soldering

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Ryder

Ryder

Having a senior moment
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Now I am not guru when it comes to electrickery but I can wire a relay and hook a few resistors together to make an led do its stuff.

I am getting miffed, however, at the efficiency of the soldering iron that I use. Now I know it's a funny thing to ask but I figure if I use one that is too powerful then I am simply going to naff up any project boards that my circuit is sitting on... and if I use one that isn't powerful enough then I am going to naff up the boards also as the heat dissipates.

If anyone has found the ideal solution... please let me know... it'll save me a mint in buying new irons and trying them out!:D
 
buy an adjustable solder station and selection of tips-decent solder too
 
Don't use ROHS compliant solder and use fluxed solder.
Use the correct size tip.

We find Weller 60w irons are good enough for almost all PCB work.
 
Last edited:
The Mad Hat Man said:
Don't use ROHS compliant solder and use fluxed solder.
Use the correct size tip.

We find Weller 60w irons are good enough for almost all PCB work.
Click to expand...

What he says, I have an adjustable weller in my tool box. Its great for when i go to different countries and the solder is full of **** knows what.

I also have a maplins gas powered iron thats good but thats for when i cant get electrikery.

Matt
 
I've got a small (40w?) antex for pcb and small connectors and a bigger generic brand for the larger stuff - good technique really helps. Keep everything clean, clean the tip regularly on a wet sponge, replace the tips when they start to hollow or blunt, tin everything first, apply wetted iron to the work then the solder and use lead based flux cored solder. The unleaded stuff is horrible to work with and needs a hotter iron, but the old fashioned stuff is still available for working on older equipment.
 
is roofing lead solder any good, cut into thin strips ?

would you like a big swirl around your light sir ?
 
Sean said:
is roofing lead solder any good, cut into thin strips ?

would you like a big swirl around your light sir ?
Click to expand...

body solder :p or just rape tape it together, cello tape insulating tape another special.
 
Dunno what's in roofing solder but it's probably somewhere near 60/40 lead/tin so it would work but you'll need a separate rosin flux paste. In desperation I've used plumber's solder in the past (the big triangular bars) for electrical work! Multicore is so much easier and a big reel goes a long way. Don't breathe in the fumes, though - rosin flux contains colophony, the fumes of which can trigger asthma in some people.
 
Antex irons are the dogs bollox, I use a 15w one with various tips for IC board wiring and and a 25w one for general work, I'd never use any other make. Don't need variable temp or any of that **** unless you are doing SMT stuff.

Proper 60/40 resin cores solder and a bit of practice is all it needs. Been soldering for 34 years so I know what I need to get it done.
 
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Virtually all my soldering is done with my snap-on gas powered soldering iron. It's fully adjustable and has interchangeable tips. The old time I've had problems using it (takes a while to heat up) has been in gale force winds and in heavy rain.
 
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