40 watt soldering iron enough?
- Thread starter JeffB
- Start date
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
40 watts is more than enough - it depends more on the size of the tip than the power available. If you use a very large tip, you're going to transfer the heat more quickly than if you use a pencil type tip. The rate of heat transfer also depends on how square you get the tip to what you're soldering, and of course how much solder you put on the tip before soldering. There are many good tutorials on youtube that will probably help.
For guitar wiring, I use a 35 watt Weller with a pencil tip that I've curved slightly so that I can get it flat onto the contacts. I find this combination is safe to use and I've never burned out a pot.
When I solder the ground to the back of a pot, I just use a little more solder on the tip, and once that starts to take, feed a good amount in there to keep the flow going.
40 watts is more than enough - it depends more on the size of the tip than the power available. If you use a very large tip, you're going to transfer the heat more quickly than if you use a pencil type tip. The rate of heat transfer also depends on how square you get the tip to what you're soldering, and of course how much solder you put on the tip before soldering. There are many good tutorials on youtube that will probably help.
For guitar wiring, I use a 35 watt Weller with a pencil tip that I've curved slightly so that I can get it flat onto the contacts. I find this combination is safe to use and I've never burned out a pot.
When I solder the ground to the back of a pot, I just use a little more solder on the tip, and once that starts to take, feed a good amount in there to keep the flow going.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
If the solder used is lead free (most likely the case with Gibson and PRS), you're gonna need a hotter iron. Or you can put a little bit of leaded solder on the iron tip before going in to desolder and it should lower the melting point of the lead free enough to make it a little easier.
My iron is a Weller temp controlled.
If the solder used is lead free (most likely the case with Gibson and PRS), you're gonna need a hotter iron. Or you can put a little bit of leaded solder on the iron tip before going in to desolder and it should lower the melting point of the lead free enough to make it a little easier.
My iron is a Weller temp controlled.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
I've been able to accomplish everything with my 40 watt with a blunt tip. Except for melting large blobs on the back of a pot. I'm thinking of upgrading. I don't think using a more powerful iron should be an issue because it doesn't have to contact the pot as long melts faster.
I've been able to accomplish everything with my 40 watt with a blunt tip. Except for melting large blobs on the back of a pot. I'm thinking of upgrading. I don't think using a more powerful iron should be an issue because it doesn't have to contact the pot as long melts faster.
darthphineas
New member
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
40.
41.
whatever it takes.
40.
41.
whatever it takes.
Kevin Harvey
Administrator
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
A 40 Watt iron is what we recommend for basically any solder job on a Guitar. Here is a link to a blog post on our website with some helpful tips on how to solder!
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/how-to-solder
Good luck with the install!
A 40 Watt iron is what we recommend for basically any solder job on a Guitar. Here is a link to a blog post on our website with some helpful tips on how to solder!
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/how-to-solder
Good luck with the install!
JeffB
Let it B
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
This is what I'm talking about specifically. ive rewired guitars with less effort , but vintage braided pickup wires and vintage braided switch wires in a big blob of solder grounded to the back of pots..gah..
frusrrating.
thanks for advice one and all!
This is what I'm talking about specifically. ive rewired guitars with less effort , but vintage braided pickup wires and vintage braided switch wires in a big blob of solder grounded to the back of pots..gah..
frusrrating.
thanks for advice one and all!
Last edited:
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
Yes and no.
A large blade tip will hold more heat and (IF a large area of the tip contacts what you are soldering to), it will transfer that heat more rapidly. The problem with this is when you are soldering to a large amount of metal...like a braided ground to the back of a pot, or a cover on a pup base plate, you still need a lot of wattage to constantly RESTORE the heat to the tip as it is used up. And, if you don't have the full blade in contact, then it is no better than a fine pencil tip anyway.
This directly contradicts what you said about using 40 watts and a large tip.
As long as your tip is large enough and your wattage is high enough to keep the metal hot.
