The battery-operated is a good idea. My use of a corded iron goes way back. I’m old!
Awesome that’s what I’ve been Looking at. I did a lot of soldering when I started but it’s been about 10 years I haven’t done it hardly at all. Any good YouTube videos or advice you’d give for tape light solder ? Or just low volt in general I mean that’s pretty much all I’d be soldering
Tape light solder??
Used a Weller think it was a 25 watt soldering pencil type soldering iron to solder 15 or 16 printed circuit boards on a 25" Heathkit color TV years ago. Also still have the Weller 100/140 watt soldering gun my electrician dad purchased for me while in Vo Tech class. Weller makes a nice product. Always liked to have a wet sponge to clean soldering tips. Great improvement when they came out with coated soldering gun tips. My 100/140 Weller soldering gun has a copper element that should be cleaned then tinned before each use.I also liked using rosin core solder. Think 63% tin & 37% lead had the lowest melting point. Not sure of melting point for lead free solder.
Agree on weller! I have a 120 volt and butane. Mostly I use the butane
I will add to this. For the record, the eutectic alloy for tine lead solder is 63/37, but 60/40 is close enough that it works. Clean is the important thing, as hbliss pointe out. But also CLEAN is important. Add to that clean everything. I probably made my point. But I am talking, wipe off the solder itself with alcohol or Tri Clor. DON'T straighten it out with your finger, just the oil from that can affect a solder joint. Also don't use too much solder, you should be able to see the contour of everything you are soldering together including the stranding on the wire.Tape light solder??
If you are familiar with electronic soldering this will be no different. ALWAYS use rosin core solder and if you have trouble getting the connection to "take" then clean it up and apply a little flux. NEVER USE A PLUMBING FLUX OR SOLDER!! I recommend Kester rosin core 60/40 (tin/lead) in .062" diameter solder and MG Chemicals - 8341-10ML 8341 No Clean Flux Paste,
As for an iron, 30W with a fine tip is fine. It's important to keep the tip clean and tinned.
https://www.amazon.com/Kester-Solder24-6040-0061-Solder-190ðC-453-592G/dp/B00DE3GG8K/ref=asc_df_B00DE3GG8K?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80333160033505&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583932708315091&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals...&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583863980022154&th=1
-Hal
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Yeah, I worked on Nuclear Submarines for a few years. Got qualified for nuclear soldering including mini pin connector plugs. First thing I do with every guitar I have owned is tear it apart and resolder all joints.
I don't agree with a single point you made. A large tip can transfer too much heat too fast and cause the traces to separate and burn the insulation on the wire. The right solder and flux is a given but only in that electrical solder is electrical solder. Sandpaper is not a good way to "clean" the pads since it can leave grit. If you actually have green verdigis or build up a wire brush and some alcohol or degreaser. That part I may be making an assumption about is that you think when we say clean we mean bright and shiny, which isn't it. It is free of debris certainly , but mostly it is clean and free of oils and contaminates. Flux will take care of silver oxide or dull copper.
. My habits have gotten extremely sloppy.Curious what brand of LED tape you are using. Most I am familiar with do not recommend field soldering but would prefer their set screw type connectors.
Thanks. All five brands of versatile battery operated soldering stations stated 80 watts max but no table or list how long a 2 or 3 amp 18 volt battery pack will last at different temperature settings. Most sparkies own at least four battery packs and most repairs only take at most a few minutes. Years ago we had to replace 1 to 5 amp fuses that were soldered on boards. Never heard the clever tip of using alcohol to clean off solder.
Not sure how long this will last on the smallest M18 battery, I happen to use it on a Forge 8A, but this particular model doesn't use much battery power at all. I've had that battery on there for months and haven't charged it once, still on full bars. I wouldn't be too worried about the battery life, I believe it'll have no problem running on a classic 5A. As for the wattage yeah I don't know the answer, this one has a digital temperature dial, so you can go as high as 700 or 800F, can't remember. Most stuff I need doesn't need to get that high anyway.
That's on my need list!
