Using Perfboard | Soldering Basics | Soldering for Beginners

In this video I'm go over the basics of using Perfboard. It's also called perforated Circuit Board, Prototyping Board, and Dot PCB. This video is part of series I'm making about Basic Soldering. This soldering series is a great way to learn soldering for beginners.
My Soldering Basics Playlist:
➞ • Soldering Basics | Sol...
Tools and Supplies for Basic Soldering Playlist:
➞ • Tools And Supplies For...
My Second KZbin Channel:
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▽ Here is what I used:
Tools
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Soldering Iron (amzn.to/2oK9Xrh)
Helping Hands (amzn.to/2HtGc7w)
Precision Tweezers (amzn.to/2QEMwKB)
​Flush Cut Snips (amzn.to/3lr2WEf)
​
Supplies
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Perfboard (amzn.to/3neSSyF)
22 gauge Wire (amzn.to/3n7oiYO)
Lead-Free Solder (amzn.to/2GD3asQ)
Lead-Based Solder (amzn.to/3z49TS6)
Flux (amzn.to/2So78rA)
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#SolderingBasics #Perfboard

[@HowDoYouDIY]

The description of this video has links to some playlists I've made for Basic Soldering. I also added some links to help you find items that are similar to what I'm using in this video.

[@yummyklown9226]

You explained more in 3 minutes and 24 seconds then I've seen in 30+ minute videos! Thanks!

[@Frankey2310]

So, I've never used a perfboard for anything complex enough to require a second layer - I'd either leave it on the breadboard or etch a PCB. Now that I'm all out of PCB blanks and have to actually implement a non-trivial device on a perfboard, I have to say that this video told me EVERYTHING I wanted to know about making connections on a perfboard, and in just 3 minutes! How does it only have 1000 views? Ah, I guess it's the watch time factor in the KZbin recommendation system.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I'm glad this video was helpful! KZbin's recommendation algorithm is weird. They keep boosting one of my other videos in this Soldering Basics series, but not the others.

[@osgeek]

Here for the explanation on how to make a clean line of solder. Not disappointed. Good job.

[@violetson5118]

Thanks for this soldering series. I've been watching some electronics repair videos and decided I want to give it a shot, but needed this kind of dead-beginner info. Thank you for making these short and with no useless preamble. Good stuff.

[@brentrubin]

Very straight and to the point. Great video, appreciate you.

[@robwgeorge]

Great tips on bridging. Letting things cool is the best part of that tip. Thanks.

[@mathiasohlson6265]

Thanks! Excellent video, right to the point. No irrelevant stuff or lengthy talk. Subscribed.

[@CurtisDensmore1]

Thank you for teaching me to add solder to both pads before bridging, and to let the solder cool before adding on. I had some serious mercurial blobs traversing my board. I spent several frustrating hours trying to figure this out! And I couldn't Google the problem without being inundated with basic soldering tutorials. So, thanks again.

[@neoroman0510]

Short, clear, and to the point! Thank you for the video :)

[@johndeere1174]

Good video, tells me everything I need to know for soldering a project

[@neveroddnoreven1553]

Excellent. I am having trouble bridging connections. This is helpful

[@swanbrown]

Thanks for this. This is exactly what I needed to know with minimal faffing around.

[@rascalnicough7376]

This is exactly what I wanted to learn. Great video -- thank you!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I'm glad this was helpful!

[@Thomasjcolbert82]

I work with printed PCBs everyday. This is my first time trying out Perf PCBs. Cool video.

[@tizzlebub]

Thanks soo much! This is tremendously helpful!

[@SPeeDKiLL45]

very good video!. The part about creating paths was exactly what i needed

[@HowDoYouDIY]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful!

[@NabilTouchie]

Yes! this was the 4th video about breadboard that I saw, but the only one that explained that crucial part

[@HowDoYouDIY]

It's surprising that more video creators haven't explained it.

