Soldering Safety and Joint Inspection

Staying safe and checking your work.

Work in a ventilated space or use a fume extractor, because flux smoke irritates the eyes and lungs. Wear safety glasses when trimming leads, always return the iron to its stand, and keep flammable items away. Wash your hands after soldering, especially if the solder contains lead.

A good joint is shiny, smooth and shaped like a small cone that hugs the lead and pad. A dull, lumpy or ball-shaped joint, or one with a gap, needs to be redone. Look at every joint under good light or a magnifier before you power the board.

• Never touch the iron tip or leave it unattended.
• Good joints are concave, not blobs.
• Inspect before powering up.

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