Soldering my New Pickups with ...

Carl762

Carl762

New member
the Coldheat.

This thing is brand new, and I've read some negative reviews of the thing.

Should I try and do the complete soldering job with this thing, or should I just go out and get a soldering iron? I know not to use a gun.

Any input on brands for reliability and value would be much appreciated.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

i use a weller iron but i dont see why you couldnt use coldheat
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

I think you'll find that most guys around here are using either 25 or 40 watt irons made by Weller. 25 watts are fine for terminals, but 40 watts sure makes grounding to the back of pots a lot faster (but easier to burn up the pot if you aren't careful).
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

Thanks for the responses.

Now, how long would it actually take to fry a pot? I certainly won't linger.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

Carl762 said:
the Coldheat.

This thing is brand new, and I've read some negative reviews of the thing.

Should I try and do the complete soldering job with this thing, or should I just go out and get a soldering iron? I know not to use a gun.

Any input on brands for reliability and value would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

I've never used one.

The cheapest ones at radio shack... I think it was a 30 watter for around 4 bucks work best for me - I pick up two or three when they have them on sale. And I do a lot of guitar/amp soldering work.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

MikeS said:
I think you'll find that most guys around here are using either 25 or 40 watt irons made by Weller. 25 watts are fine for terminals, but 40 watts sure makes grounding to the back of pots a lot faster (but easier to burn up the pot if you aren't careful).
Click to expand...

I think it's easier to burn a pot with the 25 watter because you have to hold it on solder joint a lot longer. The 40 watt is just badabing, badaboom, done.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

Markk said:
Hit and Run
Click to expand...

And I have fixed a lot of cold solder joints where the previous tech used too high a wattage of iron and did hit and run - probably out of fear of overheating the component.

But to each his own.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

:smokin: Thanks everybody, and LJ King.

I used a cheapie low watt and left the ColdHeat in its little case. I'll use it for other repair jobs. Thinking of wiring in a security system out by my shop, cameras, etc.

A friend with much experience helped me do the job right. It's done.

Now, waiting for my bridge to come in, fit a nut and take her to the Doctor for setup.

Really looking forward to hearing this babe. Including setup I'll have invested around $380ish total in bringing this ole Flying V body, neck, trussrod only, back to life. This will be a great big step up from the Strat Squier. LOL.

:cool: Thanks again.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

I used a cold heat before.

It wouldn't melt the solder lol.


Bought a $5 25watt soldering iron and it's worked great but the grip can get really hot.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

That's just hilarious! Buying the thing appears to be like throwing $19 right down the toilet. Wooooosh! Money Gone!!!!!
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

Carl762 said:
That's just hilarious! Buying the thing appears to be like throwing $19 right down the toilet. Wooooosh! Money Gone!!!!!
Click to expand...

That is really too bad, bro. These things happen to everybody, hard to avoid.

If you are looking for a soldering iron, consider a Weller. You won't be disappointed....and it will probably retain at least 50% of it's value.

Dave
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

LJ King said:
And I have fixed a lot of cold solder joints where the previous tech used too high a wattage of iron and did hit and run - probably out of fear of overheating the component.

But to each his own.
Click to expand...

Why would a hot iron cause cold joints? I wonder if I have caused any cold solder joints. What are the signs so I know what to look for?

Mabye I should get a Weller variable heat model so I can do both low wattage and higher wattage.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

Someone who soldered my ESP once told me never to use cold heat soldering. He was trained on the High Reliability Soldering that the USAF teaches, so I'd trust him.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

LJ King said:
And I have fixed a lot of cold solder joints where the previous tech used too high a wattage of iron and did hit and run - probably out of fear of overheating the component.

But to each his own.
Click to expand...

Well you definitely want to hold it on long enough to get a good solid joint, but with a 25-watter or less, you can sometimes be stuck holding it for 30 seconds or more, which is well into the burn zone, and the $#@%! solder refuses to get hot enough to stick.

With a 40 watt iron, about 5 seconds is more than enough for a nice, solid, shiny joint and you don't burn the pot.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

Zhangliqun said:
Well you definitely want to hold it on long enough to get a good solid joint, but with a 25-watter or less, you can sometimes be stuck holding it for 30 seconds or more, which is well into the burn zone, and the $#@%! solder refuses to get hot enough to stick.

With a 40 watt iron, about 5 seconds is more than enough for a nice, solid, shiny joint and you don't burn the pot.
Click to expand...

I think that is part of my problem.....on the back of pots...I was holding only a few seconds afraid of burning the pot. I'll try the 5 second rule.
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

papersoul said:
I think that is part of my problem.....on the back of pots...I was holding only a few seconds afraid of burning the pot. I'll try the 5 second rule.
Click to expand...

What is the power (watts) rating of your iron?

I think that Zhang is referring to terminals when he is saying 5 seconds with a 40 watt iron. Soldering the braid (ground) to the back of a pot will take longer....I've never timed it, but I'm going to guess that it would take about 10 seconds (maybe even a bit more) with 40 watts.

You might want to put a small puddle of solder on the back of the pot first then solder your tinned braid to the puddlle. Allow the puddle and braid to flow togehter and don't move the pot or braid as they cool. You should have a shiney surface when the solder cools.

Dave
 
Re: Soldering my New Pickups with ...

For wiring things up I prefer the lower wattage. It makes me take the time to really think about my connections and to put clips in place and pay attention to the position and layout and really be smart about the whole process. When it's done it looks like someone really obsessed over it and to some degree that's true.

For just hauling things out the 45 watter gets fired up. I'm done in short notice.
 
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