Soldering Iron

In a time of ubiquitous electronics, soldering is an essential skill. Fortunately, if you don't already know how it's done, it's an easy skill to pick up and the tools and associated materials can be had for cheap. This video tutorial from MAKE will get you started. For more i ...more

Now this is one how-to video you probably don't come across often. While most jewelry makers and welders probably purchase their soldering irons, it's actually possible to make your own soldering iron out of graphite pencil, car battery and jumper cables. We know it sounds lik ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to solder with a soldering iron. You will need: tinning pads, desoldering braid, and an adding component. Start off by heating the copper, before you add the wire. You need for the acid to flow from the core onto the copper to create a surface th ...more

Learn how to solder. Whether you like to tinker with electronics or do your own plumbing repairs, soldering metal is an essential skill. Plus, it's kinda fun. You Will Need   * A soldering iron   * A soldering tip   * Safety glasses   * Solder   * Flux   * Soldering clamps ...more

Put the newspaper down on a work surface. Pick up the 5 MW green laser pen and unscrew the battery cap. Remove the batteries and put them and the battery cap aside. Hold the back of the laser pen with your left hand and the front of the laser pen with your right hand. Twist ...more

Learn how to build a cold smoker from this video in simple steps . You will need: smoke pellets, a new soldering iron and a empty can. First leave the lid in the can partially attached and cut a hole in it for the soldering iron. Add you favorite smoke pellet to the can and in ...more

Start with just a few hula hoops, and then get some polyethylene film and a small soldering iron. Fit the film to your hoops, then gently mod your soldering iron and make a few spot welds. Be careful not to melt anything! Make a few vent bubbles, and you now have a pool warmer!

This is how to solder wires properly and then heat shrink them in order to insulate them. Firstly upkeep of the soldering iron is required to keep it from oxidizing. Portable versions of the iron are also available to make work more convenient. A solder sucker is required to s ...more

In this video, we learn how to build a magnetic stirring device. First you will need: a block of 1 inch thick Styrofoam, a piece of cardboard, 2 magnets, a small electric motor, a piece of non-magnetic metal, a hot glue gun, and a soldering iron. First, draw the shape of your ...more

Learn how to solder wires with this video. Clean the area to be soldered, scraping the wire down to bare metal and then wiping it clean with alcohol or acetone. Use rosin-core solder for electronic applications. This solder normally comes in coils. Tin (coat with solder) the s ...more

This video describes how to solder a wire. The first thing you have to remember is that the wires should be cleaned, shiny, and bright. Then trim about 1/2-inch of the insulation of the wires and then make a secure mechanical connection. Next, put some soldering pencil clean a ...more

This video, incredibly short for it's massive content, will teach you how to make a laser tripwire that, combined with a photoresistor, can trigger just about any device. You can make traps, alarms, awesome party decorations, and all sorts of other awesome things with this eas ...more

This gift will give the recipient a nice little zap when they open it! All you'll need is some basic electronics that you can find at any retailer like Radio Shack, and a soldering iron for a little bit of detail work.

You can construct your own burning red laser very easily and very cheaply. All you need are a soldering iron, Phillips head screwdriver, an LPC-815 laser diode, and a RKCSTR driver. Once you have everything together, follow this video to build a burning red laser.

How to take off the iPhone earbuds and replace them with whichever ones fit your ears and sound best. This can help because you keep the button and the 1/8" jack that slips into your iPhone. You need a soldering iron to remove the earbuds.

If you're fond of remote-controlled vehicles, you might appreciate this video tutorial on how to assemble a Traxxas high-current connector. To add a high-current connector to your Traxxas R/C model vehicle, you're going to need some pliers, wire strippers, flathead screwdriver ...more

Looking to make use—if not necessarily good use—of your old hard drives? This how-to presents instructions for creating a hard drive speaker system to use in conjunction with an MP3 player. To follow along, you'll need an MP3 player (e.g., the Samsung YP-S3), at least one spar ...more

Save tons of money by building your own LED pen that works with a multitouch smart board / whiteboard. You'll also need a WiiMote (Wii Remote) to use in conjunction with your homemade LED pens that you'll be making in this video. To get started with this awesome project, you'l ...more

Make a lighter with one or two AA batteries and simple tiny wire!!! This is a fantastic homemade electrical lighter for any situation. You'll need two AA batteries, a push switch, a battery holder, wire, solder, soldering iron, electrical tape, crimper, and scissors for this c ...more

Soldering isn't hard as you might think. This video will cover the basic soldering techniques for electronics and electrical wiring. It presents a comprehensive look at the soldering process, covering everything from choosing a soldering iron and solder to proper soldering tec ...more

This video shows you how to disassemble a first generation iPod nano so you can replace the battery. You will need a soldering iron and need to do some electronic soldering so make sure you're comfortable with soldering or have practiced a bit beforehand. Be careful or you'll ...more

Don't know a soldering iron from a curling iron? In this how-to, you'll learn how to get good, glitchy Speak & Spell sounds without having to circuit bend your toy (or even open up the case).

