Old timer told me my solder joints looked like 'cold garbage' and he was right

I was working on a King Air 200 audio panel last week and this crusty FAA inspector walked by and said my joints were 'cold garbage' because I wasn't letting the iron heat the pad first. Changed to holding the iron tip on the pad for 3 seconds before adding solder and now my connections actually pass a pull test. Has anyone else had a random comment from a veteran totally change how you approach a basic skill?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver_anderson1mo ago

Cold garbage" is fair but you don't really need a full 3 seconds on the pad.

torres.leo1mo ago

Can't believe you're downplaying the 3 second hold like that. That's the whole point of the reset! Without it you just get a rushed recovery and your next rep turns into a sloppy mess. I've literally watched people skip the pause and end up bouncing the bar off their chest like it's a trampoline. If you're not stabilizing for that full count, you're basically just doing a half rep.