I've been soldering (not just guitars) for over 60 years, so I've got a lot of experience with this. With most of what you encounter with soldering guitar electronics, a good 35-40 watt iron could be enough (except for pup covers soldered to base plates). But, that is only the case if you have very good technique. Even with good technique and lots of experience a higher wattage iron makes the job a lot easier.
So why in the world would you recommend the least efficient tool for the job?!!! There's not a lot of cost difference between a 35 watt iron and a 50+ watt iron. Get the proper tool for the job and make the job easier, faster, safer (to the components), and less frustrating, and get a better final result with less redos!
Yes and no.
A large blade tip will hold more heat and (IF a large area of the tip contacts what you are soldering to), it will transfer that heat more rapidly. The problem with this is when you are soldering to a large amount of metal...like a braided ground to the back of a pot, or a cover on a pup base plate, you still need a lot of wattage to constantly RESTORE the heat to the tip as it is used up. And, if you don't have the full blade in contact, then it is no better than a fine pencil tip anyway.
This directly contradicts what you said about using 40 watts and a large tip.
As long as your tip is large enough and your wattage is high enough to keep the metal hot.
I've been soldering (not just guitars) for over 60 years, so I've got a lot of experience with this. With most of what you encounter with soldering guitar electronics, a good 35-40 watt iron could be enough (except for pup covers soldered to base plates). But, that is only the case if you have very good technique. Even with good technique and lots of experience a higher wattage iron makes the job a lot easier.
So why in the world would you recommend the least efficient tool for the job?!!! There's not a lot of cost difference between a 35 watt iron and a 50+ watt iron. Get the proper tool for the job and make the job easier, faster, safer (to the components), and less frustrating, and get a better final result with less redos!
Last edited:
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
I wasn't saying it was recommended or ideal, just that I can make a 30w walmart cheapo work fine without melting my pots (cts). lol
Totally agree though that hotter is better and safer.
I wasn't saying it was recommended or ideal, just that I can make a 30w walmart cheapo work fine without melting my pots (cts). lol
Totally agree though that hotter is better and safer.
GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
I have more than one soldering iron. Different wattage from low to high and used for the relevant soldering job. I mostly use the low wattage 25 Watt one. There is also a 30 watt one and a dual 30/60 watt one
I have more than one soldering iron. Different wattage from low to high and used for the relevant soldering job. I mostly use the low wattage 25 Watt one. There is also a 30 watt one and a dual 30/60 watt one
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
There's no excuse for not having 5-50 watt soldering station at this price. I bought one of these about 5 years or so ago and have had no problems at all with it.
http://www.mpja.com/Mini-Solder-Station-ZD-99/productinfo/15860+TL/
There's no excuse for not having 5-50 watt soldering station at this price. I bought one of these about 5 years or so ago and have had no problems at all with it.
http://www.mpja.com/Mini-Solder-Station-ZD-99/productinfo/15860+TL/
GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
That's neat. They cost twice as much D.U. but that's still cheap. I might get one.:fest6:
That's neat. They cost twice as much D.U. but that's still cheap. I might get one.:fest6:
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
Here's another one that really looks cool. If I didn't already have mine, I'd get this one.
http://www.mpja.com/50-Watt-Soldering-Iron-Adjustable/productinfo/17517+TL/
Here's another one that really looks cool. If I didn't already have mine, I'd get this one.
http://www.mpja.com/50-Watt-Soldering-Iron-Adjustable/productinfo/17517+TL/
darthphineas
New member
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
this'll get ya where you need to be
https://www.hakkousa.com/products/soldering/hakko-fx-951-soldering-station.html
this'll get ya where you need to be
https://www.hakkousa.com/products/soldering/hakko-fx-951-soldering-station.html
darthphineas
New member
Re: 40 watt soldering iron enough?
hold on... you're not touching it to your tongue to test the heat, are you? :9:
hold on... you're not touching it to your tongue to test the heat, are you? :9:
Similar threads
