Quick soldering question.

[basscapes]

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That works for me too. I use the lower temp for electronic components and PCB work and the higher temp when soldering larger things like cables, jacks, and lugs on pots.

@OP - It's not melting the solder that's the issue. Solder melts very easily. It's heating whatever you're soldering in order to get a good flow and a solid joint on (without heat damaging it) that's the trick.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I have this Weller model, more than adequate for guitar soldering jobs. The temp control isn’t calibrated to farenheit or Celsius , but I found the “4” setting hot enough for most jobs. The only thing I’ve had trouble with is soldering to pot backs, have to use a “chisel” shaped tip and makes sure it’s clean and well tinned. I don’t do it enough to be expert, but I’ve gotten competent anyway.

Weller WLC100 Economy Soldering Station | TubeDepot.com

 

[Bullitt5135]

or you could really screw it up and do it like Guitar Center would [if they let them play with hot tools], heat up the solder and let it fall on the joint and then go to lunch. (Who cares if the solder falls off in 5 minutes or 1 week)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is my local Guitar Center tech. Are you saying that he doesn't know what he's doing?

The only constructive thing I have to add to the topic at hand is that the cheap $12 Radio Shack iron I purchased was a waste of money -- tip didn't heat up enough to solder anything. I should have bought a Weller, or taken my stuff to GC.

 

[tubedude]

I use a temp controlled 50 watt iron for most work and a 300 Watt gun for grounding to chassis and other tasks with a high thermal load.

 

[Phil508]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is my local Guitar Center tech. Are you saying that he doesn't know what he's doing?

The only constructive thing I have to add to the topic at hand is that the cheap $12 Radio Shack iron I purchased was a waste of money -- tip didn't heat up enough to solder anything. I should have bought a Weller, or taken my stuff to GC.

The Guitar centers I've been too (or close to) couldn't even set up a bass right, when asked they said they just throw them up there, they don't set them up. Seems 2" string height is OK with them.

If you have a good tech , great, keep him. +1 on cheap iron's (you get what you pay for)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

My experience with GC is that any good techs don’t last due to poor pay, no benefits, etc. The bane of most Big Box stores. My local GC does no setup whatsoever unless you are buying the bass.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Go through this video training series, then practice.
Click>Basic Soldering Lessons 1 - 9 - YouTube

Yes it is a series of cheesy ol' training videos, but it is from one of the leaders in soldering equipment and was the industry standard for training.
Enjoy.

Cool old videos. The opens look like the start of a 60's spy movie.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

What's a great beginner kit and what solder does everyone recommend for simple repair jobs?

Parts Express has quite a variety of Solder Tools and accessories in a wide range of prices.
Parts Express: Speakers, Amplifiers, Audio Parts and Solutions

I have one of these:
"Stahl Tools STSSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Iron Station" from www.parts-express.com!
It works fine for most of my needs.
Be sure to order the spare tips that go with this, otherwise you just get a pointed tip. The spare kit includes a chisel tip.

 

[byacey]

One thing worth mentioning regarding higher power irons: Larger Irons like 30W+ unless they are temperature regulated, will quickly oxidize the soldering iron tip which hampers heat transfer, and burns off any tinning after a short while due to overheating. An iron in this state will be very frustrating for anyone to use.

 

[okcrum]

I use a Weller at 700F for just about anything in electronic gear. Anything that can't handle gets the soldering gun. Anything that can't handle gets the torch.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Used to be we didn't have fancy temp. controlled solder stations.
When my day job was as a bench tech and I had a soldering iron going pretty much all day, I built a temp control switch.
The iron was on full or half. When I didn't need it I switched to half, when I did need it, it heated up from half to full pretty quickly.

I built this into a box. The iron plugged into the box, the box plugged into the wall outlet.
Inside the box was a diode (sized to handle the load) in series with one side of the A.C. line.
The switch simply bypassed the diode for full temp operation.
With the diode in circuit, you only got half wave A.C. going to the iron.
I didn't go through tips nearly as fast.

 

[SirMjac28]

Parts Express has quite a variety of Solder Tools and accessories in a wide range of prices.
Parts Express: Speakers, Amplifiers, Audio Parts and Solutions

I have one of these:
"Stahl Tools STSSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Iron Station" from www.parts-express.com!
It works fine for most of my needs.
Be sure to order the spare tips that go with this, otherwise you just get a pointed tip. The spare kit includes a chisel tip.

Thanks that's a great price also.

 

[sissy kathy]

Melting point for 60/40 solder is 370 (188 c) for the preferred 63/37 it is 361 (182 c)

 

[gumtown]

I use a Weller at 700F for just about anything in electronic gear. Anything that can't handle gets the soldering gun. Anything that can't handle gets the torch.

Now we are getting into welding and plasma cutter territory.

 

[somebrains]

Used to be we didn't have fancy temp. controlled solder stations.
When my day job was as a bench tech and I had a soldering iron going pretty much all day, I built a temp control switch.
The iron was on full or half. When I didn't need it I switched to half, when I did need it, it heated up from half to full pretty quickly.

I built this into a box. The iron plugged into the box, the box plugged into the wall outlet.
Inside the box was a diode (sized to handle the load) in series with one side of the A.C. line.
The switch simply bypassed the diode for full temp operation.
With the diode in circuit, you only got half wave A.C. going to the iron.
I didn't go through tips nearly as fast.

If you had patented it with some bling, we'd be buying some version of that box with LEDs and stuff to pretty it up off Amazon.

Now we are getting into welding and plasma cutter territory.

I like using cutting torches and plasma cutters, but a grinder and a single jack are emotionally more satisfying.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

If you had patented it with some bling, we'd be buying some version of that box with LEDs and stuff to pretty it up off Amazon.

Version II did have a indicator lamp on it. Remember Neon?
Invalid Link Removed
Story of my lazy life... the things I made one-of-a-kind but never developed.

 

[G19Tony]

This is the Hakko. $96 on Amazon.

 

[somebrains]

Version II did have a indicator lamp on it. Remember Neon?
Invalid Link Removed
Story of my lazy life... the things I made one-of-a-kind but never developed.

Weller just didn't do much for their early stations.
Their "classic" design remain unchanged thru catalog, the hey day of electronic stores, direct marketing, now Web as we currently know it.

I do have a fondness for that plastic jeweled pastel smoothie Star Trek design aesthetic.

 

[G19Tony]

Do you stab the iron into that brass stuff while it's still hot? I guess that would be the best way to clean it, but I haven't seen it mentioned.

 

[somebrains]

You clean your tip, melted plastic is lame.
I tend to use sandpaper and retin.