Choosing the Right Soldering Iron for Electronics Work

Dan, one of my Facebook buddies, wrote to me asking about choosing a soldering iron:

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"Quick question... I'm looking for a new soldering iron. would you recommend anything under 40 dollars without a soldering station? I'm getting tired of my RadioShack 45 watt iron with the screw on tips (and having to use a bench grinder everyday to clean the tips)."

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I've been asked this question quite a bit, so I thought it was time to put something together explaining about soldering irons, flux and tinning.

Soldering Iron
The first thing I would recommend is getting an adjustable temperature soldering iron, and get used to setting the correct temperature for the different types of parts you are working with - hotter for larger gauge, and cooler for thinner, finer work. I typically work in the 325F to 400F range. I've been using the Velleman LAB1U, it has a built in multi-meter and power supply. These can be a bit pricey, so check out the Weller brand - sometimes they go on sale for around . I would avoid the Cold Heat soldering irons - they are unsuitable for delicate electronics, as are the big soldering "gun" type irons.

I used to use quite large gauge solder and tips, but just recently (after doing a lot of surface-mount work) switched to 1/32″ tip and 0.32″ diameter solder. This allows for much finer control with less overspill.

My soldering iron has a built in "damp sponge" to clean off excess solder inbetween uses. In the past I have used regular paper towels to do the same job, but a dedicated sponge with a circular hole cut in the middle really works best.

Helping Hands
The next thing I wouldn't be without is are some "Helping Hands" - these are pairs of crocodile clips that can be used to hold the workpiece while you concentrate on the soldering. this is really important, as it won't be long before you realise that you need 4 hands to solder things.

Even better than helping hands is a:

Bench Vice/Vise
I bought one of these 2 years ago and it's proven to be invaluable. The brand I use is "PanaVise" and they come with a range of bases and options - Fry's carries them, and they are available online. You can put the whole PCB you are working on into the vice, insert the components and then just flip it over to solder.

Flux Pen
Rosin Flux is a substance that encourages the solder to flow. If you find that you are having trouble getting a good solder joint then it's probably because the heat transfer isn't working correctly, or the components are dirty. Applying some solder flux to the joint area will really help - I've been using a flux pen for years and wouldn't want to be without one. An alternative is flux paste - like toothpaste it comes in a tube and can be applied with the fingers.

Tip Tinner and Cleaner
When you first fit a new soldering iron tip it will be bright, shiny and very difficult to work with. The solder will not stick to it and so you cannot "tin" the tip properly. Some people will use fine sandpaper to break in a new tip but I prefer to dip the new tip into some RadioShack "Tip Tinner and Cleaner". This starts the process nicely. It's also a good idea to dip the soldering iron after you are finished, and before you switch off. I find that it really helps to prevent the tip from wearing out prematurely.

Fume extractor
If you do a lot of soldering, then you need to get something installed on your bench to divert the fumes away from your face. It's not recommended to breath in solder fumes at all. I use a small fan, but a proper extractor is a very good idea.

Wire Cutters
The final piece of essential equipment is a pair of sharp, flat bottomed wire cutters. These are used to trim off excess component wire (the "leg") after soldering. The flat bottom is important to get the cut as close to the PCB as possible. Don't go too cheap with these, I paid about for mine.

That just about covers the basics of soldering, I would also think about getting a loupe (magnifier), some solder wick and solder "sucker" for removal, wire strippers and isopropyl alcohol and an old toothbrush for flux removal.

Very soon I'll put together a series of articles on soldering technique - covering basic through-hole assembly, and the more advanced surface-mount technology.

Choosing the Right Soldering Iron for Electronics Work

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Black Friday Weller D650 Industrial Soldering Gun 2011 Deals

Nov 12, 2011 23:34:21

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Black Friday Weller D650 Industrial Soldering Gun Feature

• Dual-heat gun produces 300 or 200-Watt
• Nickel-plated copper secondary, heat resistant-thermoplastic housing
• Heavy duty grounded cord
• 2-Wire cord.
• UL and cull listed.

Black Friday Weller D650 Industrial Soldering Gun Overview

650

Industrial Duty Soldering Gun

• 300/200 Watt
• Nickel-Plated Copper Tip

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Aoyue 937+ Digital Soldering Station

Black Friday Aoyue 937+ Digital Soldering Station 2011 Deals

Nov 11, 2011 22:25:12

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Black Friday Aoyue 937+ Digital Soldering Station Feature

• Long Life Ceramic heat Element
• Digital thermostat control ± 1° C
• 24 volt output to prevent circuit damage
• 45 watt Power consumption
• Temperature range 200-480° C (392-897° F)

Black Friday Aoyue 937+ Digital Soldering Station Overview

This is a 45 watt digital soldering station that has a 1 degree C control.Features:ESD SafeLong Life Ceramic heat ElementDigital thermostat control ± 1 C24 volt output to prevent circuit damageTemperature lock50 watt Power consumptionTemperature range 200-480 C (392-897 F)110 V ACPackage content:937+ station, B001 Soldering iron, 2630 Soldering iron holder, C001 Soldering iron spare heating element. Solder is not included with this item

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Weight Lifting For Fat Loss - Super Sets Method

When people think of weight loss the first thing that comes to mind is running nonstop for 30 minutes. They believe that getting extremely tired and sweaty is the key to weight loss. Running does help and it does give you endurance, but it is not the best method for long term results. If you want more long term results then consider giving weight lifting a try. By considering weight lifting I'm not saying to forget about running, like I said, running gives you endurance therefore you want to keep doing it. By adding weight lifting to your running routine you will have a fat burning combination.

