Advice on a soldering iron and soldering in general?

Flux is used to help the solder flow. You need flux on bare metal as it etches the metal to create a good joint for the solder. Luckily, most solders are flux cored, so you do not usually require extra flux. I would use extra when you are soldering parts which require as little heat as possible, such as SMD (Surface mount devices) as it really does help to solder faster. Don;t buy cheap flux, or cheap solder. Its cheaper for a reason.

Lead/Tin solder has a lower melting point, but is not allowed in consumer devices (Just look at RoHS). It is a lot easier to solder with, and much better to use. Just do not eat it. Buy a good quality solder, and no-clean flux.
 
gas irons are great if you have a good one, much like electric irons tbh. though having used all sorts of irons ranging from £25 up to about £500, i went back to wellars time after time. they arent cheap but worth every penny.
 
Not the cheapest iron by a long shot, but having tried a few of the cheaper ones I would have to recommend the Metcal SP200. Used them in my previous job and now at home. I've yet to find better.
 
Cutshaw said:
I've honestly no idea. Stabbing wildly, maybe it's easier to control the heat on an electric?
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gas are variable too. tbh theres no good reason why you shouldnt consider one unless you are assembling pcbs all day everyday and dont want to re-fill it every 4hrs or so. i also own elelctric ones, but i dont use them anymore :)
 
PhillyDee said:
Lead/Tin solder has a lower melting point, but is not allowed in consumer devices (Just look at RoHS). It is a lot easier to solder with, and much better to use. Just do not eat it. Buy a good quality solder, and no-clean flux.
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Yeah I was going to say, now you can't buy lead solder, what's the alternative?

On your point of flux, don't buy plumbing flux for electronics. It's different stuff, it's pretty noxious and it'll rot your circuit boards and soldering iron tip.
 
I've got a Butane fueled soldering iron. I bought it about 2 years ago from a local electronics store and I swear I still have the original can of Butane liquid fuel in a can and will do me another full top up or two of the canister. I've used it atleast 10-15 times often for fairly long jobs as it takes me a while since I'm not amazing and don't have all of the equipment to hold things steady (have had to improvise). Gets up to temp within seconds - not minutes like eleccy - and the lack of wire is a god send not restricting me. Cost me about £25 I seem to recall. Came with a blow torch tip and a fine tip.
 
Recommendations from me for essential kit:

- Soldering mat and/or spare bits of scrap wood
- Flux (even if the solder comes with it)
- Solder
- Solder wick (sp?) - basically a load of copper thread/wire that "sucks" up over spills of solder and allows it to flow onto it when you want to get rid of a big pool say.
- Iron holder pref with sponge so you can wipe/clean it
- Heatshrink tubing / tape and other misc bits and bobs
 
Jonny69 said:
Yeah I was going to say, now you can't buy lead solder, what's the alternative?

On your point of flux, don't buy plumbing flux for electronics. It's different stuff, it's pretty noxious and it'll rot your circuit boards and soldering iron tip.
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Course you can! I have loads and loads of it here ;)
as thin as 0.5mm
 
I've been considering the gas more. There's a weller gas kit for around £40, and a dremel for about £28. they both come with a few tips and hot air attachments. decisions!

I would love to have a go at making something robotic, I'll have to see how I get on with the relatively simple stuff I have planned.
 
Variable heat isn't that important, odds are you won't use it as a beginner. You can get a few 20-30W Antex irons for under £10, great quality and easily good enough for pretty much everything.
 
Superewza said:
Variable heat isn't that important, odds are you won't use it as a beginner. You can get a few 20-30W Antex irons for under £10, great quality and easily good enough for pretty much everything.
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I've been thinking the same thing. 10-15 sterlings isn't a huge waste if I decide to get something bigger and better down the line. Are different size/replacement tips universal?

I'm not going to have a huge amount of space, so gas would be practical and not just wanting an excuse to spend money. I'm assuming that if there was a decent gap between solders, that you would just turn the iron off and save on the fuel? I think that's the only downside I can turn up, fuel. The people that initially said that gas wasn't so great, do a LOT of work with them. I can see where they are coming from

I thought this was going to be as simple as a plug with a cable and a burny bit on the end.
 
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