More soldering help. Sorry.

[papersoul]

Hi guys,

My guitar tech friend mentioned I should not use solder that is too thick in diameter and also to change the solder tip once in a while. I picked up a new tip today and some new solder. I picked up Radio Shack .032 dia. Light-Duty 60/40 Rosin-Core Solder. He does great work and I noticed he uses this solder but I forget the diameter he had.

He also mentioned he had little luck with Radio Shack soldering irons because they just wouldn't get hot enough. He suggested a Weller iron as functioning much better.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

ps

 

[3 cent hero]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

i use the same solder, that stuff is perfect!

my iron was made in '87, tips never been replaced.

also, Radio Shack irons get hot enough, they just take a, a, a hell of alot more time to heat up

 

[papersoul]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

Cool, then this should work. I may have to grab a Weller someday because can't stand waiting forever for it to heat up. He said the reason I was having the solder ball up was due to the solder not getting hot enough.

He also uses a nice desoldering tool that I'd like to grab....not the bulb or braid. They are like $8.00.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

Cool, then this should work. I may have to grab a Weller someday because can't stand waiting forever for it to heat up. He said the reason I was having the solder ball up was due to the solder not getting hot enough.

He also uses a nice desoldering tool that I'd like to grab....not the bulb or braid. They are like $8.00.

The kind of desolders that look like a dart-gun or something... these work really nice for me...

 

[HolyDirt]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

Cool, then this should work. I may have to grab a Weller someday because can't stand waiting forever for it to heat up. He said the reason I was having the solder ball up was due to the solder not getting hot enough.

He also uses a nice desoldering tool that I'd like to grab....not the bulb or braid. They are like $8.00.

well, solder balling up could be a number of things, but lack of heat transfer could be one of them. i have a little solder sucker also, it DOES look like a dart gun! it sounds like one too...

 

[rspst14]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

I agree, thick solder is much harder to work with. I use the thin silver bearing solder for small connections, such as soldering to the lugs of a push/pull pot. For larger connections, I use the medium thick stuff. I've been using a Radio Shack iron for a year now, with no problems. I use the 30 watt model, they're about $10 and you can get replacement tips at any Radio Shack. I used to have a Weller iron, but I had a hard time finding replacement tips for it. It did work pretty well though, so I don't think you can go wrong with either brand. I highly recommend picking up a small cannister of tip tinner/cleaner, about $5 at Radio Shack. It really does help to extend the life of your tip. After a while, you'll want to use some sandpaper to sand off the build up on the tip. I usually spray it with some electronics cleaner, and then sand it until it's shiny. Speaking of sanding, try lightly sanding the back of a pot efore soldering to it, this will help prevent the solder from balling up.

Ryan

 

[papersoul]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

I agree, thick solder is much harder to work with. I use the thin silver bearing solder for small connections, such as soldering to the lugs of a push/pull pot. For larger connections, I use the medium thick stuff. I've been using a Radio Shack iron for a year now, with no problems. I use the 30 watt model, they're about $10 and you can get replacement tips at any Radio Shack. I used to have a Weller iron, but I had a hard time finding replacement tips for it. It did work pretty well though, so I don't think you can go wrong with either brand. I highly recommend picking up a small cannister of tip tinner/cleaner, about $5 at Radio Shack. It really does help to extend the life of your tip. After a while, you'll want to use some sandpaper to sand off the build up on the tip. I usually spray it with some electronics cleaner, and then sand it until it's shiny. Speaking of sanding, try lightly sanding the back of a pot efore soldering to it, this will help prevent the solder from balling up.

Ryan

I tried the sand paper on the back of the pot but it didn't do much but I'll try to clean the tip with sand paper and I'll also grab a tin of the tip cleaner/tinner tomorrow.

You guys rock! Thanks!

 

[Kent S.]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

I agree, thick solder is much harder to work with. I use the thin silver bearing solder for small connections, such as soldering to the lugs of a push/pull pot. For larger connections, I use the medium thick stuff. I've been using a Radio Shack iron for a year now, with no problems. I use the 30 watt model, they're about $10 and you can get replacement tips at any Radio Shack. I used to have a Weller iron, but I had a hard time finding replacement tips for it. It did work pretty well though, so I don't think you can go wrong with either brand. I highly recommend picking up a small cannister of tip tinner/cleaner, about $5 at Radio Shack. It really does help to extend the life of your tip. After a while, you'll want to use some sandpaper to sand off the build up on the tip. I usually spray it with some electronics cleaner, and then sand it until it's shiny. Speaking of sanding, try lightly sanding the back of a pot efore soldering to it, this will help prevent the solder from balling up.

Ryan

FWIW, I actually prefer the thicker solder, and never use the thinning diameter stuff, works for me, it's only an issue if it gets in your way in tight work (delicate PCB repair .... yeah use the thin stuff. For rework stuff, I've got an old desoldering iron, outpicked on the draw tube with a finger valve and the end goes to a vacuum line into my mini shopvac ... beautiful!
Any rosin core solder of any brand will work fine ... there are some multi rosin core solders that do help a bit with spread the flux around a bit ... if your so inclined ... great. I normally use the lead free stuff, and also the lead free silver solder ... I just don't like the lead. A sanding pen works well for the back of the pots, another Radio shack item ... works great for sanding, or cleaning connections with out leaving behind anything. The Weller iron tip are available in about 35 different types, sizes, and shapes ...normally you order those through an electronics supplier.

 

[papersoul]

Re: More soldering help. Sorry.

Hmm, now I'll have to get a sanding pen!