Restoring damaged solder pads? Help?

[Crystal Chambers]

I know this is a big question but even links would be great. This is the last thing I need to finish my first saber and I would hate to waste a soundboard over a solder pad. I know how to prevent this from happening now but could really use the help and it would be a great addition to the forum.

I managed to do some great soldering on my first attempt till I needed to redo some, and by that point my soldering iron was acting up.
So...I think I burned up a pad from not tinning my tip properly. The heat wasn't transferring and I held the tip to my board a little too long.

For example...My US 2.5
- On one pad (accent LED) it was blackened but had a small spot of solder the size of the hole in the pad and it took ok and seems fine.
- I was able to attach to the other pad (activation switch negative) but it seems to make no connection and is quite blackened.

My Question is how can one clean burnt/damaged pads and what options are there for repairing/replacing or bypassing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will be too happy to post a detailed a build log when all is done...

[xl97]

Can you post pics?

pics (in this situation at least) are crucial..so we can see where the pads is.. if ther is an alternate route/pad for the same thing..or maybe another place you can solder..like to the trace from that pad or something..


also getting 'black' might not be 'as' bad' as you thin kit is.. it could be the solder mask getting burnt as well..

Im not sure what can be used to clean it? rubbibg alcohol/q-tip perhaps?? at least to see what the real damage is like and what your ultimately left with to use.

[Jedi-Loreen]

What pad or pads got damaged? Can you take a photo of your board?

Since there are thru holes and pads on both sides of the board, you should be able to solder the wire onto the undamaged side. Using thin wire that fits through the hole.

If both sides are damaged then another procedure will need to be used, you'll need to expose the trace that leads off from the pad, but let's take it one step at a time.


I started this post before xl posted, but I had to leave the room for a while.

Clean off the "burnt" pads with some alcohol and a Q-tip, it may be just some burnt rosin from the solder on there.

[Crystal Chambers]

The one pad that's giving me trouble now is the switch pad on the outside, the corner of the board. I have to detach the wire on there now to show underneath, take a pic, and set-up a photobucket account...I'll do that early tommorrow.

The wire currently appears fine (nice looking solder) but since I saw under it before a feeble attempt to solder I can tell it's not getting a connection.

Oh yeah! The other side of the board looks like a great idea. It is connected to the battery case wtih mounting tape. I just hope I don't do more damage trying to fix this...oh my. Glad I waited to glue gun the wires to the battery pack until my final cram. Once I get through all this my next build should be a breeze in comparison.

Cleaning of burnt rosin would be the best case senario...hope you're right. thx

[Crystal Chambers]

ok...sigh

So I tryed to clean the solder pad and rubbing alcohol did nothing visable...
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad28/Karentoomuch/SPwireremoved.jpg
You'll notice I censored part of my naked board..jk. It's just the flash. From the camera!

So I try to solder on the backside wich looked promising so I adding a little more solder. There was already a small bit showing through and the connection looked great. powered it up...idle light blinking but again no response from the switch.
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad28/Karentoomuch/SPwireonback.jpg

So I tryed to clean the other side again but no luck just dumb cotton fuzz making it look more messy...sigh
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad28/Karentoomuch/SPwireonbackfrontcleaned.jpg
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad28/Karentoomuch/SPwireonbackfrontcleaned2.jpg


If I didn't spend so much on this board I'd drive a nail through it. Next saber will be assembled once and left since cramming in and out is the biggest problem.

I can't wait to see this again...drool!
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad28/Karentoomuch/p4blue.jpg

For now I'm stuck with a really cool hilt that says "ultrasound 2.5" and has a little blinking light....sigh.

[xl97]

couple suggestions..

1.) I would always make my 'leads/wires' have as 'little' needed exposed wires showing.. so that when you solder the wires to the board.. there is a bunch of exposed wire moving around.possibly grounding on anythign else on the board/hilt...etc.


2.) hmm.. Im looking at an extras US 2.5 I have laying around.. all my wires are soldered to the UNDERSIDE of the board..none on the top pads (all done on the underside on the through holes)


are there any solder drop/spatter anywhere? creating a ground or connection? (bridge)
to anything?

what switch are you using? are you trying to use/wire in a re-charge port?

[Crystal Chambers]

I did have shorter length exposed but it melted when I tinned the wires. I had it covered in film cases and made sure no wires would short no bridges..etc.

It's a momentary switch and yes recharge port. I followed a diagram here that everyone said worked it was very clear.

I should mention again that all was working fine until the wire came loose and then wouldn't work when I tried to re-attach it.

[xl97]

well..in 'my' opinion..

solering to the bottom through hole isnt going top help much AT ALL..

and heres why I say that.. you ripped the pad off.. meing there is NO trace left connection the placted through hole you soldered to.

if you look on the TOP of the board..you will see a very (very) thin trace going up the whole side of the board..toward the PIC18 chip...

