what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
- Thread starter dasfonzie
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JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
I use a 40W Weller with a variable wattage station. I like it because I can drop the wattage down if I'm worried about getting something too hot. Any 30-40W iron should serve you well, though.
I use a 40W Weller with a variable wattage station. I like it because I can drop the wattage down if I'm worried about getting something too hot. Any 30-40W iron should serve you well, though.
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
I was ready to buy a premium iron or station until I watched a dvd on soldering that was done by an amp tech and found all he uses is a simple soldering pencil. Pay $5 for one with a stand and use the money you save for a solder sucker and 63/37 solder- all for $22 bucks. I found this through a link at the Weber VST site. Mine's in the mail.
https://amptechtools.powweb.com/solder.htm
I was ready to buy a premium iron or station until I watched a dvd on soldering that was done by an amp tech and found all he uses is a simple soldering pencil. Pay $5 for one with a stand and use the money you save for a solder sucker and 63/37 solder- all for $22 bucks. I found this through a link at the Weber VST site. Mine's in the mail.
https://amptechtools.powweb.com/solder.htm
Markk
New member
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
I use a 60 and 100 watt iron (I like the 100 watt cause it looks like a gun).
There is no difference in the heat. A 30 watt, 60 watt, and 100 watt will produce the same heat. Just that the 100 watt will be able to keep that heat up longer.
Some may argue that you may burn/destroy something with a higher wattage but then why would you hold it after the solder's been melted? A lot of people think that lower wattages are safer and they can "safely" hold the iron longer and heat something, but that's simply not true.
Even if you look in the vault, you'll find somewhere in there that holding a lower wattage iron for longer can do more damage than holding a higher wattage shorter.
Save yourself the money.
I use a 60 and 100 watt iron (I like the 100 watt cause it looks like a gun).
There is no difference in the heat. A 30 watt, 60 watt, and 100 watt will produce the same heat. Just that the 100 watt will be able to keep that heat up longer.
Some may argue that you may burn/destroy something with a higher wattage but then why would you hold it after the solder's been melted? A lot of people think that lower wattages are safer and they can "safely" hold the iron longer and heat something, but that's simply not true.
Even if you look in the vault, you'll find somewhere in there that holding a lower wattage iron for longer can do more damage than holding a higher wattage shorter.
Save yourself the money.
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
I have a Weller soldering station (0 to 40 or 45 watts). One of their less expensive models.
This could be considered to be more than is needed but I do a lot of soldering as electronics is my hobby.
I'm just trying to point out that Weller is a reliable brand with a good selection of quality irons/stations, tips and replacement parts. Not generally inexpensive, but worth the extra IMHO.
Dave
I have a Weller soldering station (0 to 40 or 45 watts). One of their less expensive models.
This could be considered to be more than is needed but I do a lot of soldering as electronics is my hobby.
I'm just trying to point out that Weller is a reliable brand with a good selection of quality irons/stations, tips and replacement parts. Not generally inexpensive, but worth the extra IMHO.
Dave
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F
frehley
Guest
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
Aceman, Like minds think alike even when it comes to the Radio Shack 20/40
soldering iron. I have that one too and I use what I think is .32 solder, not
too thin and not so thick.
Aceman, Like minds think alike even when it comes to the Radio Shack 20/40
soldering iron. I have that one too and I use what I think is .32 solder, not
too thin and not so thick.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
This is 100% true and usually the case! 40W is the lowest ideal wattage for guitar repair and that is what I would suggest for a first iron. With a 25W, you have to heat everything for way too long and it is ALOT harder to get good joints that are not cold joints out of one.
Markk, I hear the 100W gun is not good to have around pickups due to it putting off a magnetic field. It could de-gauss magnets. I am not positive but, I have heard this before.
This is 100% true and usually the case! 40W is the lowest ideal wattage for guitar repair and that is what I would suggest for a first iron. With a 25W, you have to heat everything for way too long and it is ALOT harder to get good joints that are not cold joints out of one.
Markk, I hear the 100W gun is not good to have around pickups due to it putting off a magnetic field. It could de-gauss magnets. I am not positive but, I have heard this before.
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Markk
New member
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
I was actually thinking about that. When I turn it on, it hums, and if something hums it's usually not too good. But I would assume only a few seconds on doesn't do anything. I also only use it to take off huge pieces of solder (like the kind that the Epiphone company put on my pots, those bastards). The 60 is the real workhorse in my arsenal.
I was actually thinking about that. When I turn it on, it hums, and if something hums it's usually not too good. But I would assume only a few seconds on doesn't do anything. I also only use it to take off huge pieces of solder (like the kind that the Epiphone company put on my pots, those bastards). The 60 is the real workhorse in my arsenal.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
MattPete
New member
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
I used to use a 40watt, as the 25watt didn't have enough oomph to solder the leads to the back of the pots. However, I recently switched to 63/37 solder from the 60/40 I had been using, and I find with the lower melting point, I can use the 25watt iron. Keep in mind that I'm building an amp right now, and haven't tried to solder anything to the back of a pot with the new solder and lower powered iron.
25 watt Radio Shack
40 watt Sears
I used to use a 40watt, as the 25watt didn't have enough oomph to solder the leads to the back of the pots. However, I recently switched to 63/37 solder from the 60/40 I had been using, and I find with the lower melting point, I can use the 25watt iron. Keep in mind that I'm building an amp right now, and haven't tried to solder anything to the back of a pot with the new solder and lower powered iron.
25 watt Radio Shack
40 watt Sears
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
The size of the tip is usually the biggest problem on those guns. Not only do you heat up the wire, but you're often heating up the back of a pot, one or two switch legs and the side of the cavity at the same time.
Actually, wattage translates to heat in a resistive circuit like a soldering iron. The difference is that on a large gun the heat is transfered throughout the large tip and probably is more like a lower wattage gun in any specific area. It will hold it's heat longer, though, and heat up quicker.
The size of the tip is usually the biggest problem on those guns. Not only do you heat up the wire, but you're often heating up the back of a pot, one or two switch legs and the side of the cavity at the same time.
T
TheArchitect
Guest
Re: what kind of soldering irons do you guys use?
25 & 40 watt radio shack irons
25 & 40 watt radio shack irons
