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The gray satin surface finish of the factory solder has to do with the machine-soldering process used to build it. The parts are inserted and the solder side is coated in flux. The board is passed over a "waterfall" of molten solder. Called "wave soldering", the icicles that will hang from the copper foils are blown off with a hot-air knife.

The flux is washed off, exposing the solder to the oxygen in the atmosphere. This causes the darker, satin finish you see.

It's easy to spot any hand-soldered connections, they'll still be shiny. The layer of flux left after hand soldering keeps the solder shiny so long as it's not removed.

The double-sided technology they used often has problems with connections from the top to the bottom-side foil. Gently flexing the board usually reveals any of these.

And if it ain't broke, don't do like the shade-tree mechanic and "fix it 'til it breaks."

73

<blockquote data-quote="nomadradio" data-source="post: 695535" data-attributes="member: 22">The gray satin surface finish of the factory solder has to do with the machine-soldering process used to build it. The parts are inserted and the solder side is coated in flux. The board is passed over a &quot;waterfall&quot; of molten solder. Called &quot;wave soldering&quot;, the icicles that will hang from the copper foils are blown off with a hot-air knife. The flux is washed off, exposing the solder to the oxygen in the atmosphere. This causes the darker, satin finish you see. It&#039;s easy to spot any hand-soldered connections, they&#039;ll still be shiny. The layer of flux left after hand soldering keeps the solder shiny so long as it&#039;s not removed. The double-sided technology they used often has problems with connections from the top to the bottom-side foil. Gently flexing the board usually reveals any of these. And if it ain&#039;t broke, don&#039;t do like the shade-tree mechanic and &quot;fix it &#039;til it breaks.&quot;73</blockquote>

[QUOTE="nomadradio, post: 695535, member: 22"] The gray satin surface finish of the factory solder has to do with the machine-soldering process used to build it. The parts are inserted and the solder side is coated in flux. The board is passed over a "waterfall" of molten solder. Called "wave soldering", the icicles that will hang from the copper foils are blown off with a hot-air knife. The flux is washed off, exposing the solder to the oxygen in the atmosphere. This causes the darker, satin finish you see. It's easy to spot any hand-soldered connections, they'll still be shiny. The layer of flux left after hand soldering keeps the solder shiny so long as it's not removed. The double-sided technology they used often has problems with connections from the top to the bottom-side foil. Gently flexing the board usually reveals any of these. And if it ain't broke, don't do like the shade-tree mechanic and "fix it 'til it breaks." 73 [/QUOTE]

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