Soldering iron help.

[highland145]

Bought the kid a Ramsey escape robot kit. Have to solder the resisters, caps, etc to the circuit board. My Weller 8200 isn't going to do the job. Looking on Amazon, there are varying wattages for the small tipped irons. Any ideas what the appropriate watts for this is? Suggestions on other brands are welcome too.

Thanks.

 

[effowe]

When working with electronic components, I don't go above 15W. You can get adjustable wattage irons as well.

 

[PottedMeat]

~30-40 Watts is fine

Something like this:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_116572_-1

Get yourself a small bottle of liquid flux, it really helps clean the surfaces.

 

[bobdole369]

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...odsInSession=1
or
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...odsInSession=1
and replace with a conical tip. I hate chisel tips myself. 15W should be plenty, but nice to have the 30W option. Looks all through hole stuff so it'll be nice and easy.

This is the best solder for most instances IMHO. (That is the best available at radio shack) - no extra flux is typically needed. I like using a brush with 99% isopropyl to clean off the burned rosin after soldering.

 

[twinrider1]

If you're going to be doing any regular soldering, I'd recommend spending a little extra. Get the Hakko FX-888. To your door for $81... http://www.kimcodistributing.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=2943&DEPARTMENT_ID=439

It's not an absolute necessity, but it sure makes soldering more pleasant.

 

[highland145]

Thanks guys.

His eyes got big when he looked at the components bag. Legos on roids.

 

[bobdole369]

If you're going to be doing any regular soldering, I'd recommend spending a little extra. Get the Hakko FX-888. To your door for $81... http://www.kimcodistributing.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=2943&DEPARTMENT_ID=439

It's not an absolute necessity, but it sure makes soldering more pleasant.

Hakko makes real, real, REAL good shit. We used their line in production at an electronics manufacturer. Excellent performance, on 8 hours a day non-stop soldering work. Loved it, and the ones I linked before aren't "bad", they are just not as well made as Hakko.

 

[dwell]

I use 15W for my smaller electronics work. Harder to burn up a cap or transistor with lower wattage.

 

[highland145]

Hakko makes real, real, REAL good shit. We used their line in production at an electronics manufacturer. Excellent performance, on 8 hours a day non-stop soldering work. Loved it, and the ones I linked before aren't "bad", they are just not as well made as Hakko.

If I knew he'd love it and want to do more, I'd go with the Hakko (and may still). If it's a one and done the RS are fine. Thanks again.

Edit: The Hakko is temp scaled. How does that translate to watts? Not wanting to burn up the components.

 

[Rubycon]

Temp control is what you want on a workstation. Poor soldering technique, not watts is what burns up sensitive components.

 

[highland145]

Temp control is what you want on a workstation. Poor soldering technique, not watts is what burns up sensitive components.

Hmm, I'd better order some replacement parts.:\

 

[Rubycon]

It's always good to have spare (extras) on hand.
Also practice makes perfect - or almost.
Find some old boards/parts to learn on. Definitely helps.

 

[dwell]

I've never fried a part but I am usually working with vintage or hard to find parts like germanium transistors and diodes or out-of-manufacture ICs and would rather not tempt fate. Then again I usually socket those parts to minimize the risk in the first place.

 

[dud]

Bought the kid a Ramsey escape robot kit. Have to solder the resisters, caps, etc to the circuit board. My Weller 8200 isn't going to do the job. Looking on Amazon, there are varying wattages for the small tipped irons. Any ideas what the appropriate watts for this is? Suggestions on other brands are welcome too.

Thanks.

Was this a present for your kid ... for you ... or for both?


I remember my last soldering project years ago. My Dad came over and was enthralled as I integrated all of the components onto the board. Those were the days ...

 

[the DRIZZLE]

IMO something like this is much better than the $15-20 radio shack irons for few dollars more. Don't forget to use flux.

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WP25-Pr...5015102&sr=8-7

 

[highland145]

Was this a present for your kid ... for you ... or for both?


I remember my last soldering project years ago. My Dad came over and was enthralled as I integrated all of the components onto the board. Those were the days ...

Mostly for him. Trying to get him interested in orther things. We took apart some dead electronics a couple of months back and he couldn't believe how it worked. It was like magic to him. And the little I remembered from electronics classes 25 years ago was embarrassing.

 

[Analog]

I switched to Metcal back in 1990, have never looked back.

 

[Gibson486]

I got a metcal in 06. Have not looked back since.

Also, practice, practice, practice. On my 2nd internship, I worked with a guy who would not let me leave until i successfully soldered a surface mount resistor. took me an hour and a few resistors to do it.

 

[highland145]

I switched to Metcal back in 1990, have never looked back.

I got a metcal in 06. Have not looked back since.

He'd better take soldering up as a profession for that kind of $$.

Youtube, love it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NU2ruzyc4

 

[Rubycon]

LOL yeah Metcal is the Rolls Royce there. Not sure the OP has that (budget) in mind!