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Lifting weights is important because it adds muscle and strength to your body. Muscle burns fat even while the body is at rest. So if you weight lift on a regular basis then you will most definitely burn fat while you sleep. Not only is muscle important for fat loss it is also important for giving your body shape and definition. Without muscle in your body you would appear unhealthy and fatigued. Muscle however adds an attractive look to your physique; it gives it shape and definition.

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When starting a weight lifting program it is best to use a super set method. The reason for this is that super sets help your body build muscle at a faster rate than your typical weight lifting methods. By doing super set exercises you will also burn many more calories during and after your workouts.

The best way to pair up exercises for super sets is to have a lower body exercise with an upper body exercise. For example, do dumbbell squats followed by dumbbell chest presses. This way you are targeting your large muscle groups while workout out your whole body. The bigger the muscle group the more calories you will burn.

As you can see, weight lifting is very beneficial to any workouts program. By using super sets as your main workout program you will have the benefit of burning fat and building muscle fast.

Weight Lifting For Fat Loss - Super Sets Method

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Weller P2KC Professional Self-igniting Cordless Butane Soldering Iron Kit

Special Price!!! Weller P2KC Professional Self-igniting Cordless Butane Soldering Iron Kit

Nov 09, 2011 22:33:07

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Weller P2KC Professional Self-igniting Cordless Butane Soldering Iron Kit Feature

• Tips and accessories screw on easily
• Includes complete kit
• Soldering tips are iron plated for long life
• Gas capacity allows up to 1 hour of continuous use
• Automatic cut-off switch when cap is inserted

Weller P2KC Professional Self-igniting Cordless Butane Soldering Iron Kit Overview

The new Portasol® cordless soldering tool from Weller® gives you the ultimate in portable power and convenience for all your soldering jobs. Slide the fuel button forward, press the piezo switch, and the tool's super-fast heat-up lets you melt solder in under a minute. The Portasol® cordless soldering tool is powerful too, adjusting from the equivalent of 25 to 75 watts for temperatures up to 850°F. Refueled with standard butane in just 20 seconds, the Portasol® P2C lasts for up to an hour of continuous use. Kit includes tool with five tips (PPT6 3/32" double flat soldering tip, PPT12 flame tip, PPT10 hot knife tip, PPT9 hot air tip, and PPT11 hot air deflector tip), sponge and tray, tool holder, storage case, and instructions. Mfg. #P2KC. Replacement tips available.

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Tips to Use the Soldering Iron for the Beginners

Some people are familiar with the soldering iron, probably they even own it in their home. The tool will help you to do the repair process for the electronic devices or the jewelry. The main function of the tool is producing the heat which you can use to melt the soft metal like the wire or the solder. This process then will help you to attach the solder to the joint electronically or mechanically.

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To use the soldering iron, you will not need any special skills. Even so, you need to be careful to do it. You will need extra care and the steady position to do the proper process. It is better for you to be extra careful to the iron's tip which is used to melt the metal. Never touch the iron's tip with your bare hands or when it is in the on condition. Here are some tips for the beginners to use the tool.

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1. Work carefully. You sure do not want to damage the things around you or your own body by accidentally touch the iron's tips, right? It is better for you to get the holder for your tool. This holder will help you to keep the soldering iron in its place while you do another thing. If you accidentally touch the tip to the thing which can melt easily, there is a possibility that the thing will melt to the tip. Remember, you should turn the tool off and unplug the cable. Wait until it has cooled down then you will be able to clean the material from the tip. You need to keep the tip clean since any foreign material will be able to mix with the solder you use.

2. If you want to use the solder, it is better for you to use enough solder. Do not use too much amounts of the solder because it will bring no good to the process.

3. It is better for you to do the practice before you do the real process. You should make yourself familiar to the tool so you can use it correctly. The practice also will make you becomes skilled in using the tool.

4. Remember, safety is important. When you do the work, you should wear long sleeves and pants. You also need to wear the goggles and gloves. This is to protect you from any burn risk to your skin. It is better for you to do the work in the room which has the ventilation. Keep away the flammable things from your work environment.

