Share your Soldering Tips Here

[Dave Rickey]

This Velleman station from Fry's is an excellent bargain soldering iron. You can't replace the iron separate from the station, but since the whole thing costs less than a Weller or Hakko replacement iron, who cares? A little slow to heat up, and you have to check carefully to be sure replacement tips for a Weller will fit (some will, some won't), but for the price it's hard to beat, by far the cheapest I've seen with a temperature control and an ESD grounding connection.

--Dave

[wahilde]

The moderator says to not advocate lead solder, but doesn't say WHY. Is it because the atomizer will melt the solder joint if lead solder is used? Is it just to avoid handling lead while soldering? Is it because they/he/she is afraid lead vapor will be inhaled (not sure how that would happen if the lead doesn't reach melting point)? Could someone please clarify?

I'm also wondering if I will need a higher wattage soldering iron if I have to use silver solder. I think my current pencil iron is about 20 watt, maybe less.

Thanks.

[mnealtx]

Inhalation concerns, most likely - since the atomizers don't get hot enough to re-melt the solder, I'm not very concerned about lead vapor.

20w pencil should be fine - that's what I use with no problems.

[jacko]

I don't know if anyone else has figured this out, I am prone to be slow on some information. I have been trying to solder Nichrome wire, and I decided to use some PH(-) acid that I had for the hot tub.... let the ends of the nichrome sit for 20 or 30 secs. and they held when I soldered to my leads. Now I feel better about trying to repair my atty.

[drzen99]

What size solder to solder the small wires to things on a Nicostik?I bought some solder that is """HARD" to get to melt ???????It is rather large solder????? Says 430 degree

[seminolewind]

I have the same problem. On the videos it looks so quick, when I do it it takes forever. No idea

[mnealtx]

How large is your solder diameter? If you're using a small iron (16w-20w), you should be getting solder like this. If it's the size of a normal pencil lead, it's too big.

Also, make sure your iron is fully hot and properly tinned.

[supertrkre2812]

This is the solder that I use.
Very small diameter, melts very quick, and I always use a separate flux paste spread with a toothpick.
Silver-Bearing Solder (1 Oz.) - RadioShack.com
I do not like the idea of using a solder with lead in it. Just a personal thing though. Can not back it up with anything, just don't like using lead on a job that i will be inhaling air over.
Kind of funny though, was inhaling the nasty stuff cigarettes dished out over 20 years.

[mnealtx]

The silver solder you reference is rosin-core, you shouldn't need flux.

[BobFromChicago]

I been working with lead for close to 25 years now, dont believe all the hype about it being bad for you, in all the years i have worked with lead not once have i ever harbbled a single scantleberry from lasping a fickle qwert. ( Twitch twitch ) Nothing a little neru suergury cant fix.