Recommendations for soldering equipment.

[muttleymacclad]

Hi everybody,

Can anybody give me some pointers for buying soldering irons, solder, flux etc? I'd like to start tinkering with re-soldering a couple of broken usb sticks and a lose laptop power connector. I know there might be no hope for the USB sticks but i fancy having a go at them.

I'm just after something simple but would welcome some pointers from anybody in the know. there's a number of different one that maplin do but i'm a noob.

thanks

mml

[CallmeGoose]

i use weller gas solder irons at work. i prefer them to wired solder irons, more maneuverable. If you go for a wired solder iron, avoid the lower wattage ones, 25w etc, they take ages to heat up and are a pain in the ass. 40-50w and above i would recommend. Some come in kits, with a holder and a sponge - and usually a small reel of solder too.

[muttleymacclad]

thanks goose. I'll bear this in mind during my searches.

mml

[Northernbloke]

Antex make some excellent soldering irons and are very competetively priced - I've used an Antex XS25 (25w) iron for around 10 years now - it has different size tips for different jobs (loads of options for replacement tips available direct from Antex) and the 0.1mm is my favorite tool for really delicate surface mount stuff. I've worked on mobile phones, PS1/2, Xbox, Wii, TV's, printers, and it's been the best iron and tip combination I've used in over 25 years of working in electronics.

Easiest flux to use is the marker pen style stuff - I'm currently using one from Maplins called No Clean Flux Dispensing pen - was about 6 or 7 quid if I remember correctly. Solder I mainly use some old 0.46mm stuff (think it's about 26swg in old money) multicore fluxed, but still use the flux pen as well.

[BertRoot]

Only times I have used them I always borrow a gas one. Lot easier than trailing a cable. Sadly that is the only info i can offer.

[Over Carl]

I bought one of these last year and quite liked it (I replaced the tip with the fine one from the pack linked)

Didn't get to use it much as I lost the damn thing but I was happy. Sponge was a little crap but it worked.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/48w-lcd-disp...19133&t=module
http://www.maplin.co.uk/soldering-iron-tips-346021

[Northernbloke]

We got stopped using gas soldering irons at work - some H+S crap about us carrying cans of gas to refill them in our cars - pathetic really cos we're also not allowed to use mains extensions, and regularly need to replace electro magnetic brakes on the ceiling suspension of some of our equipment and need to solder a diode across the terminals then solder on the very short connection wires. Pain in the arse and far more dangerous to be running up a step ladder to try and solder it before the iron cools and you have to go down and plug it in again - fecking H+S morons ruin everything

[muttleymacclad]

Thanks very much for the advice guys. Really helpful.

mml

[Mule]

I bought a cheapo kit like this for fixing a loose laptop power connector. Worked perfectly, no need to spend masses.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Soldering-...item45fa734008

[Tim.Lad]

Hey when you want to upgrade grab yourself a second hand metcal unit I have been soldering for 20 years and it the best piece of kit i have ever had..

http://www.metcal.com/products/

[cosmicma]

iv'e been using a temp controlled weller soldering iron for the last 15 years or so it's served me well
before that i always used antex 18 watt irons that suited my needs
i don't know about any one else but it seems the solder they produce now adays with no lead content doesn't seem as good as the old leaded solder
i managed to find a real of leaded solder so it will keep me going for a while

gas irons are convenient but the first thing i do to em is pull em to pieces and turn the gas down they always seem to be set too high
the tips don't seem to last long either and if you buy one from maplin make sure you loosen the tip after each use or it will weld itself in place

[Mule]

i don't know about any one else but it seems the solder they produce now adays with no lead content doesn't seem as good as the old leaded solder
i managed to find a real of leaded solder so it will keep me going for a while

This website does leaded solder, I don't think it's legal but they do it...

http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/hardware.html

(bottom of page)

[Tim.Lad]

ha ha my huge roll of leaded solder is still going

[cosmicma]

This website does leaded solder, I don't think it's legal but they do it...

http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/hardware.html

(bottom of page)

cheers but like i said i managed to get a 1/2 kilo role of .9mm leaded solder so that'l keep me going for a few years i don't do any where near the amount of soldering as i used to ( getting old )

[Mule]

cheers but like i said i managed to get a 1/2 kilo role of .9mm leaded solder so that'l keep me going for a few years i don't do any where near the amount of soldering as i used to ( getting old )

Less soldering happens to all of us as we get old.