Also, when you solder, don’t go one pad after the next in a linear fashion. jump around the board to give it and the components time to cool off. Like, do pin TX1, then do pin D5, then D13, then A4…..
Don`t waste your time, and get a better iron with a better solder. A good solder already has all that required for solder to distrubute evenly. But, I must say, for the first time it is not bad. But, to be honest, it’s better be redone.
A lot of cold solder joints where solder is not flowing into the barrels properly. You need a proper solder tip for good heat transfer. I don’t know what temperature you’re soldering at but I’d recommend 700 F or 370 C.
All I can see is lack of flux apply all of them before soldering/retouch on every joint.
Lead free solder also need really decent soldering iron with higher temp otherwise just but leaded flux core solder they will work on even on the cheapest soldering iron.
They are alright for a beginner. But there is alot you can improve here.
You will not need so much solder on each pin. It should look like an indented tent instead of a ball.
About the dullness, it really depends if youre using solder that has lead in it or not. Because if it got lead it has to be shiny, if it doesnt it isnt always easy or even possible to get a perfect shiny soldered pin.
Now on how to improve: There are multiple factors that can lead to results like this. As others have mentioned it could be a heat problem. If you could tell me the heat and the type of solder you are using this might give me some more insight.
But i strongly believe that the problem is your thechnique. I have always taught that you shoul put a little bit of solder on your soldering iron, then put your soldering iron on the pin for a second or so until its hot and then put the solder on the other side of the pin and let it fill up the space in between the solder and the soldering iron. As i mentionened before, it does not require a whole lot, but it should be rather precised. Afzee that you pull away your solder and only then the soldering iron. Depending on the parts you are soldering and the heat you are using this process should take about 1-2.5 seconds it say. But when you are just starting and only soldering pins you can take a little more time.
If you want to the arduino or the mpu you would either need a desoldering gun or desoldering braid. But if you dont got any you dont need to worry. Both of these will most likely work fine and you can buy them for the next project you are creating.
If you got any questions im happy to answer them.
Edit: i just looked at the arduino and the fixup you postef on other comments. Could you post a picture with the fix up from the side, because it still doesnt look quite right.
And for the soldering oart itself i forgot to mention, that you have to put the soldering iron and the solder on the pad and on the pin. And not only at the top of the pin. So just press slightly againgst the top of the pad and on the side of the pin.
If it’s really your first time, I’ll give a 4/5 for the MPU and 1/5 for the arduino. MPU just has a bit too much solder but it’s shiny and seems well connected. Well done ! The arduino is a disaster though… sorry. Make sure your iron is touching the pin AND the pad at the same time. Let it warm up for like two or three sec (a bit longer for GND pins), then apply solder. Once the solder is on, wait an extra seconds or two before removing your iron. This should do the trick. “INT” pin on the MPU seems really good. Aim for that !
As everyone else said, these are not good, **BUT**…
hey it’s your first one! **Congratulations!** 😀
Now you need to keep going. Watch some videos and do as many soldering as possible. The quality of your equipment is of paramount importance but don’t get me wrong: you don’t need a 200 buck soldering station and 50 buck solder (personally I use an ERSA 30S 40W iron with a lead Sn63/Pb37 solder for most of my projects – it works like a charm). Make sure your iron is HOT and the tip and wattage is enough for what you’re trying to solder.
First time? I’d say that you did pretty good. I had classes that taught me how to do solder and I’ve seen people that wouldn’t do this good by the end of year. There’s room for improvement but you got the bulk of it down
The pin headers are unfortunately not well soldered at all.. I’m sorry. You should watch a video on YouTube how to solder through hole components.
The solder joint should look like a shiny cone, with the solder pad filled with solder. The joint should not have irregularities or look dull.
Arduni nano is bad, the accelerometer is kind of ok.
The job on the MPU/Gyro looks decent but the headers on the Arduino def need some rework
What temp are you at?
What kind of solder are you using?
The accellerometer isn’t too bad, but it looks like you have too much solder on there. Maybe you should use a smaller diameter of solder.
The Nano has a number of cold joints. It will definitely need to be reflowed. If you don’t have one, get a vacuum desoldering tool. I use [this style](https://www.amazon.com/Desoldering-Vacuum-Large-Teflon-Antistatic/dp/B00KQAIXEY). remove the existing solder and re-apply.
