What temp to solder?

[Geezer]

Well, I finally broke down & got a nice soldering station....a Hakko 936-type digital unit. It has a nice selection of tips (10ea of the 900m-style) that cover everything I'll ever need.

All these years I've always used cheapo single temperature irons, and when I fired this thing up, I realized I didn't know what temp to set it at! DOH! 

What temp for eyelets? Turrets? PCBs?

TIA, Geezer

ps...I realize this is "tools" related, so I'll move it to that section after I get some interest/responses here at the "busy intersection" of the forum....

[John]

I was thinking 700 degrees, but actually (gasp) looked it up first.

http://www.elexp.com/t_solder.htm

They say tip temp of 700-800 degrees, even though the solder itself melts around 400.

I wish I had taken a picture of my "soldering station" that I used to fix my first amp and then build your HoSo. It was an ancient RS 30 watter, laid on a piece of aluminum flashing with a damp rag to wipe it on. Hi teck red neck. 

[sluckey]

I'm jealous!

My Weller WTCPT uses magnetically temp controlled tips. My favorite for turrets, eyelets, tube sockets, etc. is a 700° 1/16th" chisel tip. And this works good for quality PCBs that aren't loaded with ICs. I use a smaller point 600° tip for delicate or cheap pcbs and IC work (not much of that these days).

I do have some 800° tips but seldom use them in tube stuff. I have 150W and 250W Weller guns for heavier chassis work.

[six el six]

My old weller wtcp's temperature is adjusted by using different tips. There are 6,7,& 8 type tips for 600, 700, and 800 degrees. I like the 7's and 8's. My weller WES51 stays in between 700 and 800. Distilled water on my sponge.

[eleventeen]

I truly miss my Weller WTCPT, that was by far the finest iron and most flexible iron I've ever had. It played like a violin, it adapted to high and low heat situations just beautifully. I bought an EC-1002 as a replacement and I would NOT recommend it at all. With the knob rotated anything off the lowest setting, the tip actually glows dark red in the dark! It's way too hot, which is VERY surprising. That means the tip oxidizes faster, by the way, requiring more frequent wiping/cleaning. I have learned to work with it and one might say the tips I have are too big = too much heat.

[RicharD]

667, 1 degree hotter than hell.  For PCB's I drop down to about 625.  Tacking to pots or heavy stuff, I go as high as 800.

[J Rindt]

I have used the same iron for several years, and also use the 700 most times.
With the large, chisel, 800 tips, you can actually solder to the chassis.....for something small.....like a solder lug. Takes just a bit of finesse, but it beats dragging out my 85 watt iron for just one thing.
I have not used water for a long time....just one of those stainless steel scrubbing pads.
Best

I'm jealous!

My Weller WTCPT uses magnetically temp controlled tips. My favorite for turrets, eyelets, tube sockets, etc. is a 700° 1/16th" chisel tip. And this works good for quality PCBs that aren't loaded with ICs. I use a smaller point 600° tip for delicate or cheap pcbs and IC work (not much of that these days).

I do have some 800° tips but seldom use them in tube stuff. I have 150W and 250W Weller guns for heavier chassis work.

[jojokeo]

I've got an ol' Ungar w/ a dial and no temp readout. The spring holder, sponge tray, and temp control/elect. are all one unit. This thing has been in operation for about 22 years. Good thing Weller still supplies tips after buying them out. On this I just know where to turn the dial to the various markings from experience. You'll know by feel w/out even looking at the readout what's the right temp for the job in no time.

I sense an amp on the horizon to break that bad boy in with?!?

[Geezer]

I sense an amp on the horizon to break that bad boy in with?!?

Right on, Brotha'!

I've just moved to a new place & have a GREAT shop area. As soon as I get it set up, I've got a few projects in mind for the winter.

G

[jojokeo]

That's great to hear for you and all of us too! 

I gotta jump the thread for a sec and ask you about noiseless single coils and your experiences & opinion on the kinmans and/or fralin split blades, seymour, or fender brands (pretty please)??? Or send me an email if you'd rather? TIA

[stingray_65]

I've had my Weller WES51 about a year now.

I don't do much PCB stuff so I can't give any experience there.

I've recently switched from running at 550 to 625 degs.

I mostly use .062" Kester 44 solder and a wide oval tip (ETAA)

The higher heat has given me quicker connections and shinier joints

when I go much higher than 650 my solder seems to melt too fast and I have to feed it quicker or it melts away from the tip. Faster feeds means big joints, longer cool down. which has led to cold joints because parts moving before it cools.

625 with the ETAA tip, 062 Kester is very universal for me everything from wire splices, pot backs, lugs, light ga copper and brass work.

finer work (SS stuff) I use small tip (ETL) .031 kester 44 and 525-550

[jojokeo]

I like hot and quick a lot of times too Ray. But the other thing to be careful of w/ being on the hot side is the solder bubbling too. +1 Good ol' Kester 44 :)

[The_Gaz]

700 seems to be the magic number for me too, and I use turrets. I know for some pots (the Bourns PDA24, for example), the limit is only 550 degrees F, so mind your spec sheets. I also use my judgement for things like mini toggle where the body can melt at 700, and I set the iron lower. I also always heat sink silver micas, pots with plastic tracks, diodes, and Mallory 150s sometimes if there's little lead length.