How to tin (DIY) the traces of a PCB?

[Screaming_Rabbit]

Hey all

What different ways are there for tinning the PCB traces (before soldering the parts)? Use a big (60W) iron? Using additional flux?

Greets, Roger

[arumblack]

They sell some stuff called tin-it. should be able to find it a lot of places. One thing I've noticed, but not tried, is that when I use desoldering braid on a board with bare copper traces, and it slides a little, it sticks to the traces. Maybe you could use it like a sponge, and wipe the tin to the traces? If you got solder with a low melting point, and used a temp controlled soldering iron turned down as low as neccesary, you would  minimize the chance of lifting pads or traces with excessive heat. I can't speak for the tin-it, never used the stuff, but I have seen it.

[jdutcher]

yeah, i would say that a commercial product like tin-it is the way to go.  i've never used it myself, but there are other products on the market just like it i'm sure.  besides, i really think that tinning the traces with solder would be too tedious and uneven.  as far as i know, with the commercial products, you just submerge the board in a solution for 5 minutes and it's done (and looks professional)!  i think you can even save and reuse the solution when you're done.