[@greenbeginner9221]

@@NabilTouchie Hello Nabil. You appear to understand this fairly well based on your comment. Can you tell me how you came to your understanding up to this point? Did you go to a community college, read a book, see some specific videos or websites?

[@greenbeginner9221]

Hello Ahmed. Can you explain to me what you picked up on this? I was barely following him and then he started using that board and it blocked all vision of what was being connected to what. I'm missing something crucial. What did you see that I'm missing?

[@paritosh944]

One of the shortest and best videos on soldering !! Well done :))

[@HowDoYouDIY]

Thanks!

[@kevinholbrook4316]

Beautiful video. Clear and concise delivery, this should help me with my sophomore design project 🙏🏻

[@johnburns3703]

I use a product called chipquik that consists of some low melting point alloy that you replace the original soldr with. It works very well for lead free joints - parts sometimes fall out where previously there was a battle royal to remove them. Flooding the join with leaded solder can also help in a similar way. Chipquik is a real game changer where silver lead free solder is encountered.

[@Electronzap]

Very nice demonstrations.

[@jimisnotunique]

Great info on solder bridges! Thanks

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome, I'm glad that it's helpful!

[@akosrupp232]

great vid!

[@BS-br2ej]

This helped me very much. Couldn't find another video that showed clearly why and how to make the pcb connections.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I'm glad this video was helpful!

[@ZonymaUnltd.]

Very useful video, thank you

[@JasonLooseArrowAlso]

Thanks for making this video.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome!

[@GuteisFinger]

Quick and painless and very clueful. I've seen much longer videos that are not as helpful. This is what I wanted (except for the techno background). Thanks.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome! That's one of my goals for these soldering videos. I wanted to make them quick and straight to the point, but also filled with helpful info. (I could always use some better music though.)

[@GuteisFinger]

@@HowDoYouDIY Everyone's a critic. Ignore my musical taste and stick with what you like--unless it's bagpipes or the banjo!

[@profralpraz7897]

Thank you! Help me a lot! Many blessings!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome!

[@mohsenr4434]

Thank you!

[@ChippingfordModelRailway64]

Great video, thanks. Taught me a lot 👍

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@raghav9000]

Very useful , thanks

[@mhdls]

A good Video. With informative content and good music

[@HowDoYouDIY]

Thanks!

[@aaroncerverau]

TQM. Today, after a year and a half of design, tests and coding, I'm gonna solder my prototype design of a CubeSat :)

[@suprithadorai8022]

Very helpful thanks!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome!

[@ED-es2qv]

I really needed this before I built a battery charger on one of those. I burned the crap out of it, but it still works after 20 years.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

With it still working after 20 years, that's impressive. Even with the burn marks.

[@derflo19]

Thank you so much

[@Tutieboyron]

Thanks it helped alot

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome!

[@bobweiram6321]

You can also use narrow copper tape to create traces.

[@asankaindrajith1358]

Thanks

[@bronsonleiro]

Thank you

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome!

[@hernanllano9711]

Hi there, thanks for the video, I am really new to this, are you using lead-less solder? or is it the regular one? Thanks!

[@heggy_69]

So if a layout shows a piece going from one point to another, and I use a wire, I can just solder both ends right?

[@utkf16]

Great video thanks. TBH Ive tried but get lost if I have too many components on the board to solder at one go Plus planning where they should be in the first place.

[@tee356]

Brilliant!

[@zfm1097]

Hi. Can you buy individual Breadboard style sockets that can be soldered onto a printed circuitboard? (I have a printed circuitboard that I will solder most components to, but I'd like to leave certain components solderless so I can swap them for different values.) Thanks.

[@TheJaguar1983]

If you don't make a lot of PCBs, getting the etching chemicals and equipment can be quite expensive. This is a far cheaper way to do it for the occasional hobby project. Also, great to see several different approaches for different circumstances.

[@BlackheathTownhouse]

Nice video. I've never used perf board before, so I was wondering how to do that.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful!

