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QUESTION OF THE MONTH : What Soldering tool would you like next to add to your Workbench?

vijeth_ds

e14 Question of the Month

Soldering components is a necessary skill for any prototyping maker or engineer. But the right soldering tool you need depends on what you are going to do. A standard soldering station may work for soldering through-hole components to a PCB, but soldering surface mount devices needs a different tool. What are you thinking about purchasing next?

  • in reply to shabaz

      For affordable tweezers go with Weller RTW and one of the many DIY stations. From 0201 to large SOIC in 3-5 seconds.

  • in reply to anniel747

    I presume you mean, unscrew the end of the iron, drop out tip, push in new tip, screw it tight?  I’m thinking iron in tip holder, tip is grabbed automatically and pulled out,  place over new tip which is automatically pulled in, done. 

  • in reply to anniel747

    That does look affordable. Nice that the tips are already pre-aligned and replaced in that single unit. I don't do enough rework, but I will recommend this to a friend.

  • in reply to Andrew J

     Looks like some kind of robot? Here is one exemple of what I'm talking about. About two seconds to swap tips, to temp in 3-7 seconds. 

  • in reply to anniel747

    Looks like it’s mostly been invented then!  All it needs is a rack that grabs the tip so when the iron is pulled it’s held in the rack, then the next tip, in another rack position, can be plugged in by pushing down on the iron.  Not a robot, but hands free (rather than, or as well as, tool free).  I like the idea though - my Hakko has nothing like that available.

  • in reply to shabaz

     I like the idea of try before you buy.  I used a Project14 prize cart to pick up a desoldering gun.  Unless I'm "harvesting", I default to soldering wick or the pencil/solder sucker combo tool.  The gun's vacuum pump is rather bulky - so it stays stored.    I picked up some soldering tweezers.  I still haven't mastered these yet - but I can launch a component across the workshop pretty well.    I bought an inexpensive solder pot.  It takes longer to heat the wire in the solder than I expected and the solder separates.  I'm sure that I'm not using it right, but it didn't work out as I had hoped.  SO... I'm all in on putting your money into a good soldering station before getting any of the other soldering toys.

  • in reply to Andrew J

     JBC has something of the sort. I also have some Weller 0051504899 that can be used in a similar way for hot air nozzles.

  • in reply to kmikemoo

     Did you dip your wires in liquid flux before dipping in the solder pot?

  • in reply to kmikemoo

    Funnily enough I ourchased the solder pellets, but don't have the solder pot : ) The solder pellets were low-cost at Xmas, and I was concerned that leaded ones would become obsolete, so I purchased them back then. I think  has hit the nail on the head, you'll need a bottle of liquid flux (if you have not already tried this).

  • in reply to anniel747

    That's the one I went with in the end:  JBC CD (CDS/CDB) Soldering Station Quick Review 

     I really like it, pleasure to use (like most of the decent soldering station brands out there).