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How to Solder Crystal Mic Elements

Hobby kits provide the opportunity to satisfy the curiosity of budding scientists through building machines. As part of the procedure for assembling a crystal microphone, you must perform a soldering operation on the crystal microphone element. The tools that are needed are found in most homes, although they can readily be purchased in a hardware store, if necessary. Proper protection against the soldering iron is a necessity, as well.

Things You'll Need

Soldering iron base
Soldering iron
Crystal microphone receptacle
Crystal microphone cartridge element
Solder
Crystal microphone case

Instructions

- 1
  Place a soldering base on the work surface. Place the soldering iron in the base. Plug the soldering iron̵7;s cord into an outlet. Let the soldering iron heat up for seven minutes.
- 2
  Place the crystal microphone receptacle on the work surface with the open end up and the cord socket facing you. Hold the microphone cartridge element horizontally with the imprinted text that is on it right-side up.
- 3
  Place a drop of solder on each of the two pins of the element. Let the solder cool for a minute. Insert the leftmost element pin into the second terminal slot from the left of the microphone receptacle. Insert the other pin on the element into the slot to the right. Hold the tip of the soldering iron against each of the two pins for 10 seconds each. Let the solder cool for one minute.
- 4
  Angle the microphone case over the cartridge. Apply a drop of solder to the pin connected to the case and let a minute pass. Inset the pin into the receptacle̵7;s leftmost terminal slot. Hold the tip of the soldering iron against the pin for 10 seconds and then wait a minute. Close the microphone case on the microphone receptacle.
- 5
  Return the soldering iron to the base. Unplug the soldering iron's cord from the outlet. Stay by the soldering iron until it has completely cooled off.

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