New to list SOLDERING

[Harry Bissell]

Y'know... with the fast response of the good temp controlled soldering irons
(with the
thermocouple IN the tip...) I'd argue that they ARE big irons.  They sense the
temperature drop and compensate for it... My iron substitutes thermal MASS (kind
of a regulator in itself.

The biggest problem I've had with the temp control rework stations (besides the
price...)
is OTHER IGNORANT USERS... who figure they need MORE HEAT at turn it up to a
scortching 900F. I usually like 725F... a little hotter than most use but again
I'm talking about speed.

BTW my company is in Resistance Welding controls. Aroung the actual weld nugget
there is a Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). This is caused usually by thermal
conductivity
caused by (you guessed it) a moderate heat for too long of a time. A hotter,
shorter
weld can minimize this area. Same is true of copper... I'm on and off the joint
before
much heat has had TIME to transfer to the substrate or leads...

I don't do surface mount with my 45 watt "Big Iron".  I'm not against the nice
solder
stations... but for many newbies they would be better off with a cheaper iron
and put the
money instead into a good SCOPE !!! Now there I won't argue that a cheap piece
of equipment is a good idea.

Actually my teeth are calibrated... betueen the two front is 16ga. stripper, one
tooth to the left is 22ga....

H^)

Theo wrote:

> Yes sure, I've been using a 30W ersa for over 10 years before someone put a
> WTCP in my hands.
> One day later I got my own.
> The difrence is there, even if you trained not to toast the stuf with a big
> iron.
>
> Maybe it's a generation gap,
> we youngsters don't bite of  wire with our teeth either ;^)
>
> Cheers Theo
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Harry Bissell <harrybissell at prodigy.net>
> To: <buchi at takeonetech.de>
> Cc: <synth-diy at node12b53.a2000.nl>
> Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2000 3:30 AM
> Subject: Re: New to list SOLDERING
>
> > I use an Ungar Imperial handle with a 45 watt, non temp controlled
> element.
> > 1/8"
> > chisel tip. I have no problem handling all pitchesdown to .1" (dip IC). I
> use
> > the side
> > for the fine stuff, and the flat for the heavy stuff...
> >
> > I have used this for the last 20 years. I have been through two or three
> > tips. Tips that big don't burn out easily.
> >
> > The holder I use has a min-box on the base, with a triac circuit. Full
> heat,
> > or "less" heat
> > switch selectable. I use the low heat for idle, switch to high for work.
> >
> > I NEVER use a sponge to clean the tip... I have a fixture with 2 bristle
> > brushes that face each other... just about an iron tip width apart. One
> swipe
> > down and the tip is clean...
> > never have a corrosion problem. It doesn't take "all" the solder away so
> the
> > tip doesn't
> > oxidize.  If anyone is interested I'll sketch this thing and you can DIY
> your
> > own. It is one of the neatest bench accessories, and beats flipping solder
> on
> > the floor...
> >
> > In closing... its not the tool... but the SKILL. There's no substitute for
> > making a few thousand solder joints to get started. I also use the "good
> > stuff" at work... but a good
> > solder/rework station is the price of a ProOne. Follow me ???
> >
> > Newbies.  Get some old Tape Decks, Radios, etc... and take them apart to
> get
> > skill, then
> > put them back together. You will QUICKLY learn how much heat foil will
> take
> > before
> > it delaminates...
> >
> > And remember "Bob Pease" likes a big hot iron too.  More heat and less
> time
> > is a good thing.
> >
> > H^)  harry  <soapbox mode off>
> >
> > Michael Buchstaller wrote:
> >
> > > >> - a decent soldering iron of 30 - 70 Watts
> > > >
> > > >If this is an iron without temperature regulation, this is IMHO way too
> > > >much power for doing PCB soldering. 15 W or 20 W is fine. Much better
> is
> > >
> > > Of course i think "decent" means with temperature regulation.
> > >
> > > >the like. I have mine for 20 years now :-)
> > >
> > > Im am using my Weller WTCP-S for 16 years so far.
> > > (i think it has around 60 W or so)
> > >
> > > -Michael Buchstaller
> >
> >