[@shamanthks7218]

My favourite music🥰

[@jumbledfox2098]

Hello! These videos are absolutely brilliant, thank you! Just wondering, do you have any tips on soldering to a perfboard when the connections are right next to each other? don't want to short anything!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

That's a good question. If you can replace the tip of your soldering iron, it should help to use a smaller tip and use thinner solder.

[@ekasatriabahari2264]

i'm using the second way and my opamp pin ic isn't get the right bias voltage then i use the first way with the leads

[@jumbo999614]

Is possible to fix burnt hole? and how to have diagonal path without using wire?

[@markcampidonica9567]

Thanks!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

Thank you!!

[@markcampidonica9567]

@@HowDoYouDIY I've found that using a pair of toenail clippers works very well for cutting the leads. It is more compact than a pair of diagonal cutters and can get closer. I just use the leads from resistors in a kit that have values I don't use. The resistor makes a nice handle that doesn't get hot from the soldering iron when it solders the wires together.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

@markcampidonica9567 Those are awesome tips, thanks for sharing! I've seen people use toenail cutters like that, but I haven't tried myself. I especially like your idea of using the leads from resisters like that!

[@ARandomHumanBein]

What is the best temperature to use?

[@antonbelterman6865]

Hey man i was wondering if you or anybody plans out there perf-board beforehand. So that you know where to put the traces and components. I imagine you must becuase it can otherwise never be so clean on big board. right? And if you do, how do you do it? and in what software?

[@HowDoYouDIY]

That's a really good question. It is helpful to plan out the layout, especially on larger boards. You could just draw it out on paper, but I think that any circuit designing software should work. I've used KiCad before.

[@wg99er]

I use bits of component leads for jumper wires in a pinch.

[@HowDoYouDIY]

That a really good tip. Thanks for sharing!

[@thesmallwonder]

What kind of wire are you using on the back to make connections? (the rigid wire)

[@HowDoYouDIY]

It's just a random 22 gauge wire I had. A lot of people will save the leads that they trim off the soldered components for this purpose.

[@greenbeginner9221]

What's the purpose for the copper sandwiched in between the plastic? Doesn't it just short out the circuit as soon as you power it up?

[@HowDoYouDIY]

That's a good question. What I'm showing in this video isn't a working circuit. It's just a demonstration of creating paths on perfboard.

[@pilkjaer]

What is the best way to connect 3 cables on a board? For example, when power needs to be split. Also, how to prevent solder from draining through the hole? I tried to make a path between 2 holes but solder balls just stay isolated and in the end all the solder sips through the hole and creates mess on the back side. Can it be wrong temperature or wrong solder?

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I've found that when trying to make a path between 2 holes, it's easiest to use a wire. Using only solder to bridge 2 holes together is something a lot of people do for convenience, but isn't really easier (in my opinion.) It also uses a LOT of extra solder, and can potentially cause issues, including the one you're describing. If you're trying to connect 3 wires to a single power connection, I would recommend soldering each wire thru their own holes, then use a wire to bridge the 3 holes together I have another video where I show some of these things. The solder work is a bit sloppy, but hopefully it's helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHPRZX17q9tsacU

[@DeeGeeDeFi]

I'm in the process of turning my Arduino / ESP32 projects into somewhat permanent thingies. I'm using double sided perfboards. I'm finding it's challenging (!) to create traces by soldering 22ga wires. Do you have more in-depth videos about this? This is a big topic I think, making permanent devices from microcontroller board projects. Thanks!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I am finishing up a video where I use a perfboard for the circuit. I don't explain the steps for soldering the wires, but I do show myself soldering the wires. I'm trying to finish and upload it within the next week.

[@larrybud]

you might just want to etch your own boards. It's really easy to do. You can do it as simply as buying an etch resist pen to draw your traces (on a board without holes which has solid copper on one side). Then you "etch" the board in ferric chloride, and that dissolves all the copper that doesn't have pen marks. Then you drill your holes for your components.

