Soldering iron watts?

[Dallas]

I'm going to put an electronics kit together that consists of soldering
components, including ICs, onto a PC board.

I have a new cheapo pen type 30 watt soldering iron. The last time I used
it I couldn't even get it hot enough to solder a couple of thin wires
together and had to resort to a 120 watt gun to do the job.

My question is, what is the preferred tool for the job here (without
purchasing professional equipment). My fear is getting something so hot I
could damage the electronic components.


Dallas

 

[William Sommerwerck]

I'm going to put an electronics kit together that consists of soldering
components, including ICs, onto a PC board.

I have a new cheapo pen type 30 watt soldering iron. The last time
I used it I couldn't even get it hot enough to solder a couple of thin
wires together and had to resort to a 120 watt gun to do the job.

Sounds more like a 3 watt iron.

What you need is thermostatically controlled iron with variable temperature
and interchangeable tips.

 

[Eeyore]

I'm going to put an electronics kit together that consists of soldering
components, including ICs, onto a PC board.

I have a new cheapo pen type 30 watt soldering iron. The last time I used
it I couldn't even get it hot enough to solder a couple of thin wires
together and had to resort to a 120 watt gun to do the job.

You're doing something wrong then !

Graham

 

[James Sweet]

I'm going to put an electronics kit together that consists of soldering
components, including ICs, onto a PC board.

I have a new cheapo pen type 30 watt soldering iron. The last time I used
it I couldn't even get it hot enough to solder a couple of thin wires
together and had to resort to a 120 watt gun to do the job.

My question is, what is the preferred tool for the job here (without
purchasing professional equipment). My fear is getting something so hot I
could damage the electronic components.

In reasonably skilled hands it doesn't really matter. For years I used a
cheapo Radio Shack 40W soldering iron, then later I bought a temp controlled
soldering station. If a 30W iron was not hot enough, you weren't doing it
right.

 

[Michael Kennedy]

In reasonably skilled hands it doesn't really matter. For years I used a
cheapo Radio Shack 40W soldering iron, then later I bought a temp
controlled soldering station. If a 30W iron was not hot enough, you
weren't doing it right.

Maybe the tip has become FUBAR and you can't solder with them anymore.

 

[Smitty Two]

I'm going to put an electronics kit together that consists of soldering
components, including ICs, onto a PC board.

I have a new cheapo pen type 30 watt soldering iron. The last time I used
it I couldn't even get it hot enough to solder a couple of thin wires
together and had to resort to a 120 watt gun to do the job.

My question is, what is the preferred tool for the job here (without
purchasing professional equipment). My fear is getting something so hot I
could damage the electronic components.


Dallas

I'm going to disagree with other respondents who are faulting your
technique. It might be, but it could well be the cheapo iron. You do not
need to spend $600 to get a decent soldering iron. Get a basic Edsyn or
Hakko or even Weller if you must, for little more than $100.

 

[James Sweet]

I'm going to disagree with other respondents who are faulting your
technique. It might be, but it could well be the cheapo iron. You do not
need to spend $600 to get a decent soldering iron. Get a basic Edsyn or
Hakko or even Weller if you must, for little more than $100.

I used a cheap iron for years, yeah the Edsyn I have now is nicer, but if
the cheap iron is not doing the job then something is being done wrong.
Basic soldering can be done successfully with virtually any soldering iron
or gun.

 

[Les Matthew]

Maybe the tip has become FUBAR and you can't solder with them anymore.

Always keep your tip well tinned.


les...

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I'm going to put an electronics kit together that consists of soldering
components, including ICs, onto a PC board.

I have a new cheapo pen type 30 watt soldering iron. The last time I
used it I couldn't even get it hot enough to solder a couple of thin
wires together and had to resort to a 120 watt gun to do the job.

There would be no point in a soldering iron that can't solder two thin
wires so it must be faulty? A good 15 watt iron is more than adequate for
most electronics.

My question is, what is the preferred tool for the job here (without
purchasing professional equipment). My fear is getting something so hot
I could damage the electronic components.

Damage can be caused by the time taken to solder so the actual heat of the
iron isn't the only cause. You should remove the iron as soon as the
solder flows properly. Practice on scrap components.

Like all tools it's worth getting something decent as that should last a
long time. And there are plenty of reasonably priced ones out there these
days. A thermostatically controlled one is always a good idea. Then it
will have enough power for larger jobs without getting too hot when left
for a while.

 

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

There would be no point in a soldering iron that can't solder two thin
wires so it must be faulty? A good 15 watt iron is more than adequate for
most electronics.

I often have that problem with my soldering irons. It's always a loose
or dirty tip.

The only soldering iron I have ever owned I would say was defective
in design was a Black and Decker cordless iron I bought around 1976.
No matter what I was doing, it always ran out of "juice" with one
joint left to solder. :-(

Geoff.

 

[GregS]

I'm going to put an electronics kit together that consists of soldering
components, including ICs, onto a PC board.

I have a new cheapo pen type 30 watt soldering iron. The last time I used
it I couldn't even get it hot enough to solder a couple of thin wires
together and had to resort to a 120 watt gun to do the job.

My question is, what is the preferred tool for the job here (without
purchasing professional equipment). My fear is getting something so hot I
could damage the electronic components.

Perhaps its also technique. I bought a RS dual wattage iron for a remote
project, worked fine for $11. I do like my 80 watt controlled iron as well
as my 250 watt RS gun for the big jobs. Used to use the Ungar
unregulated irons with about 45 watts, does most jobs. I've made dual heat
irons using a diode, as well as using a lamp dimmer for control. You don't
need expensive items.

greg

 

[Dallas]

Thanks for the responses guys... sorry, I was too down with the stomach flu
last week to get back here. I suspect the iron, but I'll devise to tests to
see if it's fluky.

Dallas

 

[James Sweet]

Thanks for the responses guys... sorry, I was too down with the stomach
flu last week to get back here. I suspect the iron, but I'll devise to
tests to see if it's fluky.

Dallas

Just spend a few bucks and get a new iron, last time I bought one a 40W from
Radio Shack was under 10 bucks. If you plan on doing any serious work, pick
up a temperature controlled soldering station with a wedge tip, it's what I
used for most of my work.