Ever thought your flashlights weren't giving out enough light? Well, change that; watch this video tutorial to see how to make the world's brightest LED flashlight. You will need a vohm meter (volt-ohm meter), wire, thermal paste, a Dorcy flashlight, a soldering iron, and a 90 ...more

Learn how to make a cheap burglar alarm/trip wire alarm with step by step instructions. This is pretty basic but effective. Cardboard, fishing line, batteries, soldering wire, soldering iron, hot melt glue gun, an empty soft drink can, electrical tape, buzzer are some of the n ...more

How to circuit bend a 80's Radio Shack toy synthesizer. Open up any device and play around with the internal audio devices. Circuit bending is done on mostly old cheap toys. This is a circuit bend demonstration on a toy piano. Get out your soldering iron and rip open toys. Thi ...more

Project 5 from Popular Science's 5 minute Projects with Craftsmen Tool is 'Integrated Circuit Cufflinks'. What Bond would wear if he could program an Arduino. Editor and sartorial nerd Doug Cantor fires up the soldering iron to show you how to turn spare buttons and leftover ...more

Find yourself faced with a dead channel on your headphones? Before them out, you might take the opportunity to see what you can learn from trying to fix them yourself with a soldering iron. The repair can often be straightforward. For detailed step-by-step instructions on reso ...more

Learn how to build an environmentally friendly directional WiFi antenna with this simple video guide. To follow along at home, you'll need the following things: a copper wedge, an N-type connector, some screws, a clamp-on N plug, a pigtail, and a wireless card. You'll also nee ...more

This how-to video shows, close-up, the steps to soldering an XLR connector onto an Audio cable. You will need a knife, wire strippers, a soldering iron, in addition to whatever is being soldered. Watch this video circuitry tutorial and learn how to solder an XLR connector to a ...more

Convert a Zoom h2 into a 4 track field recorder which cane record from 4 channels on a computer audio interface. You will need four 10 Kohm resistors, four 100 ohm resistors, two double pole switches, four RCA chassis parts, some wire, small screwdrivers, a wire cutter, a sold ...more

Change a normal 9v battery into a life saver. If you have ever run out of juice on your phone and could really use a quick charge, then you need a USB battery. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to create a pocket USB battery. Materials you will need for thi ...more

If you discover that your Guitar Hero guitar is having some difficulties, check out this video for instructions on how to rectify the problem! This is especially useful if you discover that your keys stop working, or something of the like. To do this, you will need a solder, ...more

As far as the world of consumer electronics goes, it doesn't get much greener than recycling solar panels. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to solder together broken solar panels, giving them new life as a functional AA battery charger, which produces about 6 volts in ...more

An emergency battery charger for your mobile phone comes in handy, but it's not the ultimate solution; once it's dead it's useless (what a waste). If you want to really get off the metaphorical grid, you can follow the steps in this video to construct a more robust circuit tha ...more

OK, you've done it, you've blasted your DJ set just a little too loud and now your speakers are dust. Well, before you rush out and replace them, why not try repairing them on your own? That's right, with this how to video you can take the necessary steps and breath new life b ...more

Are you a "Tron" fanatic? Then this laptop case will blow your mind. Styled after the streamlined, glow-in-the-dark "Tron" cinematography, this laptop bag looks like a "Tron" suit and will shine even at night. Tote your Thinkpad and port your Apple in style with our custom TR ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to make light using a stepper motor generator. First, take the motor out of an old printer that you don't use anymore. After this, find a few LED lights. You will need to solder the LED lights, then connect them with a soldering iron to the print ...more

In this how-to video, you will learn how to perform basic circuit bending. You will need a screw driver, alligator clips, solder, a soldering iron, wires, a wire stripper, a button or switch, and a drill. Open up the device you want to circuit bend. Once the side of the board ...more

CIA360MODS teaches you how to change the LED colors on your XBox 360 power brick. You need pliers, tweezers, a screwdriver, a soldering iron and smds. Unscrew the screws from the power brick and then take out the fan from inside. Follow the schematics and use the tweezer to gr ...more

See how to build a weatherproof compact high gain WiFi antenna for under fifteen dollars! This homemade WiFi antenna should be enough for most applications, since it's three times more powerful than a standard antenna. For this compact DIY Wi-Fi antenna, you'll need a 12cm x ...more

This is a HouseholdHacker mod teaching you how to mod your old Nintendo controller to work with your PC computer games. Today we'll show you how to convert your old Nintendo controller into a retro gaming icon on your computer desk! You will need a few parts for this: NES Con ...more

Warning: this video does not demonstrate the actual instructions for making this spooky Halloween LED light up pumpkin that blasts a truck horn. Check out http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/10/howto_tuesday_scariest_pu.html for more information and a complete build process. ...more

Want to be more like Carson Williams this Christmas? Well, that means having a highly decorated house, full of Christmas lights and other holiday decorations, but that's not all... having your Christmas lights synchronized with your favorite holiday jingle or Yuletide tune is ...more

Repairs Universe demonstrates how to replace the battery on a Microsoft Zune HD. First, use a tri-ring screwdriver to remove the four screws on the back of the Zune. Then, remove the back cover. Next, remove the bottom cover by using your fingers to gently push it off. Then, u ...more

Do you have magnet wires that you need to solder together to get your device working again? This video can help you immensely! Soldering is when you put two wires together using a soldering iron so that even cut wires can be made useful again. Great care and time is taken into ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to repair the Vivitar 285's Flash Foot. First, remove the flash foot using a soldering iron. Melt the solder just enough, don't ruin the wires or the backing. Now, set the iron down and then short the wires out, you will see the flash go off when ...more

This video tutorial is in the Electronics category which will show you how to make a Beetlebot from your parts bin. The Beetlebot project can be found in Make Volume 12. You will need a couple of small motors, 2 momentary switches, 2 AA battery holders, a piece of metal, a sma ...more