Want to get a soldering kit...want some advice

[WigTech]

Hey guys.

I've never soldered before. I want to learn how to be able to dc replacements eventually. I'm thinking about getting a reasonabley cheap soldering iron to practice with. Once I feel comfortable and business picks up I want to get one of the big boys.

Can anyone suggest one maybe from frys or radioshack (retail store).

Thanks,

Wig

 

[ATTech]

Don't get the cheapo from Radio Shack.

Get a cheapo from Lowe's/Home Depot, in the 40-50 watt range. Also, read up on how to care for the iron and tip.

 

[phaZed]

I second the no radio shack irons...

Personally I would start with a good iron $60-$80 range because it will save you time and frustration. A lot of the cheap irons barely work; can hardly transfer heat to the solder, or the tips wear out in a very short time. When learning it's essential not to have those problems. You could be doing it correctly, but think that your not.

When using your iron you should always be tinning your tip when you put the iron down. That means apply some solder to the tip and wipe it off.. this covers the tip in solder and slows the tip from oxidizing. Also, tin the tip before you shut it off. I use more solder for tinning the tip than actual soldering.

If you plan on doing power jacks keep in mind that most of the time the solder that the factory uses has a higher melting point (for added strength) and can be really difficult to melt with an ordinary iron.

 

[ItsBroken]

I second the no radio shack irons...

Personally I would start with a good iron $60-$80 range because it will save you time and frustration. A lot of the cheap irons barely work; can hardly transfer heat to the solder, or the tips wear out in a very short time. When learning it's essential not to have those problems. You could be doing it correctly, but think that your not.

When using your iron you should always be tinning your tip when you put the iron down. That means apply some solder to the tip and wipe it off.. this covers the tip in solder and slows the tip from oxidizing. Also, tin the tip before you shut it off. I use more solder for tinning the tip than actual soldering.

If you plan on doing power jacks keep in mind that most of the time the solder that the factory uses has a higher melting point (for added strength) and can be really difficult to melt with an ordinary iron.

You are correct, I bought this cheap $10 soldering kit and the thing would not even melt the wire, now a days, I just spend the extra money as it usually pays off.

 

[bytebuster]

If you're learning, buy the Weller WLC100. It's only $40 so if you kill it it's no big deal. I bought the 100 for my electronics assembly class, and almost immediately nearly burnt it up due to improper tinning. Once I was through with the class, I just tossed it and bought a Hakko. There are really only two names in soldering stations: Weller and Hakko. The rest are cheap and don't work correctly. The Weller 100 seems to be geared towards learners, I know that my teacher had about 8 of them in a back room to check out to students.

 

[MobileTechie]

Also watch this to learn how to solder. It's a very good video: http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/How_To_Solder/

 

[Mr.Mike]

Also watch this to learn how to solder. It's a very good video: http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/How_To_Solder/

+1 to MobileTechie for the link. Though I don't solder very often, it's always good to be reminded how to do it right.

 

[MrUnknown]

For removing DC jacks, nothing beats a hot air rework station.

 

[bytebuster]

For removing DC jacks, nothing beats a hot air rework station.

I just use desoldering braid. That's one thing that's GOOD that only Radio Shack offers-I asked for it at Frys and they had no idea what I was talking about. I bought a Gordak rework station when I was starting out and it was junk. I had to toss it, couldn't sell it. So the desoldering braid works great.

 

[tpcg]

I use a weller wes51 and a hakko 936 both work fine.

 

[quinnlaup]

For removing DC jacks, nothing beats a hot air rework station.

Ive never tried the hot air for removing jacks is it possible that you could give me more info on the technique ie. temperature, how long it normally takes etc.

kind regards

quinnlaup

 

[BDPCR]

I recently purchased an X-Tronic 4000 series Hot air gun soldering iron combo and it works quite well for me. As stated the hot air gun makes desoldering those 8 + pin powerjacks much easier, takes 5 times less time to do. Using a hot air gun takes some practice when picking proper temperature and airflow but it certainly is worth it when doing powerjack repairs.

Here is a nice video demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOEHstgaVLM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-6vPyG8MGA&feature=related

 

[MobileTechie]

Ive never tried the hot air for removing jacks is it possible that you could give me more info on the technique ie. temperature, how long it normally takes etc.

kind regards

quinnlaup

There are a few threads on here covering it if you search - I remember contributing to them.

 

[osbornjr]

Soldering

I have been using a inexpensive black and decker. I only used it one time in the 10 years i had it, but it is good enough for pc repair and small detail. It gets the job done.

 

[Omnicef]

I have a cheap $20 soldering iron that works surprisingly well. I picked it up at Fry's to solder a small project and have used it hundreds of times in the last 3 years.

Here is a link to it.

http://www.frys.com/product/4825190

 

[mm201]

Does anyone have any recommendations on what solder to use for doing board work? I was doing some investigation at the local hardware store and realized that there's several choices for electronic repairs.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Does anyone have any recommendations on what solder to use for doing board work? I was doing some investigation at the local hardware store and realized that there's several choices for electronic repairs.

I suggest you start a new thread for this one after you search more for the type of solder most use.

 

[bytebuster]

Does anyone have any recommendations on what solder to use for doing board work? I was doing some investigation at the local hardware store and realized that there's several choices for electronic repairs.

I would recommend buying solder at Frys website if you live in the US. More choices.

 

[bytebuster]

I have a cheap $20 soldering iron that works surprisingly well. I picked it up at Fry's to solder a small project and have used it hundreds of times in the last 3 years.

Here is a link to it.

http://www.frys.com/product/4825190

Velleman makes a bunch of tools for working with electronics. Most of their stuff is cheap and from China. I suspect that their quality varies. The Weller 100 is only $20 more, and is better made. Two problems with the Weller: 1) the knob is graded from "1" to "5". When I had one I was unable to figure out what those numbers meant. Nothing in the station's instructions said. 2) It can overheat easily, when I was learning I didn't tin the tip properly the first time, and... It doesn't have any temp indicator light. For an experienced tech, those things would probably be nonissues, but I used them as an excuse to buy a Hakko with extra money I had.