On Saturday, 4 July 2020 17:40:48 UTC+1, T i m wrote:
On Sat, 4 Jul 2020 06:05:40 -0700 (PDT), Arthur Ravenscroft
wrote:
On a related note, I've never soldered before. Could you recommend one to me from RapidOnline please? And the type of soldering consumables I'll need.
It may depend on what you fancy doing and what budget you have as to
what kit (the iron especially) you may need?
If you are an electronics / soldering nooby it might be useful to
start with a good quality kit and of something you might actually use,
even if only as a novelty.
Something daughter soldered up and we still used daily is a kitchen
timer:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Velleman-MK.../dp/B000TA3FOE
Or eBay 131069634133 etc.
It's a bit fiddly because of the number and size of the LEDs so maybe
work to that after something easier (fewer components, bigger tracks
etc).
This could be good and has been tested by many voting Leave on the
last referendum: ;-)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Velleman-MK135-Electronic-Decision-Multi-Colour/dp/B000LQYOL4/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Velleman&qid=15938690 85&sr=8-3
For the tools, I'd go for one of these for cleaning the iron tip:
eBay:
323858281528
Some lead free flux core solder, probably 1mm OD might be a good
compromise (you need it fine enough so you can use a bit and not flood
the joint but big enough to be a big joint without having to feed in
yards).
One of the couple of things that might be worth not skimping on (or
not buying really cheap) is some flush cutting side cutters. These are
for trimming the legs off the through hole components after soldering
and (light) wire cutting etc.
The other is the soldering iron itself. I think 25W is considered
reasonably general for light electronics and something 'known' that
you can get spares for could be a better investment. Also 'adjustable
temperature' is very handy for fine tuning the job, solder, speed of
soldering on. If it's a good temperature rig, a higher wattage can be
handy with a bigger tip for the heavier jobs.
You can get direct mains powered irons, or low voltage that typically
come was a 'soldering station' that the iron also sits in whilst in
use. You can also get lighter fluid 'gas' irons that can be very handy
when away from mains. Not really recommended for small electronics
(but I have used such when pushed).
I have had a Weller soldering iron since my BT days that I still use
and it's over 50 years old now and still going fine. That said, it's a
bit like triggers broom, in that it's had a couple of replacement
parts but they are still available now. ;-)
https://www.weller-tools.com/professional/EUR/en/Home
Antex are another known brand:
https://www.antex.co.uk/home/
There are also loads of Chinese brands that are often copies of more
expensive things that are still good irons and because they are
common, spares readily available:
I have something like this (bought s/h faulty and repaired):
eBay: 124244110066
And I've found it very good.
A fairly fine chisel point tip would be a good one to start with.
Maybe 1-1.5mm wide. It needs to have enough mass to carry the heat to
the joint easily but not be too big to get around component legs.
I'm sure others will add other advice and their own personal
preferences. ;-)
If you come up with anything, run it past the people here before
buying.
Cheers, T i m
Re irons, almost any iron of around 25w is fine for a beginner if you're not soldering connectors with it. I've used some real junk on occasion, even the one with a nail for a tip worked well enough. I wouldn't recommend the little 15w things for general use.
Stay away from soldering guns & gas irons. They have their uses but as a first soldering tool they're just a bad idea.
Leaded solder beats unleaded, but either works.
Effective wire cutters are cheap, but cheap ones damage the first time iron wire is cut. Even lower on the curve are ones where the blades don't line up. Anything from Rapid should be ok.
A 1/4" bit is good for general use, but you can use pretty much anything. Even brass plug pins work ok.
You can get all the tools you need from a car boot sale for a few quid, but do at least check the iron is earthed before plugging in. Very old solder is not recommended for beginners, soldered joints must be spotlessly clean.
NT