Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Best soldering irons and solder to get?

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Reticulating Splines BetaWolf47's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Naples, FL
    Posts
    2,810
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default Best soldering irons and solder to get?

    I'm trying to get into repairing my older stuff, such as replacing caps and batteries. All I have for the job is a soldering iron that was packed into a computer repair kit I own, and it's not doing a good job. What kind of solder, as well? Some people say that lead solder isn't the best.
    Selling gaming accessories. Click

  2. #2
    Great Puma (Level 12) jb143's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    St. Louis
    Posts
    4,246
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    5
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    69
    Thanked in
    62 Posts

    Default

    Lead free solder is hard to work with if you're not too experienced with it and also needs a higher temp/wattage iron. A good solder joint with lead free might actually look like a bad joint would with leaded solder. It can look like a cold solder joint for example. After working with it a lot I got the hang of it but for repairing old systems, I'd just stick with leaded solder.

    How nice of an iron are you talking about? You could probably get by with a $20 adjustable wattage iron from Radio Shack. For nicer ones...on the low end...when I was working in electronics we had some Hakko 936 soldering stations that were pretty nice. You could probably get one used for around $50 I would think.
    Last edited by jb143; 03-28-2012 at 11:49 AM.
    "Game programmers are generally lazy individuals. That's right. It's true. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Since the dawn of computer games, game programmers have looked for shortcuts to coolness." Kurt Arnlund - Game programmer for Activision, Accolade...

  3. #3
    Cherry (Level 1) Shulamana's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    224
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BetaWolf47 View Post
    All I have for the job is a soldering iron that was packed into a computer repair kit I own, and it's not doing a good job.
    Do you own a metal file? When I first tried to use one of those ultra cheap ones I didn't realize it wasn't working after a while because the tip had become all rusted, you might want to try scraping the oxidation off the tip so it's shiny again, assuming you haven't already.

  4. #4
    Reticulating Splines BetaWolf47's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Naples, FL
    Posts
    2,810
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shulamana View Post
    Do you own a metal file? When I first tried to use one of those ultra cheap ones I didn't realize it wasn't working after a while because the tip had become all rusted, you might want to try scraping the oxidation off the tip so it's shiny again, assuming you haven't already.
    I haven't done that, but this soldering iron was difficult to use from the start. The whole repair kit only cost about $40, so the iron may be very bottom of the barrel.
    Selling gaming accessories. Click

  5. #5
    Cherry (Level 1)
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    345
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    A basic iron will do most jobs, but I upgraded to a Weller adjustable, which is good to have a lower power setting so you don't overheat components or solder pads on PCBs.

  6. #6
    Pac-Man (Level 10) FABombjoy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Lansing, MI
    Posts
    2,145
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Temp controlled is the way to go if you can swing it. I just bought a new Hakko, before that was a garage sale find Weller. I like the Hakko quite a bit more (the iron is much lighter and holds temp better) but I haven't compared it to a modern Weller. A friend has a Tenma which he uses on occasion and it seems to work well for him.
    Console5.com - Console parts, kits, games and more. [shop] [wiki] [RSS] [f] [t]

  7. #7
    Strawberry (Level 2) bust3dstr8's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Boston,MA USA
    Posts
    442
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Another vote here for Hakko.

    .032" 63/37 no clean core is good for most general use.
    Last edited by bust3dstr8; 03-29-2012 at 09:14 PM.
    Clowns Suck

    Clowns Suck

Similar Threads

  1. Mod Chips - Solder or Solderless?
    By norkusa in forum Modern Gaming
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 04-25-2006, 02:49 PM
  2. SOLDERING IRONS (Prefered power)
    By jammajup in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 08-23-2004, 06:03 AM
  3. de-soldering / soldering techniques
    By congobongo in forum Technical and Restoration Society
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-11-2003, 05:05 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •