeliner for example 🤣 Out-takes absolutely great 👍😁 Nice day 🙂 Tom

[@vicmac3513]

So 12 months from now on Sarah will have her own playlist on this channel? 🤔

[@fsociety.dat101]

Lol those outtakes. I think you both were overthinking it haha. Just end it with a normal closing conversation.

[@TymexComputing]

Yes!

[@robertwebb5586]

She did better than I did at First.... Congrats..... SARAH....

[@blueskky9996]

ermgerd! gurl lectronics! love it. she has fantastic nails.

[@johnprescott6614]

well done Richard. I really enjoyed this video (I'm sure you did too)

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yeah, we had a blast!

[@Dutch_off_grid_homesteading]

Heya very nice collab. I 1st tough it is your daugter not that metters never done is never done and maybe she is a natural wel done

[@rkan2]

This channel is becoming full Louis Rossmann of the Canaries now lol!

[@IansMusical]

Richard, What camera setup are you using to view the board on the screen? Is it easy to solder looking at the screen rather than the actual board? Greetings from the UK.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

I have two 'cameras' over the bench - a C Mount camera with 5mm-50mm zoom lens, and the Andonstar AD407 microscope mounted upside down and suspended from the wooden baton that supports the fluorescent lighting. This video was using the Andonstar, it connects to a USB3-HDMI capture card for recording on the PC connected to the left hand monitor and the HDMI pass-through connects directly to the right hand monitor you can see. I normally use my trinocular optical microscope for soldering, it is much easier with stereo vision, but as you see on my videos I can do it this way too.

[@ToniHiltunen1980]

Happy birthday for Sarah :)

[@junkmauler]

What camera is he using to get that level of zoom so high up from his bench???

[@boromoose]

3:01 Flux expiration date of 06/2022 makes me feel better using my flux with the same date. Does it really expire that quickly, or are they just trying to get you to throw it away and buy more solder?

[@englishrupe01]

Yep, resin has no expiry date....its solvent just may dry up. It's a con. Maybe if it's "activated" that may vary, i am not sure. But don't use activated flux, anyway.

[@redemptusrenatus5336]

I agree, it's a con the expiration date on flux. What definitely has an expiration date is solder paste which has a binder and solder beads in it to use with stencils or applied by dabbing on the PCB and then sticking the components down. It degrades over time so if you need it, buy it and use it but don't buy some to store for later as it'll just go bad if you don't regularly use it up. There are newer formulas that can last longer outside of refrigeration, but best check the specifications before assuming.

[@fsociety.dat101]

When I use the braid, the braid never absorbs the solder. I have a temp of 450c, plenty of flux on the braid itself, and a clean soldering tip. A couple of times I held it down for so long that the braid became stuck to the board.

[@wybuchowyukomendant]

Happy bday for Sarah! btw. you live on Gran Canaria island? That`s awesome =o

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yeah I do 😊

[@paul-c7541]

I wish the engineer who taught me was so understanding.🤣🤣

[@fu1r4]

Why do you heat only one side of the component when you de-soldering? You can heat both side on both large or small SMD components.

[@KeritechElectronics]

Oh my, that's super fun to watch! But then, soldering and desoldering a bunch of caps doesn't compare to doing those pesky little IC buggers. I learned SMT work in 2020 when I was building an automatic vacuum tube tester. I could do 0603 with no microscope, but anything smaller is way out there.

[@badgerfool1980]

Hi Richard, what's the best thing to do with a car boot MB with a short on 12v? I noticed an 0402 resistor off one pad and touching the capacitor next to it so I removed it and figured I should probably measure it, I turned on my multimeter and placed the probes either side of the component and it read 22, I'm not sure what it was measuring 22 of, ohms? perhaps kiloohms? I have no clue because at this point the 0402 resistor decided it would like to explore my room a bit and excitedly jumped over my shoulder. I spend a good 20 minutes on the floor with my torch but I have to assume it made it's way out of my room, down the stairs, out of the front door and is now exploring the big wide world. I have looked everywhere I can think of (yes including badcaps :)) and boardview or schematics don't seem to exist so I'm at a bit of a loss. I wish the little 0402 well on it's travels but I wish I could let it know in some way the angst it has caused me.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Whereabouts on the board did the resistor come from?

[@badgerfool1980]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair Hey Richard, it's just below the CPU, I think it's on a line between the CPU and the BIOS chip. I'm not overly concerned about it as it's disappearance had no affect on the short anyway and I can probably double my money if not more by moving it on for spares or repair. Would have been nice to get it working but I posted more to relay my frustration at the disappearing component :)

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

@@badgerfool1980 If it connects from pin 1 of the bios chip to either ground or 3.3V (maybe 5V if it is a vintage BIOS) then just stick 10K in there and see what happens. If it is connecting between CPU and BIOS try something low value like 100R or less. But like you say, it will not be the cause of the short. You don't mention which motherboard (CPU type) it is. Does the short on 12V go away if you remove the CPU?

