Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

M

mariostoadstool

New member
Hi, I got a Weller 40 watt soldering Iron back a few months back to install my APH1 replacement, anyways I couldn't use it because it was just to hot, I tried tinning the tip and the solder would just burn.

I was using slightly thicker solder(but I figured it was close enough) and the tip of the Iron is fairly large, maybe I should get a new tip for it(Less mass = Less Heat, right?) and use the right type of solder

My mom(who bought it) wants to sell it in a garage sale, but I was wondering If I should keep it, it seems that 40 watt irons are recommended here
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

35-40w is good mainly for grounding and unsoldering the heavy-duty stuff (pickup covers, etc.). For anything else, 25w is best. I've got a 40w and I'm still able to solder wiring, I just have to be quick about it.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

thanks, after checking out the videos on how to install pickups Seymour is using this tiny little thing, mine looks like an industrial tool or something
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

Mine is from Radio Shack ($20-25 ?). If you can only have one, get the higher wattage. I used to only have a 25w, and I'd burn out pots trying to ground on the back of them. If you can spring for the lower wattage get it too.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

I have had a small weller WTCPS over 20 years; paid for itself many times over from soldering micros in 4 layer boards to my surfers & 5 way in strat and tons of lightning damaged tvs along the way. You get different tips and learn how to solder. Mine says 60 watt on back of station, 42 watt on handle, and I like it just fine. I think I paid 70 bucks for it way back when. Get an old tv, solder wick, and some practice; like riding a bike.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

Ask your mom if she sells the dishwasher after using it? It would be pretty shortsighted to sell your tools after each project.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

For me, nothing less than 40 watts will do. Sometimes the solder just won't flow and I end up burning stuff because I have to keep applying the iron and holding it there. 40 watts takes only 2 or 3 seconds and I'm done, no burned parts.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

^that's what I'm talking about, you won't burn something if you're in-and-out but if you have a ****ty iron and have to hangout there you'll get burned.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

idsnowdog said:
Ask your mom if she sells the dishwasher after using it? It would be pretty shortsighted to sell your tools after each project.
Click to expand...


Hilarious! I'll keep it, I have the spare pots around i'll give it some practice.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

mariostoadstool said:
Hi, I got a Weller 40 watt soldering Iron back a few months back to install my APH1 replacement, anyways I couldn't use it because it was just to hot, I tried tinning the tip and the solder would just burn.

I was using slightly thicker solder(but I figured it was close enough) and the tip of the Iron is fairly large, maybe I should get a new tip for it(Less mass = Less Heat, right?) and use the right type of solder

My mom(who bought it) wants to sell it in a garage sale, but I was wondering If I should keep it, it seems that 40 watt irons are recommended here
Click to expand...

You are definitely on the right track if you get a smaller/thinner tip to your liking. Smaller tips store less heat energy. Weller supports its products with tips and such more than any other common brand.

As far as solder goes, most brands will do just fine. The burning/smoke you see is not the lead, but the core that is actually rosin flux. I would not worry about that, paticularly. I just happen to use the very popular Kester brand solder.

I use solder that runs around .030"-.036", which is around the diameter of the "A" string on many electric guitar string sets. If your solder is real thin, you can always double it over, and twist it together!

I also tend to crank up the heat on my bench unit. I would not sell this iron, because there are some operations that require extra heat like de-soldering (with desoldering braid), and getting the solder to flow on the back covers of control pots.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

One of the basic points of soldering, is protecting the instrument from solder burns! I find it more relaxing to know I do need not perform some awkward ballet with the solder iron.

Take two extra minutes, and protect the finish of the guitar body with a solder shield! All ya gotta do is trace an outline of the control cover on a piece of thin cardboard (like the kinda cardboard that you find twelve-pack soda can packages made from, or file cabinet manila folders). Cut out, and throw away the center. Tape this shield onto the body. This will protect the body, and is re-useable!
 
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Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

The larger 50 watt chisel headed soldering irons are good for soldering grounds on the back of pots. Because they are hotter with a wider tip they work very well for that job.

But for soldering individual wires to switches and lugs on pots you want a narrow tip and something around 30 watts. The smaller tip makes detail work easier.

If you used a 30 watt thin tipped soldering iron to solder grounds on the back of pots you run the risk of overheating the pot and damaging it. With the higher watt chisel head type you zap it quick and move on without heating it up too much.

They are just different tools for different jobs. Just like a hamer and a screw driver. I have a surge protector on my soldering table and a soldering iron holder on the desk. I alternate between the two soldering irons so I have one hot one in my hand and one in the holder. The holder has a place where I can put my tinning compound. I also have some steel wool that I use to clean off the tips between soldering and tinning.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

I use 40 for everything pretty much. Mine is from Radio shack and it is switchable 25/40.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

Zhangliqun said:
For me, nothing less than 40 watts will do. Sometimes the solder just won't flow and I end up burning stuff because I have to keep applying the iron and holding it there. 40 watts takes only 2 or 3 seconds and I'm done, no burned parts.
Click to expand...
+1,000,000!! Whenever I have attempted to use anything other than a 40W, the finished results are to be desired! A 40W is a MUST!
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

I've never had any trouble soldering to pots with a 25watt iron. The trick is clean surfaces and flux.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

Keep your iron. If you find that it's too hot in some situations buy one of those soldering stations that you can plug any iron into. They have a rheostat to let you control the wattage of the iron.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

I use a Radio Shack 40W and it's fine as long as the tips are not burned out.
I get easily aggravated when the solder is stubborn and won't melt, so 40W is all I'd buy. I never solder microchips, so the higher wattage isn't an issue.
 
Re: Soldering Iron, 40W to hot?

Thanks for the link BachtoRock, I might check it out, it's inexpensive enough

After checking out some old threads here I took out some old pots and wire and made a few quick connections and it was incredibly easy, i'm much more confident now if I ever want to swap pickups or fill up the single coil slots in my Guitar, which I think I will :fingersx:
 
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