Marty Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 8 minutes ago, Bowlsnapper said: But why all the damn scorching on the PCB? You're seeing that, right? Honestly, it doesn't look like scorching, it just looks like they didn't clean up their work and that's just used flux which leaves a orange-brown stain. Everywhere you look on the internet you see those "How's my work?" posts....but people never bother to take a minute to clean their joints or boards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowlsnapper Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 27 minutes ago, Marty said: Honestly, it doesn't look like scorching, it just looks like they didn't clean up their work and that's just used flux which leaves a orange-brown stain. Everywhere you look on the internet you see those "How's my work?" posts....but people never bother to take a minute to clean their joints or boards. ... I DID think of that, actually. I just use flux that doesn't do it so I'm not used to seeing it. The flux I use is clear... unless it is burnt. Anyway @mcpoodles, What is the consensus? Fahrenheit or Celsius? Lol. I put in "Mc" in front of the "@" sign and "McBoatface" showed up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcpoodles Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 Sorry for the late reply everyone, I'm limited to 4 posts per day for some reason, I believe its Celsius, its not a very nice station but it displays a C when turning on before the temperature starts showing, i also dont believe its actually at the temperature its reporting lol. I didn't really make any progress today, having trouble getting a wire to solder onto the vias. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowlsnapper Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 10 minutes ago, mcpoodles said: Sorry for the late reply everyone, I'm limited to 4 posts per day for some reason, I believe its Celsius, its not a very nice station but it displays a C when turning on before the temperature starts showing, i also dont believe its actually at the temperature its reporting lol. I didn't really make any progress today, having trouble getting a wire to solder onto the vias. Which soldering station is this, anyway? Maybe you should upgrade if you are able or if it is necessary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcpoodles Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 it was this one, I dont do much soldering work outside of the odd project like this, in the past ive installed chips in my xbox 360, switch, and ps2 slim, im not sure why this one is proving to be so challenging lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyMaGee Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 59 minutes ago, mcpoodles said: it was this one, I dont do much soldering work outside of the odd project like this, in the past ive installed chips in my xbox 360, switch, and ps2 slim, im not sure why this one is proving to be so challenging lol What tip are you using? If it’s either of the fine points in the picture of that on Amazon that may be part of the issue. I’d go with the small chisel tip (middle one in that main picture). Also are you tinning the copper of the wires before trying to attach? It would also help to put a little solder on the via before trying to make that connection. Just a little though.  I am unfamiliar with that brand. If you have a laser temp sensor you could test and see if it’s getting as hot as it says though. The original Xbox motherboards can be a bit ornery at times. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowlsnapper Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 1 hour ago, Thairanny said: NGL I'm using SAC305 solder, lead-free same as the Xbox. It melts at 500F, but when you apply the tip to the board it does nothing. I've been working at 850F XD. It works, don't crucify me! If some knows how I get away with lower temps i'm all ears, but I tried doing soldering joints in increments of 100 degrees (550, 650, etc.) and only around 800F did I make progress. Have you simply tried really hot? I dunno about anybody else, but the narrow tips seem almost unsusable to me. I have to use so much heat I don't even wanna bother. lol 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 2 minutes ago, Bowlsnapper said: but the narrow tips seem almost unsusable to me. Tiny pencil tips are near useless on boards this thick. Not even for RAM upgrades. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyMaGee Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 14 hours ago, Marty said: Tiny pencil tips are near useless on boards this thick. Not even for RAM upgrades. Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyMaGee Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 On 1/7/2024 at 10:24 PM, Bowlsnapper said: I dunno about anybody else, but the narrow tips seem almost unsusable to me. I have to use so much heat I don't even wanna bother. lol They have their uses but not on the Xbox mobo. Not for me anyway. Lol. They just don’t conduct enough heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowlsnapper Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 2 hours ago, FrostyMaGee said: They have their uses but not on the Xbox mobo. Not for me anyway. Lol. They just don’t conduct enough heat. I honestly didn't truly realize that the PCB sucked up that much heat. Preheating when doing BGA stuff or IR work in general makes sense along with this. Thank you guys for letting me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyMaGee Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 5 minutes ago, Bowlsnapper said: I honestly didn't truly realize that the PCB sucked up that much heat. Preheating when doing BGA stuff or IR work in general makes sense along with this. Thank you guys for letting me know. It really does. Especially with how big the heat plane is (and how layered it is) on said pcb. Small tends to be no problem. Bigger like mobos often have a large one. Also lead free solder makes it a pain. Lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostyMaGee Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 32 minutes ago, FrostyMaGee said: It really does. Especially with how big the heat plane is (and how layered it is) on said pcb. Small tends to be no problem. Bigger like mobos often have a large one. Also lead free solder makes it a pain. Lol The Xbox mobo will straight piss you off sometimes the way it acts. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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