[@badgerfool1980]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair It's AM4, a Gigabyte Aorus B450 Elite V1 to be precise. The short on 12v does indeed go away with the CPU removed, what does that indicate and how did you know?! LOL I had a better look around with my loupe and a poke around with my multimeter and the resistor was actually not connected to the bios chip, the capacitor next to it was - doh (note to self order sharper probes) one end of it connects to a small 6 pin component marked "YJ" right near the bios chip and i'm still trying to trace the other pad.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

@@badgerfool1980 You have one or more short circuit high side mosfets in the CPU VRM If one end of the resistor connects to a connector (and nothing is plugged in there) it may not be needed

[@rizeninfinite]

With micro soldering, I've been reading that you need to use a microscope because there is lag when using a screen. Is the screen they are using a special screen with no lag?

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

The one used on this video is a Andonstar AD407. This has HDMI output and any microscope that has that instead of USB should have no lag at all. So my second best advice is to buy a microscope with HDMI output. My first best advice is to buy a binocular optical microscope (or Trinocular simulfocal optical microscope + C-Mount camera if you want to record video from it as well) because using any other type of microscope is like microsoldering with one eye closed. Some people seem to be OK with that, personally I'm not, but to see if that will bother you put an eyepatch on and try soldering for a while before purchasing.

[@rizeninfinite]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair Thanks for replying! I've been looking into the AD407. You say there is no lag with HDMI, but what about the screen that comes with the microscope?

[@weerobot]

Cool...

[@alankelter9416]

Yes to awnser in title. I have solder pro level from first time i ever picked up a soldering iron around 10yrs old. Have not found anything i cannot resolder to date. 50yrs old now. It has nothing to do with learning how to, its every bit of being an innovative thinker.

[@fullpower8382]

Ouh Yeah!

[@PeetHobby]

I always explain flux as baking grease to beginners.

[@shimondoodkin]

sugar helps from burns, maybe put it on with little of water

[@89Ssik]

30:07 best part :O

[@robboinc1]

Choa used world wide in the baltic states they use it as a greating

[@eolhcytoos]

The tip of your soldering iron looks like it needs re-tinning. The heat transfer would then be much improved to the component.

[@CliveChamberlain946]

When tweezers and metal tools become magnetized, saw off the HV winding on an old microwave transformer and hard wire a power cord and switch to the mains so you can insert tools into the empty winding gap to demagnetize.

[@TheAMGReviewers]

or just buy a demagnitizer from amazon for a tenner?

[@CliveChamberlain946]

@@TheAMGReviewers Yup, but judging by his propensity to repair all things, he'd already have a MOT or two hanging around. Also, with 2 turns of 6 gauge wire, it's an instant spot welder or metal bender.

[@TheAMGReviewers]

@@CliveChamberlain946 wouldnt it be 2 turns of 25mm(4AWG) wire not 6AWG, seems too small imo

[@CliveChamberlain946]

@@TheAMGReviewers Yup. Bigger's better and 240v MOT's might just have more space to wind in. Forgot to mention some guys open the core with a grinder so it can erase hard drives. Long live old MOT's 😁

[@harrygood4783]

Hi Richard what a flirt you are!! Hope Sarah enjoyed her experience with you, it's honorable you take the time to show how easy something really is, nothing should be out of the scope of difficultly if you apply the right technic and the training to anyone really, the enjoyment that can achieved when you get it right can be overwhelming whatever your doing, and small SMD components are notoriously difficult solder with an iron, but if the right technic is used, then the results speak for themselves and indeed you did what you set out to prove.

[@shagreobe]

Well done Sarah! You have to come back more since you are much better looking than Richard! And Happy Birthday!

[@bobbyd1961]

That looked like you were having a lot of fun, your probably a knowledgeable electronics tech, but you definitely need to up your teaching skills 🤣

[@Ghost572]

Next get Handy Andy on and teach him to stop plugging in broken electronics into his sockets, all its going to do is go bang!

[@grahambambrook313]

Ice & lemon with that???? 🤣

[@wesselbeer8041]

Taking it off is easy. I did it without even wanting it to :) Help

[@scentilatingone2148]

Whats the prospect of doing this as a business this day and age

[@robotsnthat]

She's also got small hands, which makes your Iron look bigger 👍😂

[@kennycarter9969]

Sehr gut Sarah, sie konnen besser Löten als ich. 😅

[@yapyaaa9060]

From germany :o huhuuu xD

[@TheElectronicDilettante]

Women can do anything they decide to do. Good luck and have fun!!

[@kevinwilliams7888]

Hi richard

[@Stabio_PL]

Sara 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@techNK12]

Beutiful dauter❤

[@DracoMcGuyver]

Being ambidextrous I would have just changed hands to reach the other side of the component.

[@jan-johannes-bosman]

I used to, but lost quite a big chunk ofmy sight. Thanks to a organ donar I can see some, but cannot afford a microscope. sadly the rest might have to go, ESD kit, meters, scopy, linear bench psu, solder irons, hot air station, components etc. Need some extra income, but it is what it is.🤗🙏🇿🇦

[@feeldiben]

gorgeous woman

[@MrMaxeemum]

Well she's certainly better looking than Richard. Richard also seems 10 years younger for some reason.🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

That's the Sarah effect, she kinda does that 😀

[@arthurmann578]

Soon Sarah will be able to do that in the dark with both eyes closed and blindfolded.....like me.....🙄🙄😁😁