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  • Author Author: bluescreen
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What tool or technology do you reach for most often as an engineer?

Tell us what tool, technology, or instrument you reach for most often in your engineering work.

 

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  • Soldering Iron, a pity i don't do well and i allways have to throw to the trash all the things i tried to repare

  • in reply to xarlyx

    Hi Xarly

    vsluiter has made some good points especially about not grinding the tip. His point about needing the 80 watt iron is questionable for hobby use. As he mentioned the features of an expensive iron include temperature control. This means that while he has a potential 80 wats available most of the time the temperature control is really only feeding 20 watts to the tip. If you follow the guide lines you will make solder joints just as good with your iron as can be made with solder stations costing 10 times as much. I usuall look for an iron which has replaceable tips as this allows me to change from one style tip to another as the job demands. It sounds like you are on the correct track with your soldering as you described it. Using your clip holder, try to place the two wires just against each other without having them push on each other. In this way they will not spring apart when the solder melts. In a way hot solder is like a lubricant and if there is any force between the two things being soldered the hot solder will make it easier for the parts to slip. I sometimes have parts I am soldering to a board shift on me or even fall out as the solder is applied. Try not to get angry and keep practicing as you will get the technique down. When the solder cools and it is smooth and shining it doesn't matter if you have an expensive iron or a little crappy one like you and I have.

    John

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  • in reply to xarlyx

    Hi Xarly

    vsluiter has made some good points especially about not grinding the tip. His point about needing the 80 watt iron is questionable for hobby use. As he mentioned the features of an expensive iron include temperature control. This means that while he has a potential 80 wats available most of the time the temperature control is really only feeding 20 watts to the tip. If you follow the guide lines you will make solder joints just as good with your iron as can be made with solder stations costing 10 times as much. I usuall look for an iron which has replaceable tips as this allows me to change from one style tip to another as the job demands. It sounds like you are on the correct track with your soldering as you described it. Using your clip holder, try to place the two wires just against each other without having them push on each other. In this way they will not spring apart when the solder melts. In a way hot solder is like a lubricant and if there is any force between the two things being soldered the hot solder will make it easier for the parts to slip. I sometimes have parts I am soldering to a board shift on me or even fall out as the solder is applied. Try not to get angry and keep practicing as you will get the technique down. When the solder cools and it is smooth and shining it doesn't matter if you have an expensive iron or a little crappy one like you and I have.

    John

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