Also, when you solder, don’t go one pad after the next in a linear fashion. jump around the board to give it and the components time to cool off. Like, do pin TX1, then do pin D5, then D13, then A4…..
Don`t waste your time, and get a better iron with a better solder. A good solder already has all that required for solder to distrubute evenly. But, I must say, for the first time it is not bad. But, to be honest, it’s better be redone.
A lot of cold solder joints where solder is not flowing into the barrels properly. You need a proper solder tip for good heat transfer. I don’t know what temperature you’re soldering at but I’d recommend 700 F or 370 C.
not the worst but could be alot better.
All I can see is lack of flux apply all of them before soldering/retouch on every joint.
Lead free solder also need really decent soldering iron with higher temp otherwise just but leaded flux core solder they will work on even on the cheapest soldering iron.
The Arduino needs some work. The rest looks alright. I recommend getting some solder with lead in it. Much easier to work with
Could use some improvement but i have seen worse. id say its a reasonable job for a beginner
Use more heat and let the solder flow. Just give it a try and you will see how solder flows and makes a solid connection with the board.
Looks good: 5/7
They are alright for a beginner. But there is alot you can improve here.
You will not need so much solder on each pin. It should look like an indented tent instead of a ball.
About the dullness, it really depends if youre using solder that has lead in it or not. Because if it got lead it has to be shiny, if it doesnt it isnt always easy or even possible to get a perfect shiny soldered pin.
Now on how to improve:
There are multiple factors that can lead to results like this. As others have mentioned it could be a heat problem. If you could tell me the heat and the type of solder you are using this might give me some more insight.
But i strongly believe that the problem is your thechnique. I have always taught that you shoul put a little bit of solder on your soldering iron, then put your soldering iron on the pin for a second or so until its hot and then put the solder on the other side of the pin and let it fill up the space in between the solder and the soldering iron. As i mentionened before, it does not require a whole lot, but it should be rather precised. Afzee that you pull away your solder and only then the soldering iron. Depending on the parts you are soldering and the heat you are using this process should take about 1-2.5 seconds it say. But when you are just starting and only soldering pins you can take a little more time.
If you want to the arduino or the mpu you would either need a desoldering gun or desoldering braid. But if you dont got any you dont need to worry. Both of these will most likely work fine and you can buy them for the next project you are creating.
If you got any questions im happy to answer them.
Edit: i just looked at the arduino and the fixup you postef on other comments. Could you post a picture with the fix up from the side, because it still doesnt look quite right.
And for the soldering oart itself i forgot to mention, that you have to put the soldering iron and the solder on the pad and on the pin. And not only at the top of the pin. So just press slightly againgst the top of the pad and on the side of the pin.
If it’s really your first time, I’ll give a 4/5 for the MPU and 1/5 for the arduino.
MPU just has a bit too much solder but it’s shiny and seems well connected. Well done !
The arduino is a disaster though… sorry.
Make sure your iron is touching the pin AND the pad at the same time. Let it warm up for like two or three sec (a bit longer for GND pins), then apply solder. Once the solder is on, wait an extra seconds or two before removing your iron. This should do the trick.
“INT” pin on the MPU seems really good. Aim for that !
https://b.l3n.co/i/Qo5xQP.jpeg
As everyone else said, these are not good, **BUT**…
hey it’s your first one! **Congratulations!** 😀
Now you need to keep going. Watch some videos and do as many soldering as possible. The quality of your equipment is of paramount importance but don’t get me wrong: you don’t need a 200 buck soldering station and 50 buck solder (personally I use an ERSA 30S 40W iron with a lead Sn63/Pb37 solder for most of my projects – it works like a charm). Make sure your iron is HOT and the tip and wattage is enough for what you’re trying to solder.
First time? I’d say that you did pretty good. I had classes that taught me how to do solder and I’ve seen people that wouldn’t do this good by the end of year. There’s room for improvement but you got the bulk of it down
Top one and right one are mechanically sound.
Left one is kinda terrible to be frank.
Flux, flux, and more flux.
Clean with IPA and profit.
EDIT – You’ve got the knack for it, just refine the technique. Heat both surfaces at once, then apply solder. Let it flow, then remove heat.