Soldering Safety Can Help Keep You Safe While Enjoying Hours Of Gaming Fun! 

Soldering is an essential part of building and programming electronics. It is the practice of joining multiple items together using soldering iron and a heated filler metal. Because you are working with heat, electrical current, and your new favorite gaming console, it’s important to keep some soldering safety tips in mind. 

Today, we’re going to cover 5 basic soldering safety tips you can use when you are working on building your own 8BitCADE or 8BitCADE XL gaming console. 

Keep Your Workspace Clean, Clear, And Dry 

Remove any risk of distraction when you are working with a hot soldering iron. Debris near your workspace can not only affect your ability to concentrate but it can pose a fire risk when working with heated objects. 

Keep any drinks or fluids out of reach as well. The soldering iron will need to be powered with electrical current. 

Keep The Soldering Iron Clean, Too! 

A dirty soldering iron can be a fire hazard. Keeping it clean at all times is important for your safety. 

Before you turn on your soldering iron, use a clean cloth and some alcohol to remove any debris from the iron itself. While it is hot, you can remove debris using a metal wool or wet sponge. Once finished, be sure to dip the tip of the iron in new solder. This will help keep it from oxidizing. 

Never Touch The Soldering Component Directly 

The tip of the soldering iron can reach temperatures of 400 degrees C (752 F). This temperature is high enough to cause serious injury if touched with unprotected hands. 

Return The Iron Back To Its Stand When Not In Use 

Use a tabletop soldering iron stand when you are not using the instrument. This will make sure that it is safely placed away from you or any debris when you are not using it. Because soldering irons operate at extremely high temperatures, you could risk burning yourself if not handling it properly. Be sure to also turn it off or unplug it when it is no longer being used. 

Protect Yourself 

Cover Your Eyes with Safety Goggles 

Solder materials can sometimes “spit”. This splashing effect can launch small amounts of heated metal. A tiny amount of solder spit may not burn or irritate your skin but it could pose a risk to your eyes. To keep this from happening, purchase a pair of safety goggles online or at your local hardware store. 

Wear Heat Resistant Gloves

Soldering and welding share many similarities, just at different scales. Heat-resistant gloves for welding and soldering can be found easily and rather affordably online. Be sure to cover your hands when working with solder. 

Clean Up After Soldering

Once you’ve finished soldering, clean your workspace and wash your hands. This will get rid of any excess filler metal that has landed on your desk or skin when you were working. 

Use Rosin and Lead-free Solder Material

Rosin and lead are two irritants that can be found in some market-variety filler metals. Be sure to purchase rosin-free and lead-free solder when working to make sure that you are using safe materials when working on your project. 

Work in a Well-Ventilated Area

Soldering can produce fumes. To prevent them from irritating you while you work, be sure to solder in a well-ventilated workspace. 

Have First Aid Ready 

Though we try to take as many precautions as possible, having a first aid kit ready can help treat any burns in the event a mistake does happen. Keep one nearby so you can treat yourself in case something does happen. 

Start Soldering Your Own Gaming Console! 

Want to learn more about soldering and build your own gaming console at the same time? The 8BitCADE and 8BitCADE XL are gaming systems you can build yourself through guided instructions. At the end, you can make and program your own portable gaming console to show off to your friends and family. 

To learn more about the 8BitCADE systems, check out our current lineup or contact us anytime for more info.