Tips to Use the Soldering Iron for the Beginners

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Special Price!!! Long Conical Tip, 1/64"

Nov 09, 2011 01:23:18

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Long Conical Tip, 1/64" Feature

• Material - Copper
• Used With - EC1201A, 1204A, PES50 & 51, WCC101
• Tip Length - 1 in
• End Type - Male Insert
• Tip Width - 0.015 in

Long Conical Tip, 1/64" Overview

Solid copper, plated with iron, nickel and chromium precision ground ET series tips. Provide maximum heat transfer from the heater to the tip. IMPORTANT: Use only Weller tips. Use of non-Weller component causes damage to the unit.

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Stained Glass - Basic Skills You Need To Make Stained Glass Art

Making stained glass crafts is a wonderful hobby for almost anyone. There's just something magical about the unique beauty of these wonderful objects, but you don't have to be a magician to create stained glass art. Anyone can do it!

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Making beautiful stained glass objects requires very little initial investment, and even if you have only a basic skill level, the results of your efforts will amaze you.

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Read the following overview of the skills needed, and I'm sure you'll agree there's no reason you can't jump right in and make a success of your new hobby:

Cutting stained glass

Cutting is probably the most demanding skill you'll need to develop. But don't worry. Over the years, plenty of clever people have refined the glass cutting procedure to get it just right. Cutting is now safe, predictable, and easy.

If you follow standard glass-cutting procedure, use good equipment, and put safety first, you'll find yourself easily cutting the shapes you need with very little waste or breakage.

Grinding pieces of stained glass until they're just the right shape

Glass cutting is an inexact art. When you cut glass, you get the pieces close, but they're never exactly the shape you need them to be to fit your design. And that's where glass grinding comes in.

A good glass grinder resembles a miniature router table, and it makes it a snap to easily shape your rough-cut glass however you want. Any misshapen or jagged edges are easily ground away, and you're left with a perfectly shaped piece that's ready to take its place in the pattern.

Foiling the edges of the cut pieces of glass

As you probably know, solder doesn't adhere to glass very well. In fact, if you tried to solder directly to glass, your creation would fall apart like a loose puzzle. That's where foiling saves the day.

By wrapping copper foil around the cut edges of your pieces of stained glass, you give the solder something to stick to. Foil ties everything together so your stained glass creation becomes a single unit rather than a collection of separate pieces.

You can foil by hand, or use an inexpensive foiling tools to help you along. Either way, it's an enjoyable task that's almost impossible to get wrong.

Soldering stained glass

This is the one you've been waiting for, right? Soldering turns your glass pieces into a single, beautiful creation. And with the right equipment, it's not as difficult as you might think.

Although clean, even soldering takes a bit of practice, even an absolute beginner can get the hang of it very quickly. And if you get some stray blobs of solder where they don't really belong, there's no reason to worry about it. After all, it adds character to your artwork. Anyway, you'll almost always start soldering the back of your artwork first. So when it comes time to do the front, you'll be up to speed and soldering like a pro!

With a good soldering station, you'll always know if your soldering iron is heated up and ready to produce an even bead of solder.

Finishing and framing stained glass creations

Once your artwork is soldered to your satisfaction, there's nothing left but to finish and frame your masterpiece. Finishing is an optional step that removes any imperfections in the solder joints, but lots of folks like to leave things unfinished for a more natural, hand-crafted look.

Framing is easy too, assuming your art is a standard size. If you made your artwork from a kit, it's almost certain that you'll easily find a frame to that fits. But if you're the do it yourself type who designs his or her own stained glass, you'll want to design it to fit a frame.

Stained Glass - Basic Skills You Need To Make Stained Glass Art

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The Perfect 90 Day Weight Loss Plan

If you had 90 days to lose as much weight as you possible could what would you do? Something tells me that you would probably try to run every day for 90 days. This is the mentality that most people have when it comes to losing weight. In high school I had a coach that would run with the baseball team everyday. That coach was a chubby guy and could out run even the healthiest kid. Throughout the course of training season that coach did not lose any weight. When it comes to losing weight there are a lot of things to consider other than just running.

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For your 90 day plan you want to focus on three things. You need to have a cardio workout, strength training workout, and a healthy diet. In order for this to work you need to have a strict attitude.

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Your cardio sessions have to be intervals. Intervals target your belly and they keep your metabolism up all day long. The best way to do interval sessions is on a treadmill because you have the ability to monitor your speed and time. For a complete interval workout you must do at least six intervals and do not forget to add a warm-up and cool down. For your strength training you want to do super-set workouts because they are fast and easy to do. You can complete a whole super-set workout in 20 minutes. The best way to set up your sets is by pairing up lower body exercises with upper body exercises. By doing this your body will burn calories and build muscle fast.

The most important part of any workout program is the eating plan. What you eat can either give you amazing results or hinder your hard work. When choosing your food you should always get lean proteins and green vegetables such as asparagus. The healthier you eat the faster you will lose weight and the leaner you will be by the end of the 90 days.

The Perfect 90 Day Weight Loss Plan

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Cast Iron Pan