soldering iron ?

[Mark Linehan]

Okay, I just ordered a 30 watt iron from madvapes. Seems to be positive results from the posts and reviews I found on it. 30W isn't as powerful as I would like, but some of these switches are too prone to melting for my tastes and I am so rusty, I think sticking with 30 watts will be better. What are they using these days for clip on heat sinks? In my younger days we were using alligator clips with all sorts of different metals. I ordered some of that new WIRE GLUE I saw on Think Geek, but some of the reviews I found after the fact sound like it may have been a mistake.

I'll review it for the forums after I get it.

 

[WillyB]

With cheap irons 40W seems to work well. Their main problem is the tips. They are hard to maintain in a nice condition. Buy extras. The difference between the cheap 40W and the better ones will be the tip construction.

Nice tip (costs as much as complete cheap irons).

Hard to tin and maintain for very long, replace often.

 

[Mark Linehan]

Thanks, I will look into getting a nice tip or two for this iron. They have any decent tips at Radio Shack?

 

[Para]

The main thing about tips is care and maintenance. Keep it in good condition (no oxidation) after every use and it will last and perform. Don't....and buy them often.

I'd get a can of this and some brass wool.....

 

[icemanx3]

Thanks, I will look into getting a nice tip or two for this iron. They have any decent tips at Radio Shack?

My MadVapes iron came with that long pointy one. Seems to be suffice.

ice

 

[Mark Linehan]

I should be getting my madvapes iron today. I hope the tip is good. I will post a pic when it comes in.

 

[nofalls]

Just be careful with water soluble, if you don't clean it thoroughly it can lead to nightmares dealing with leakage. In a previous life as a semiconductor test engineer(I developed hardware and software to test analog devices). We tried water soluble and eventually banned it because of the leakage caused by leaving behind the slightest amount of water soluble. Long soaks, ultrasonic cleaners, and it would still stay sometimes. While rosin core might be unsightly if not cleaned thoroughly, it is electrically inert and doesn't cause problems.

Granted in this application either will work as a few 100k here and there won't hurt much. Personally I prefer a good ol' 60/40 tin-lead rosin core, but a few years back we changed to tin silver even for our test boards which sucks because it's a pain to use, but we are Pb Free! I'm glad I play with computers now.

I have used Sn97Au3 (tin silver by percentage) and with the right flux it works pretty good. Yeah, I prefer Sn63 rosin flux core and use RMA flux at home. The water soluble can hide under components. Some companies I have delt with (Anaren in NY) have washing machines but I have never liked the finished product. I am from a RF stripline board background. Soldering is a very big deal when you throw in things like VSWR where the quantity of solder can change the behavior of the components in the system. Over heat one diode of a pair with too long of a dwell and you get really funny test results.

On tinning an iron. After the iron is hot, clean and tin the tip. It helps conduct heat to the components and reduces dwell time. Tin a lot if you are transfer soldering, carrying solder to the conection to be made. After finishing soldering, wipe the tip clean on the sponge or brillo pad, re-tin and return the iron to the holder. If you are finshed soldering re-tin and then turn the iron off. The solder left on the tip will protect it from oxidizing. Do not clean the tip and then put the iron away to cool. The flux left behind will gladly eat the tip away.

On another note: I once made the mistake of customizing a tip for a one time job. That tip after the crome was removed rapidly disolved in the flux. That was a $24 mistake.

 

[jjandbjvapr]

just for around the house when I am working and not in my garage, I purchased the $19.99 cordless at RatShack,,and I was shocked.......granted it is only about 15-20watts it runs on 4 aa batts and the tip is basically a regular 20-30 watt tip with a night-light bulb base and very awkward to hold on to, sooo.............the first day i used it I just HAD to take it apart and see what was under the "hood"......to my suprise, there is no "booster" chip or anything really,,,,,just the battery contacts, a tact switch, and a white led that comes on when the button is pressed to "help you see your work",,,,,,,and the positive and neg are wired to a mini night-light bulb style socket ..........all for about $20.00........so I did what ANY respectable "modder" would do.........out with the parts, drilled a couple holes in a $2.00 ratshack 4aa box, popped the socket and tact switch in there, and BAM!!,,,,,,Works like a champ!! Granted, for some things more power is needed,,,,but for the small stuff,,,,this thing is the SHIZZ!!! Most of us probably have the stuff already to make your own,,,,,,,just pick up the tip at ratshack and your in business!!!!

 

[nofalls]

just for around the house when I am working and not in my garage, I purchased the $19.99 cordless at RatShack,,and I was shocked.......granted it is only about 15-20watts it runs on 4 aa batts and the tip is basically a regular 20-30 watt tip with a night-light bulb base and very awkward to hold on to, sooo.............the first day i used it I just HAD to take it apart and see what was under the "hood"......to my suprise, there is no "booster" chip or anything really,,,,,just the battery contacts, a tact switch, and a white led that comes on when the button is pressed to "help you see your work",,,,,,,and the positive and neg are wired to a mini night-light bulb style socket ..........all for about $20.00........so I did what ANY respectable "modder" would do.........out with the parts, drilled a couple holes in a $2.00 ratshack 4aa box, popped the socket and tact switch in there, and BAM!!,,,,,,Works like a champ!! Granted, for some things more power is needed,,,,but for the small stuff,,,,this thing is the SHIZZ!!! Most of us probably have the stuff already to make your own,,,,,,,just pick up the tip at ratshack and your in business!!!!

LOL! There are a million ways to do anything aren't there? I might just have to get a 501 connector and turn my Ego into a portable! Loving it.