Back to soldering stations

[moody07747]

A few months back i asked about stations for soldering and never got one

Well I'm getting an electric guitar and want to make some pedals for it so i thought...i better get a good soldering station with heat/power control and so I did

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7508

I got that with some tips and it came with a free meter
its no Weller but its reviews are great from another message board

Now what I have to know is...what should I get on the side to keep it in top running shape for years to come?

I'm using radio shack rosin core 60/40 in a 1 pound spool
a disordering pump to use in place of the bad solder wick I tried lol
and i'm going to wire up a small fan to the station to keep the smoke out of my face.

I have heard terms like tinner, abrasive pad, sponge/water

Whats good to get?

 

[moody07747]

BTW whats a good temperature in Fahrenheit to solder boards and components?

 

[Optikon]

BTW whats a good temperature in Fahrenheit to solder boards and components?

Tinning your tips when you are done soldering is a good idea. You will get very long life out of them if you do so.

I use between 700 and 800 F for most components. Of course, it really is a function of the flow temp of the solder being used and how much mass there is to heat up. You'll get a feel for whats right. Also try and use the minimum temp necessary to make the connection.

 

[Jack Luminous]

I switched from the damp sponge to one of those copper 'scouring pad' tip cleaners and couldn't be happier with it.

I can usually keep the temp between 625-700F or so most of the time. Lead-free solder needs a higher temp - as well as parts with more mass - as mentioned above by Optikon.
The iron's tips should last longer if you can keep the temp down. When I have the iron idling for a few minutes (or more) in the holder, I'll usually turn the temp control way down until I'm ready to use it again. It only takes about ten seconds or less to get up to temperature again. And yeah, get some tinner right away and use it frequently. I use it (at least) every time I go to return the iron to the holder.

 

[moody07747]

I switched from the damp sponge to one of those copper 'scouring pad' tip cleaners and couldn't be happier with it.

I can usually keep the temp between 625-700F or so most of the time. Lead-free solder needs a higher temp - as well as parts with more mass - as mentioned above by Optikon.
The iron's tips should last longer if you can keep the temp down. When I have the iron idling for a few minutes (or more) in the holder, I'll usually turn the temp control way down until I'm ready to use it again. It only takes about ten seconds or less to get up to temperature again. And yeah, get some tinner right away and use it frequently. I use it (at least) every time I go to return the iron to the holder.

Thanks for the info...but where can i get those brass pad tip cleaners?

i have seen them in solder station sets but have yet to find a place online that sells them aside

 

[Optikon]

you can get them here:

https://www.techni-tool.com/

Search for "tip cleaner".

I'm sure there are lots of other places.

 

[Jack Luminous]

you can get them here:

https://www.techni-tool.com/

Search for "tip cleaner".

I'm sure there are lots of other places.

Here's a few more:
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7499
https://www.elexp.com/sdr_3460.htm
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/s...toreId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=156777

 

[moody07747]

thanks for the links...had no idea what they were called so i could not really search them

but yea i ordered and the solder station will get here tuesday..not sure about the tip cleaner yet

 

[moody07747]

I got the tinner and tip cleaner in yesterday

I'm guessing you apply this tinner onto a hot tip as its solid when something cold is pushed into it...

I tried it on my solder gun and it seems to just smoke allot then ball up on the tip...

anyways my new stations coming some time tomorrow...are there any special steps one should follow when powering up a solder station for the first time to protect the whole unit and the tip?

I can't wait to try out the meter that comes with it...should be better than my current one...

 

[Jack Luminous]

The instructions that came with my Xytronic station said for first use with a new tip you should set the temp control to minimum and turn power on. Turn temp up to 482F and tin the tip liberally once it reaches that temp. Let idle for 3 minutes at 482F, then turn up to desired temp. Always keep the tip tinned while using and before you turn the power off.

 

[moody07747]

looking at the site again...didn't realize this before but I think its displaying the temp. in celcius...

I wonder if that can be switched to read out in fahrenheit...

I'll find out later today I guess

BTW thanks for all the help on this Jack

 

[moody07747]

got the station in today and fired it up to tin the tip

this things great...heats up so fast,,,faster than my 300W solder gun which burns at probably 1,000F

as for the readout...its in celcius but i did some Google work and made a chart that's converts F and C every 20 deg. from 150F - 1,000F