I somehow removed all the solder from a point on a circuit board.. how do I fix it.

TheGizmo

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
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So there is this really tiny point on a PCB that I'm trying to solder.. and while trying to attach a wire to the point, I managed to remove all the solder from it so now there is just a small dip in the circuit board that solder will not stick to.

I've tried cleaning it with rubbing alcohol, that didn't help at all.

Any ideas? Thanks
 

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
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Well if you lifted the pad you can no longer solder to that point. You will have to either solder it to the trace, or follow the trace to the chip and solder directly to the chip.
 

TheGizmo

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
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Originally posted by: effowe
Well if you lifted the pad you can no longer solder to that point. You will have to either solder it to the trace, or follow the trace to the chip and solder directly to the chip.

damn thats what I was afraid of.. the trace is uber-small and no way I can get it to only that trace... and the chip has like 1000 points on it, also near impossible to solder a wire to only one of the points :( I think i'm screwed
 

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
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Originally posted by: TheGizmo
Originally posted by: TheKub
Mod chip?

yeeep

Wii modchip? I did the same thing when trying to install my WiiKey. I just ended up taking it to a local installer and he soldered directly to the chip, takes some skills there.
 

TheGizmo

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
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Originally posted by: effowe
Originally posted by: TheGizmo
Originally posted by: TheKub
Mod chip?

yeeep

Wii modchip? I did the same thing when trying to install my WiiKey. I just ended up taking it to a local installer and he soldered directly to the chip, takes some skills there.

yup exactly.. god damn wiikey and their quicksolder design.. a wired chip would have been so much easier
 

slpaulson

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2000
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You might be able to scratch some of the soldermask off from the trace and solder to that, otherwise if the chip is 0.5mm pitch or bigger, soldering to the chip isn't that tough.
 

TheGizmo

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
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Originally posted by: cRazYdood
You might be able to scratch some of the soldermask off from the trace and solder to that, otherwise if the chip is 0.5mm pitch or bigger, soldering to the chip isn't that tough.

yea unfortunately my soldering skills are limited.. the trace is very close to two other traces on either side.. so its very difficult to get in there. I just wish there was a way to refill the dip with solder again :(
 

TheGizmo

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
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Originally posted by: SSSnail
You're using the wrong kind of solder.

what kind am i supposed to use? im using some pretty thin solder. i actually thought the problem was that my soldering iron tip is too big.. but its the smallest one I can buy at radio shack. i wish they made a soldering iron tip in the diameter of a paperclip
 

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
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Originally posted by: TheGizmo
Originally posted by: SSSnail
You're using the wrong kind of solder.

what kind am i supposed to use? im using some pretty thin solder. i actually thought the problem was that my soldering iron tip is too big.. but its the smallest one I can buy at radio shack. i wish they made a soldering iron tip in the diameter of a paperclip

Just ask the guys at Radio Shack, they'll recommend something else.
 

TheGizmo

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
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Originally posted by: SSSnail
Originally posted by: TheGizmo
Originally posted by: SSSnail
You're using the wrong kind of solder.

what kind am i supposed to use? im using some pretty thin solder. i actually thought the problem was that my soldering iron tip is too big.. but its the smallest one I can buy at radio shack. i wish they made a soldering iron tip in the diameter of a paperclip

Just ask the guys at Radio Shack, they'll recommend something else.

thats what I did :-/
 

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
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76
Sorry you're out of luck. There is no way that I am aware of to restore a solder point.
 

xgsound

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2002
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If the pad is gone use "trace wire" (.035 inch I think) to attach to the (solder it on) trace or thru the board if it connects on the other side. They have "micro tips" for irons that have a 1/16 inch projection on the end.

Freshly tin your tip and wipe with a moist rag immediately before each solder joint to insure clean tip and effective temperature exchange.


Jim