Learn to Solder Badge

Less than 30 min

Ages 8+

What Will You Make?

Learn to Solder Skill Badge Kits have been used to teach thousands of people of all ages how to solder at Maker Faires across the country. It’s a simple, fun way to learn how to solder or teach others to solder.

Once complete, you’ll have a great blinky robot that you can proudly wear and when people ask where you got it, you get to reply “I made it!” This well thought out pin even has the directions written right on the back for easy reference. This is the best kit to learn to solder with. Just ask anyone who’s been to a Maker Faire!

What Will You Learn?

You will learn the basics of soldering. Want to learn more? Consider getting the Make: Getting Started with Soldering book as a reference.

Soldering You Badge

Step 1

We’ll start by adding a “blob” of solder to the battery pad on the back. Heat up the pad (it looks like a silver disc) for 2-3 seconds, feed in some solder, and spread it around with the tip of the iron. It should look like a shiny, flat puddle that covers the entire surface of the silver pad.

This will act as a “cushion” to help keep the battery in place later.

Step 2

Next, arrange the battery holder on the back of the pin. Place the little “arms” of the battery holder through the tiny holes in the PCB. It should NOT be flush to the PCB, but sit on top of it like a table, leaving space for the battery to be inserted later.

Step 3

Gently flip it over onto its back, and place it on a flat surface. Solder the battery holder in place by heating up the “knee” joints on the front of the PCB and applying solder where the points of the battery holder peek through the knee joints.

Step 4

Next, we’ll solder in the tie-tack pin. This will be the post that will hold the pin-back in place once the badge is finished.

Place the pin though the hole in the front of the PCB. It should be inserted from front to back.

Step 5

Now apply heat to the pin from the back, and solder it into place.

Step 6

Now add the LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

First, note which wire lead is longer on the LEDs. This is the anode (+) lead and will be inserted into the hole marked (+) on the PCB.

The shorter lead on the LED is the cathode (-). This is placed in the (-) hole on the PCB.

Step 7

Flip the board over, and spread the leads apart. This will keep the LED in place while you solder it.

Solder the LED in place, making a strong connection between the LED and the PCB.

Be careful not to create “bridges” of solder — the back of the pin should have 4 distinct dots of solder which don’t touch at all.

Step 8

Trim all the leads of the LEDs flush to the PCB.

Step 9

Now all you have to do is insert the battery.

Make sure the (+) side of the battery is facing up. (This is the wide, flat, shiny side)

Now you can pin it to your bag, hat, or anywhere you like, and show off your soldering skills!

Optional: You can cut a small piece of paper and insert it behind the battery to keep the LEDs from flashing and extend their life.

Additional Resources

Video Resources

SparkFun How to Solder with David Stillman. A short tutorial about soldering.

Soldering Primer on Make: Live with Limor “Ladyada” Fried of Adafruit and hosted by Becky Stern.

Maker Camp Community Manager, Sandy Roberts, with an educational video, Tool Time: Suddenly Solder, for the Warren County Library System. A tutorial specifically on making the Learn to Solder badge begins at 23:25.

What Is Happening Here?

Soldering

Soldering is one of the most fundamental skills needed to dabble in the world of electronics. The two go together like peas and carrots. And, although it is possible to learn about and build electronics without needing to pick up a soldering iron, you’ll soon discover that a whole new world is opened with this one simple skill.

Solder, as a word, can be used in two different ways. Solder, the noun, refers to the alloy (a substance composed of two or more metals) that typically comes as a long, thin wire in spools or tubes. Solder, the verb, means to join together two pieces of metal in what is called a solder joint. So, we solder with solder!

There are many tools that aid in soldering, but none are more important than the soldering iron. If nothing else, you need at least an iron and some solder to accomplish the task at hand. Soldering irons come in a variety of form factors and range from simple to complex, but they all function roughly the same.

Learn more about soldering:

Make: Getting Started with Soldering
Use a Soldering Iron from Make: Magazine.
Understanding Different Soldering Tips from Make: Magazine
Primer — Soldering and Desoldering from Make: Magazine
Soldering Is Easy comic book
How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering with Sparkfun
Adafruit Guide To Excellent Soldering

What Is Next?

Build Your Own Equipment

Now that you’ve learned the basics, why not build your soldering kit with some DIY projects?

Additional Projects

Now that you’ve completed a great starter project, why not put your skills to use with these additional kits from the Maker Shed?

Circuit Solder Skill Kits by Lectrify – Master your soldering skills with all four Very Useful Circuits.
Unigeek – Learn to Solder Skill Badge – a fun unicorn badge to solder.
Dia de los Muertos – Learn to Solder Skill Badge – a sugar skulls themed-badge.
Make: LED Dice Kit – Shake, rattle and roll with these sweet eDice.
The B16GY Kit – This soldering kit lets you build an LED screen that you can program to display messages. Great for beginners!
Solder: Time II Watch Kit – The Solder Time II Watch Kit is great for makers that want to make a functional watch that can be hacked as well.
The Useless Counter Machine Kit – Build your very own useless machine. Switch it on and watch it automatically switch itself off. On, off, on, off — get hours of entertainment!