[@yelectric1893]

I wish I saw this before I fried 3 perf board builds. Now I won’t have to fry 3 more!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I'm glad this video is helpful!

[@GenaTrius]

Okay, so I just need to let it cool longer. Thanks!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're welcome, I hope it helps!

[@styrishrodrigues]

Me vibing on the bgm

[@atharvanalbalwar749]

I created a pcb with smd leds on the perfboard

[@HowDoYouDIY]

Nice! I tried that too, worked pretty well!

[@oadka]

HOw does your solder stick so well to the component leads...mine just refuses to even with correct amount of flux... I will try with a point tip instead of chisel this time...very high quality video btw

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I've had issues when I was trying to solder old and dirty wires. You can try using rubbing the leads with some steel wool to clean them a bit.

[@TerryCary]

Temperature matters.

[@rogerbarton497]

Use pre-tinned copper wire rather than plain, it's much easier to solder.

[@blackdaan]

i use solar cell copper tin coated strips. can buy them on a 100m roll

[@HowDoYouDIY]

That's a good idea!

[@rogerbarton1790]

@@blackdaan Not heard of that. I used some stuff called "Cirkit" back in the day, it was self-adhesive copper strip.

[@sslsal4388]

Use lower temp while bridging.

[@ElexorEnt]

how can you remove the soldering if you make a mistake

[@HowDoYouDIY]

The easiest way that I know of is using a desoldering pump or desoldering braid. I have another video that shows how to use these, and I have a link in the description of that video to get them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHiaqopve86agKM I hope this is helpful!

[@ElexorEnt]

@@HowDoYouDIY okay thank you i will watch the video now

[@shader26]

I seem to be having a tough time even with straight solder runs. It’s much like the part of the video where you struggled a little with a right angle. Maybe it’s partly the temp? I’m using around 270 deg C, should I be hotter? Specially when I’ve got solder runs right next to each other. Frustrating!

[@HowDoYouDIY]

You're temp is probably good, but you can try a different temp to see if that changes anything. I would try adding a little more solder. You can also try letting the solder solidify then quickly add some where necessary. It can take a bit of practice to get a feel for it.

[@shader26]

@@HowDoYouDIY thanks! Ill try that tomorrow on my project.

[@user-cp2yr4fb7c]

Hello, I really enjoyed your videos, and I would like to ask for your permission to translate and repost your videos on the Chinese video platform Bilibili. I will make sure to credit you as the original creator and include the original video link. May I have your consent for this?

[@HowDoYouDIY]

I'm sorry for the late reply. Please send me an email: [e-mail]

[@bloubear2557]

Perfboards require more solder than stripboards

[@HowDoYouDIY]

That's a really good point. Thanks for sharing!

[@davidrobertson5700]

It is called veroboard

[@MrFrazerz]

I have two questions for anyone with experience: First, why do people still use perf boards when there is already software out there that allows one to build and test circuits logically. Second, is soldering required for electrical connectivity, or is it only done for mechanical purposes?

[@HowDoYouDIY]

These are really good questions. 1) There can be a lot of reasons why someone would build a circuit physically instead of just virtually. I think one of the bigger reasons is because usually people do it because they need a quick, physical circuit for a project. Another reason would be because some people enjoy working with their hands and have satisfaction being able to hold something that they made their self. 2) Soldering does add strength to a connection, but it also protects the connection. If wires are just twisted together, they can oxidize, corrode, or just get dirt and oils in the connection. These interfere with the connection and cause issues. When solder is added correctly, it fills in the gaps and keeps the physical connection clean.

[@taf8903]

Getting the blobs to line up is a BITCH

[@HowDoYouDIY]

Yeah, it can be.

[@replaceablehead]

I don't think the building up and trying to drag across technique is very good. Use the leads and some little peices of wire.

[@wavescomplete5085]

This board not good for saving solder tin.. go buy breadboard c/w circuit line

[@EngJSJ]

Thanks