Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: jeff on July 17, 2024, 01:05:50 pm

Title: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: jeff on July 17, 2024, 01:05:50 pm
My brother gave me a soldering iron with adjustable temp setting.
In general,
What temp setting do you use?


Thank you.
Title: Re: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: bmccowan on July 17, 2024, 01:18:18 pm
I set mine at 750F for most things. I like to get off the connection quickly.
That's a good Brother.
Title: Re: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: Merlin on July 17, 2024, 01:25:21 pm
Always maximum
I set mine at 750F for most things. I like to get off the connection quickly.
Same for me! Max temp, don't linger.
Title: Re: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: shooter on July 17, 2024, 02:25:38 pm
NASA taught me; one thousand 3
one thousand 1 iron on pad, one thousand 2 solder n iron on pad, one thousand 3 both are off together.


Then they made me solder for 8 hours til I got the technique dialed in. 10% of the class went home after 8 hours, then it was day 2....
the class was 3 weeks, I made it to day 1 week 3, there were 5 people left of the 30 that started when i went home.
Title: Re: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: Esquirefreak on July 17, 2024, 03:32:33 pm
I use between 370°C - 400°C (700°F - 750°F) depending on what I'm working on. Mostly using old 63/37 or 60/40 solder. When working on PCBs I use Multicore LMP (low melting point) at 310°C.

I've also found that when I got my new soldering station (100 watts) the higher wattage helps the tip not to get cooled down by the material. Low wattage irons can't keep the temperature when soldering larger surfaces.

/Max
Title: Re: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: AlNewman on July 17, 2024, 03:52:00 pm
I have a fairly cheap station, but I think it's 65W or so.
I don't go max because it will burn the tip when not in use.
By the reading on the dial, I'm usually around 650 for smaller joints and circuit boards.  I turn it up to 710 when working on turrets or larger stuff.
(judging by the comments here, I bet my iron is out at least 10%)
It's a feel thing.
The main thing is to have fresh solder on the tip and joint as a heat sync.
Title: Re: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: AlNewman on July 17, 2024, 04:04:42 pm
For chassis welds, I have a 100W iron, I'll clean with iso, and use flux, and it's just enough to get a good joint if I massage it a bit.
Title: Re: General Question: Iron Temperature
Post by: ac427v on July 17, 2024, 06:13:37 pm
900 degrees F and a 3/16 inch wide tip for turrets. I don't like to linger.