Soldering irons, stations, flux, solder....

[Lurkin]

Another night attempting to do a quick repair has turned into being disgruntled with burnt fingers. Dammit!

I have one of these temperature controller soldering irons: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/937D-SMD-220V-Solder-Digital-Display-Iron-Station-Welding-SMD-Tool-Stand-ESD-/222216173153?hash=item33bd1db661:g:W0wAAOSw6n5XrFvD

I think I am using 60/40 solder..

I have some of this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10cc-Gel-Syringe-Solder-Soldering-Paste-Flux-Grease-RMA223-Welding-Advanced-Oil-/161651444883?hash=item25a32d4c93:g:CHsAAOSwEeFVE5W1

and http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2pc-Kester-951-Soldering-Rosin-Flux-Pen-Low-Solid-Non-clean-Solar-cell-panel-DIY-/252421938261?hash=item3ac5851c55:g:YDwAAOSwAuNW4n3I

Basically, the flux doesn't really seem to help. Solder with lead content and flux seems better.

I'm really not too sure what temperature is ideal, but it seems too hot (the solder quickly turns to look like cold pewter rather than fluid mercury like substance when the iron is applied).

I don't have a soldering stand, there seems to be many, many variants out there.

What have you got?
What worked?
What didn't?

Any tips or advice welcome.

 

[amberwolf]

What are you soldering? Not everything can be soldered with tin/lead/etc solder.


There's several good threads about soldering irons, flux, etc., depending on exactly what you're trying to do.

 

[flat tire]

--pro RF soldering iron preferably, they're vastly better
--use flux, cleans everything and makes it all easy
--heat the thing you're trying to solder so that IT melts the solder

 

[TheBeastie]

Another night attempting to do a quick repair has turned into being disgruntled with burnt fingers. Dammit!

Basically, the flux doesn't really seem to help. Solder with lead content and flux seems better.

I'm really not too sure what temperature is ideal, but it seems too hot (the solder quickly turns to look like cold pewter rather than fluid mercury like substance when the iron is applied).

I don't have a soldering stand, there seems to be many, many variants out there.

What have you got?
What worked?
What didn't?

Any tips or advice welcome.

The solder sounds like its got getting hot enough but I am no expert..
When I built my neodymium magnet 18650 battery pack I still used soldering for the main terminal leads with it being soldered onto the copper tape.
I used gear from jaycar, I had bought some other stuff from either ebay etc or some local dodgy chinese bargain shops and all the stuff was just dodgey and didn't work properly.. everything was dodgy.. the soldering iron didnt last, the solder was difficult to get stick and the flux was dodgy as well.

But when I bought all of the said items from Jaycar it all worked beautify and it saved so much time.. it turned soldering from a burden to actually being fun seeing it work all so well and easily.. Stay away from dodgy sources for soldering, it never worked for me.
There are a bunch of jaycar stores in Melbourne...
I go to the CBD store they seem to do tons of business from all the electronics engineering students from uni so all the stuff they sell is well tested.
I think I used this paste but I recon it was cheaper then that in the store..
http://www.jaycar.com.au/solder-flux-paste-56g-tub/p/NS3070

Also watch the tons of how to solder videos on youtube, even just as a reminder its valuable.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+solder

 

[nutnspecial]

For a grand total of about 40$ shipped, this iron, solder, and desolder pump have been working good for me. The 'gun' or the adj heat type never really did. Just to have one that gets reliably good and hot, and heat is adj by how long you contact the substrate. I think maybe any flux will do, to get the solder to stick.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006NGZK0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068IJPO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FHYL7I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


There's a little knack to it, like keeping the tip clean, and then using some fresh solder on it to pass the heat into the substrate to be soldered. Watching a few various utube vids might help you sharpen your skill and work out some details.

Although I find a torch is much easier and faster for alot of soldering (typically non-PCB, :wink: ), including big bullet connectors, here's another iron (200w I think) I came upon that maybe someday will see use. . . . Though I have no idea for watt, it's freakin huge against a typical 60-80w model and a torch can work really good.

 

[Gregory]

Not sure what soldering iron tips you got with your iron.
If you got the needle sharp pointed one that I got, it's garbage. Get a medium chisel tip for much better heat transfer.

Flux everything.

 

[flippy]

get better solder like Sn63/Pb37 from a reputable brand like kester.
ebay solder is utter feces.
you can also sand the nickel plating away from the top of the cells for better soldering.


might want to watch the following video if you actually use that soldering station:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GdV7XBae74

yeah, it's utter crap.

 

[Gregory]

I have the 936, for around $20 from HobbyKing I think it is excellent value.
Heats up fast, has lasted me several years.
Plenty of tips, heating elements available.

 

[drew12345]

I remember last year I was a complete noob at soldering. I tried 3 soldering irons recommended on here and still had trouble.

Then I got a Weller soldering station and it was so easy. The temperature control made a big difference. I also used liquid flux and thin solder wire. I'm sure more experienced will not need all this but as a noob this is what worked. All links below. Make sure to watch videos on tinning. Hope that help.

Soldering station
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BRC2XU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472817807&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=weller+soldering+station&dpPl=1&dpID=41WVs6AdNqL&ref=plSrch

Flux
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005DNR01Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472817978&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=mg835+liquid+flux

Solder wire
http://m.ebay.com/itm/NTE-Kester-44-Rosin-Core-Solder-60-40-031-1-lb-Spool-/351385633507?nav=SEARCH

Pic of everything
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=72659&hilit=Drew12345+alpha&start=75#p1113353

 

[TheBeastie]

I have the 936, for around $20 from HobbyKing I think it is excellent value.
Heats up fast, has lasted me several years.
Plenty of tips, heating elements available.

Yeah just looking at them on hk now.. I know its a silly thing to say but when I saw it on ebay I had no respect for it but now I see it on HK it suddenly looks good.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__24789__Soldering_Station_with_Adjustable_Heat_Range_with_AUS_Plug.html
The guy at jaycar said the single stick soldering irons should be considered single use disposable as they don't last very long at all which seems about right from my experience and from their price..

 

[Lurkin]

Thats so cheap, its about half what I paid!

Having said that, I've stopped buying anything from HK to avoid buying more misadvertised carp.

I suspect my issues revolve around buying non branded, unlikely to be genuine solder and flux. After all, surely the flux and solder should say what the ideal temperature should be, which I think is also a cause of the crappy joints.

Interested in what stands people are using to hold things. There seems to be the traditional stand drew is using https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=72659&hilit=Drew12345+alpha&start=75#p1113353

Are these good? I remember using them in school and they became wobbly after alot of use? What else are people using? what do you think is good?

 

[flippy]

Get a jewlers 3rd hand. MUCH stronger and heavy base.

 

[TheBeastie]

Are these good? I remember using them in school and they became wobbly after alot of use? What else are people using? what do you think is good?

I got one of these from Jaycar.. I swear its cheaper in the store compared to online or it was when I got it last year.. I am too cheap to pay $20 for a 3rd hand.. In fact theres nothing online I have listed from jaycar that I don't remember paying for about %25 less in the store.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/holder-pcb-with-led-magnifier-and-soldering-iron-stand/p/TH1987