Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

[TinPan]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Get one of these and be done.

https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC/ref=asc_df_B000AS28UC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198103947043&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5581405067000403432&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1026411&hvtargid=pla-448477212877&psc=1

I've used this for quite a long time on practically everything that needs soldering. Basic care and maintenance of the tips and it still works perfectly fine.

I used a Weller 25 for decades and thought it was all I needed, just last week I picked up one of these, high temp lets me tin the pot chassis quickly and spend a lot less time heating the pot, then turn it down to solder the wires to lugs and chassis. I bought the 25 years ago when I was repairing TV's, the low wattage is to assure not damaging the circuit board.

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Get one of these and be done.

https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC/ref=asc_df_B000AS28UC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198103947043&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5581405067000403432&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1026411&hvtargid=pla-448477212877&psc=1

I've used this for quite a long time on practically everything that needs soldering. Basic care and maintenance of the tips and it still works perfectly fine.

This is the exact unit I have as well. This is perfect for guitar electronics applications.

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

I've been using a 30 watt soldering iron for nearly 20 years on guitars now. No problems at all soldering/desoldering pots, pickups, wires. No problems building several guitar pedals from scratch. No problems soldering components in guitar amps. I haven't had to solder a ground to bridge or humbucker covers on though, they may well require more power.

When you say..."no problems", what you really mean is that you are willing to deal with the problems and you are not personally bothered by them.

But with a decent higher powered iron you don't have to wait 15 minutes for it to heat up (mine takes about 10 seconds). And you don't have to leave your iron on the back of a pot a long time to heat it up enough to melt the solder (risking frying the pot). And you don't have to wait for the tip to reheat after each soldering (mine maintains its heat throughout the job and reheats in a second or two). Mine is only 50 watts, but it is a really good quality iron/soldering station.

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Well, physics can't be altered by opinions... 150 Celsius is 150 Celsius, independent of wattage. Undeniable that more watts will give you the set temperature faster, but once the set value is reached, there is no difference. At my workplace there is a griup dealing with industrial PQ measurements and I asked them to take a peek at my cheap (like 20 dollar cheap) 40 W soldering station. It took the thing a good 15-20 minutes to go above 150 Celsius at the tip. So definitely take your time with lower wattage stuff. That being said, I don't think you need an iron that heats up in seconds, unless you make a living with it and need to wire 50 Guitars a day... Also, opinions - unlike physics - are completely subjective and thats the way it should be.

Physics not only dictates how quickly it heats up, but also how well it maintains its heat while in use and how quickly it reheats.

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

I used that station for years. It worked fine until the tip (inside the handle) burned up and corroded away. then I got one of these...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JJWRRN1?aaxitk=l2femRMAOH.cpDYkJZZeQg&pd_rd_i=B07JJWRRN1&pf_rd_p=44fc3e0f-4b9e-4ed8-b33b-363a7257163d&hsa_cr_id=2923380100301&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=VIVOHOME%202%20in%201%20862D%2B%20SMD%20Soldering%20Iron%20Hot%20Air%20Heat%20Gun%20Rework%20Station%20with%204%20Nozzles%20110V

Yes it's a bit expensive, but believe me, there is absolutely NO COMPARISON in the performance of this relative to the Weller. I also wanted the hot air feature because I use a lot of shrink tube to insulate all my joints.

Again I say, that if you think you don't have any problems with the iron you're using, it's because you don't even know what problems you have! If you are used to a bicycle, you'd think a moped has tremendous acceleration. But if you haven't driven a Corvette, you don't even have a clue as to what you are missing.

[nexion218]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Physics not only dictates how quickly it heats up, but also how well it maintains its heat while in use and how quickly it reheats.

Can't argue with that. I always hated physics for its lack if flexibility.:-D

[GuitarStv]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

When you say..."no problems", what you really mean is that you are willing to deal with the problems and you are not personally bothered by them.

But with a decent higher powered iron you don't have to wait 15 minutes for it to heat up (mine takes about 10 seconds). And you don't have to leave your iron on the back of a pot a long time to heat it up enough to melt the solder (risking frying the pot). And you don't have to wait for the tip to reheat after each soldering (mine maintains its heat throughout the job and reheats in a second or two). Mine is only 50 watts, but it is a really good quality iron/soldering station.

Sir, are you suggesting that the good folks at Radio Shack did not provide me with a professional quality 15$ soldering iron two decades ago? :P



I agree, there are like better options available for more money. If electronics is your livelihood, or a huge part of your life - get one! But if you're doing occasional electronics work (building pedals, wiring guitars, fixing stuff in your amp) you'll be fine with a 30 watt iron.

[Clint 55]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

u need halp

[GuitarStv]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

u need halp

I'm not going to solder with a 100 watt iron and then play my 40 watt guitar amp. I'd need to buy a whole new rig just to compete . . .

[LLL]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

or faffing.

WAT?

[Clint 55]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Lol!

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Just one more comment...
Look, if you're going to do soldering, even just occasionally, why argue about saving a few bucks for a 25 to 40 watt iron that will definitely have problems soldering a cover on a pup. For less than $20 you could get this 80 watt variable range digital iron with extra tips, a stand, and even solder. That Weller that was mentioned is only 40 watts (a bare minimum) and considered a good deal at $40. But this one is twice the power at half the cost. And...order it today and get it tomorrow delivered right to your door for free...cost is less than $20. Check it out.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SG8V1WQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07SG8V1WQ&pd_rd_w=cJIMe&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=A3ZTE&pf_rd_r=A15VBQVGN6NBP19HWN00&pd_rd_r=1e2d2f00-ea4a-4814-a788-6aefa1e7751c&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzS0ZCN1FQRjZPRUhYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjI5MTc2MUIzOVVVSlkwTlJDUyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzEyMjgxMldLVENIT05ISUw4JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Just trying to do you guys a favor.

[Demanic]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Just one more comment...
Look, if you're going to do soldering, even just occasionally, why argue about saving a few bucks for a 25 to 40 watt iron that will definitely have problems soldering a cover on a pup. For less than $20 you could get this 80 watt variable range digital iron with extra tips, a stand, and even solder. That Weller that was mentioned is only 40 watts (a bare minimum) and considered a good deal at $40. But this one is twice the power at half the cost. And...order it today and get it tomorrow delivered right to your door for free...cost is less than $20. Check it out.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SG8V1WQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07SG8V1WQ&pd_rd_w=cJIMe&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=A3ZTE&pf_rd_r=A15VBQVGN6NBP19HWN00&pd_rd_r=1e2d2f00-ea4a-4814-a788-6aefa1e7751c&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzS0ZCN1FQRjZPRUhYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjI5MTc2MUIzOVVVSlkwTlJDUyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzEyMjgxMldLVENIT05ISUw4JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Just trying to do you guys a favor.

I wasn't in the market, but for $20...

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

[Clint 55]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

That's the best deal I've ever seen!

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Is a 30w soldering iron enough?

Or, if you only want 60 watts, variable temp, but no digital display, and only want to spend $12...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V44C7DR/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07V44C7DR&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE4UDlTTE1ZQkE0QzcmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzMjA0NDgyV1NPM0k5R0FFVjcmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDk1MTA3M083S1hTMkdPNTNGUiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=