How would I go about....

[JoeyJoeJo]

soldering stuff together and make something work? It's always something I've wondered. Like, if anyone here listens to Aphex Twin/Richard D. James, he makes his own electronic equipment to make his music. Thats the junk I've always wondered about.

Are there any beginners guides to hardware out there? I mean, I consider myself to be pretty good with computers in general (ie Windows, Linux, and Computer repair). But when I take out say a modem and look at the circuit board with all the transistors and resistors and those little lines that link everything together, I'm like, WTF? I just wanna learn about how all that junk works. It amazes(sp?) me how the electricity in from the wall gets turned into a pretty picture on the screen in front of me.

[carbon-12]

:) ah that brings back fond memories.

Back in Gr.9 we had an electronics class where we spent our entire semster building a box that would light up with different patterns depending on what sound source was plugged into it. LOL I burnt out 3 circut boards.

Anyways you can buy soldering kits/books in most hobby shops.

[Hypz]

What kind of school did you go to? Public? Private? Where?

[hard candy]

This (http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/6-002Circuits-and-ElectronicsFall2000/CourseHome/index.htm) is the theory.
This (http://www.mtechnologies.com/building/atoz.htm) is the practical.
Find an older Radio Shack store (the new ones seem to concentrate on cell phones/toys) or older computer repair shop (where they actually do the repair) to get the parts. Or Radio Shack has an online catalog.
Get a 20 watt soldering iron. (I believe 15 is too cool and 30 is too hot).
Or do like I did, get an xbox and a modchip and learn as you do it. (Some of those soldering points are smaller than my bank account!)

[JoeyJoeJo]

I acctually did the modchip thing. However, I took the easy way out and got a matrix solderless chip.

[JohnT]

Listen to hardcandy...Radio Shack used to be an excellent source.
Do some Google searches, there are plenty of sources available. Check out your local bookstore or hobby shop....not what they used to be, but then what is......I remember my first project...metal detector from Radio Shack. I believe it was about $30.....I opened up the box and said ..hopeless:D .....6 hrs later I had a working metal detector.....never got rich though. Practice your soldering before your projects become too *****ious though.

[bwkaz]

Originally posted by JohnT
Radio Shack used to be an excellent source. Key phrase -- "used to be".

"Radio Shack -- you've got questions, we've got blank stares."

"Radio Shack -- you've got questions, we'll ask you if you wouldn't just want to buy a car stereo instead."

"Radio Shack -- you've got questions, we've got answers. They may not be right, or even in line with the laws of physics, but we've got answers!"

Sorry, getting a little off on a tangent here. ;) At the Radio Shack around here, as long as you go in knowing exactly what you want, you won't have too much of a problem, because you can always ignore the random guy trying to sell you a 100-watt amp, and head right for the capacitors, resistors, ICs, and whatever else.

But breadboard wouldn't be a bad idea to get, either, if you've got $20-$30 to spend on one. That way you can wire up just about anything, without the permanence (is that even a word?) of solder. Then you can move it to a solder circuit board once it works properly.

[solo]

Yeah... Some folks rag on Radio Shack, and with good reason, but I find it really depends on which RS store you go to. Radio Shack still sells Electronic Project Kits (I had one with 101 projects when I was a kid). They use the learn by doing model and use spring connects to wire the various circuits (I had loads of fun with mine).

As for soldering; it's something that I generally stay away from, but I find that it takes a fine touch to do it properly. The smaller the points, the finer the touch :) . There are tricks to 'wick away' the excess heat, so that you don't overheat the surrounding components, but I've seen expert electronics technicians whip out several soldered points in seconds, like magic. Takes practice and patience though.

[carbon-12]

Originally posted by Hypz
What kind of school did you go to? Public? Private? Where?

Public :)

Canadian schools rule!