Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: PRNDL on July 17, 2008, 07:30:20 pm

Title: What temperature is your soldering iron?
Post by: PRNDL on July 17, 2008, 07:30:20 pm

I just got a new iron and was wondering what temp to set it for for various jobs.

I've been using 375C for PC boards and 400C for tube amps.

I got this one for $40 plus extra tips to get the free DVM
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

In the past I used a Weller 40W iron, but the tip burned off, which is what happens if you leave it on too long, since there's no temperature control.

Title: Re: What temperature is your soldering iron?
Post by: Jack1962 on July 17, 2008, 07:50:05 pm

I have been using a 30-40 watt iron for 20 years on just about everything.

Title: Re: What temperature is your soldering iron?
Post by: jjasilli on July 21, 2008, 08:53:31 am

I've been using 375C for PC boards and 400C for tube amps.

Me too; but I suspoect this is hotter than necessary.  BTW:

(1) great price on the soldering station, especially if it works well.  My Hakko 936 was more than 2X that.
(2) thanks for that cap comparison (Russian paper in oil) on your website.

Title: Re: What temperature is your soldering iron?
Post by: FYL on July 21, 2008, 09:56:21 am

Quote

I just got a new iron and was wondering what temp to set it for for various jobs.

Up to 300°C is fine with leaded solder, up to 370°C with lead-free. Don't go much higher if you want clean joints: burnt rosin is a mess. Lower the temp slightly or use a smaller iron (a 15 to 20W model with a needle tip is fine) when working on PC boards.

Read the datasheet for the actual solder you're using, and set the temp to app. 100°C above it's liquidus/solidus point. For a typical 63/37 Sn/Pb eutectic solder the LS point is 183°C so set the temp at app. 280°C; a SnAg3.0Cu0.5 or similar lead-free solder has a melting point at app. 220°C.

Title: Re: What temperature is your soldering iron?
Post by: bnwitt on August 24, 2008, 11:45:21 pm

Ditto what FYL said.  375C and 400C is really too hot!  And what's with all this celsius crap on an American forum anyway. ;D  We hard headed americans aren't going to convert already so let it go. ;D ;D

Title: Re: What temperature is your soldering iron?
Post by: Dynaflow on August 25, 2008, 12:02:27 am

 Haha, some might recall during the 1973-74 oil embargo that the gas stations calibrated pumps (at least in Cali where I was from) to Litres. The had stick on conversion tables to tell us how much of a 'gallon' we got. The point was really a slight of hand so you'd forget that you only got whatever it was (.8 of a gallon roughly if I recall) for MORE money than you paid before for a gallon. As a kid in elementary school we were told it would all be metric so we needed to know it. (yeah and cars of 2000 would fly and not have wheels  ::) ). :D

Regards,

Dyna

Title: Re: What temperature is your soldering iron?
Post by: madison on August 26, 2008, 11:03:38 pm

But but darn it, my '78 Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am said "6.6 Liters" on the hood scoop!
(yes, I had one ::))

When I was building my house over here I imported the shell from the U.S. but a lot of the other materials were bought locally.
I used to carry 2 measuring tapes; one Imperial and one Metric.
Always looking for the calculator..............