THIS is the line you need to tap into.

I would try to see if you can scrap (VERY, VERY , VERY lightly) the top solder mask off that trace on the top side of the board.. and either run some solder to the wher to through hole is.. or try and re-solder to the top.

but it solder is SOLID on the bottom where you put the wire.. try to just scrap off a bit of the solder mask..to revela the trace under it..then solder form the trace to the pad again..making sue enough get in the HOLE to make contact with the wire on the bottom.

[Crystal Chambers]

It does appear to be a solid connection on the underside. I believe I see the trace...the green line running stright down the board and then curves towards the W of the SW. The only other obstacle I can see is trying to get the burnt up surface off to make a connection throught the hole. Purhaps if I use a small drill bit and twist it by hand on the spot to expose the solder underneath through the hole. Does this seem like a good idea?

Also if I scape the surface of the trace to reveal the connection what should I use? And what do I look for to know that I'm doing it, or have done it correctly?

[xl97]

to be clear.. I take no responsibility for anything.. (just trying to help here) :)


the trace is broken..and NOT completing the connection the SW pad.. you need to somehow 'complete' that connection..

whether the trhough hole is complete or not..we can address that later.. or put the wire back on the top side..

(hell even a jumper wire would work if need be to not waste the board)

anyways..

I say take an exacto knife..and lightly (LIGHTLY) scrape the solder mask off the trace (as close to the SW solder pad as you can).. until you reveal the GOLD/TRACE under the green mask..

then use that as your starting point to solder to.. I would even maybe just run a small?thin line of solder from where you revealed the new trace to the SW pad..

now..

if youhave NO pad/no SOLDER left on the SW pad..

you can try to make the new solder line/bridge you are creating go to and through the 'throuhg hole'

if you have a small even drill bit (micro drill bits perferred..but I think your local Ace hardware might carry a #59/60 or #61 size drill bit in stock.. and that could work..

drill through the top (solderless) pad section..run a pierce of solder through it..and melt it.. hence (sorta) creating a new top and bottom pad for you to use.

[Crystal Chambers]

to be clear.. I take no responsibility for anything.. (just trying to help here) :)

I understand this completely as I'm sure the solution may be difficult to determine in person even. I'm trying to make the most informed decision to avoid further damage while trying to salvage the board.

One concern I have now is doing further damage in the next solder attempts. I hesitant to touch my iron to anything but wires or pad so I'm guessing I should melt the solder above the trace?

Any second opinion would certainly help if anyone either agrees or has any other suggestions. The thread does have an accurate title and will be very useful for others like me.

[xl97]

have you read Erv's tutorial on soldering? are you tinning both wire & pad before connecting?

What size solder iron are you using? you shouldnt have to touch for very long, especially if both parts are pre-tinned

[Crystal Chambers]

yeah I did...I watched his you tube at least three times fully and a few sections over more often to let it sink in. I saw some other ones where people had different techniques for tinning, but erv's seemed to work best.

I do have to touch bare surface to tin though. Heat for a sec and then add solder.

It's a 25W pointy tip

[Master Dai Bendu]

Your Iron is way too hot.

I use a 15 watt pointed tip iron from Radio Shack and low temp solder.

You will be amazed at how easy this goes with different iron :D

Good luck!

[Zook]

I agree with XL on this. Scrape off the little line that is just below the now bare square where the pad used to be until you see the copper coming through.

You may need another iron as well. 25W is probably not an iron you want to use as a beginner.

I use a 25W Jensen (Weller is the manufacturer) but I use a tiny tip (about the size of a large sewing needle) and it works very well for me but I have a lot of experience soldering without problems. I do some surface mount soldering with it as well.

I have a couple of lower wattage irons as well (including a nice unger I have different wattage heaters for) but I like the combination of the weller I am using the best.

[Crystal Chambers]

The update:sad:

But I joke..lol. I totally fixed it!
Thank you so much for the support insight and advice. I'm am super happy now.

What I did...

I picked up a new knife to scatch off the little line to expose the copper. Then the wire I attempted to solder to the backside...I clipped it off and stripped it to a length that it would hold to the damaged solder pad and over shoot to make a connection to the copper as well.

I'm so excited. If there are no further unforseen difficulties to come my way I'll post up all the goodness that I call "Valoury" next week.

[xl97]

persistence pays off.

glad you got it all working finally.

[Shadar Al'Niende]

The update:sad:

But I joke..lol. I totally fixed it!
Thank you so much for the support insight and advice. I'm am super happy now.

What I did...

I picked up a new knife to scatch off the little line to expose the copper. Then the wire I attempted to solder to the backside...I clipped it off and stripped it to a length that it would hold to the damaged solder pad and over shoot to make a connection to the copper as well.

I'm so excited. If there are no further unforseen difficulties to come my way I'll post up all the goodness that I call "Valoury" next week.

Picture? :D