I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ? Can i tie a
needle to the gun?

wrote in message
ups.com...
I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ?

Yes, but you'll need a half decent iron with a reasonably fine tip.

Can i tie a
needle to the gun?


Gun? No, a soldering gun is not remotely suitable for soldering most circuit
boards, least of all surface mount components.

A needle is very unlikely to work either, as they are usually steel and
don't tin when soldered. Buy a soldering iron for which you can get various
tips. If you don't want to splash out on something expensive, I'd recommend
the entry level Antex mains iron, here's the UK site:

http://www.antex.co.uk/

Even better is a temperature controlled iron or soldering station, but that
won't be cost effective unless you plan on doing a lot of soldering. I have
an old Weller TCP and Antex 660 TC stations and both are great. Neither are
what I'd call cheap though.

Dave

"Dave D" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
ups.com...
I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ?

Yes, but you'll need a half decent iron with a reasonably fine tip.

Can i tie a
needle to the gun?


Gun? No, a soldering gun is not remotely suitable for soldering most
circuit boards, least of all surface mount components.


Unless he's talking about this kind of gun:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

It's not best for SMD's, but it's ok for general pcb work.

Rat Shack also has some 15,20,25 watt irons that should work ok with Chip
Quik.
A quick search for "iron" at radioshack.com yields 6 pages of related
goodies.
The OP can file down an inexpensive tip to as small a point as desired,
which should last long enough for a few SMD caps.

I use an older Weller WTCPS station for most of my work. I've heard their
later models aren't terribly reliable, but these older ones sure seem to be.
Maybe the OP could score a used one cheap off ebay.

"Ray L. Volts" wrote in message
news:vSWGf.150382$7l4.9455@trnddc05...

Gun? No, a soldering gun is not remotely suitable for soldering most
circuit boards, least of all surface mount components.


Unless he's talking about this kind of gun:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search


Fascinating, I've never seen one of those before. I'm not sure what
ergonomic benefits that design could offer.

Dave

In article ,
Dave D wrote:
Gun? No, a soldering gun is not remotely suitable for soldering most
circuit boards, least of all surface mount components.


Unless he's talking about this kind of gun:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search


Fascinating, I've never seen one of those before. I'm not sure what
ergonomic benefits that design could offer.

Perhaps only for those used to handling this sort of shape? ;-)

--
*Why is it considered necessary to screw down the lid of a coffin?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

Perhaps only for those used to handling this sort of shape? ;-)


LOL! In moments of confusion it could lead to some rather unfortunate
scenarios!

Dave

wrote:
I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ? Can i tie a
needle to the gun?

I have done all kinds of repair and assembly work with one of these:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tPage =search

(15 W grounded pencil-type iron #64-2051)

The tip is fine for all but the tiny, tiny parts (0402 and smaller).
The only problem is that the working distance makes it more like
jousting than surgery. Just lay off the coffee. You also have to buy
tips pretty frequently because they're not durable at all. But the
price is right. It's not necessary, but if you're good with a file, you
can put any shape you like on the tip.

You might also want to get the 25W model for the larger stuff because
the 15W can't handle things like connectors or big groundplanes.

I have a moderately expensive Weller at work with a fancy temperature
control and a stylish cushioned handle, and I can't honestly say it's
any easier to work with or produces any better results. I wouldn't
bother spending the extra dough.

If you do a lot of soldering, I defniitely would recommend paying
around $200-$300 for a Pace or Metcal iron when you have some extra
cash saved up; the working distance makes these irons a joy to use.

In article . com, wrote:
I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ? Can i tie a
needle to the gun?


File it down.

It will not last long afterward. The flux will eat up the bare copper.

greg

Yes you can . Clean up your tip real well then take a piece of fine
stiff copper wire something like the old telephone wire .
Wrap it tightly 5 or more times around your tip so it stays on then bend
out a short piece at the tip end long enough to solder with the end of
the fine wire .
Tin the wire onto the tip andthe end of the wire .
This will get you by for a few quick SM jobs . After you are done just
pull the wire off your gun .

I have done this in a pinch with a big Weller 140 watt gun .

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article . com,
wrote:
I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ? Can i tie a
needle to the gun?


File it down.

It will not last long afterward. The flux will eat up the bare copper.


Flux will not eat up the bare copper. Atleast not flux for electronic
circuits.

The copper on the tip mixes with the solder and is removed from the tip and
deposited on the circuit board.

It may be possiable to wrap some # 12 or # 14 solid wire around the tip,
extend one side out and use that to heat the SMD

In article .net, "Ralph Mowery" wrote:

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article . com,
wrote:
I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ? Can i tie a
needle to the gun?


File it down.

It will not last long afterward. The flux will eat up the bare copper.


Flux will not eat up the bare copper. Atleast not flux for electronic
circuits.

The copper on the tip mixes with the solder and is removed from the tip and
deposited on the circuit board.

It may be possiable to wrap some # 12 or # 14 solid wire around the tip,
extend one side out and use that to heat the SMD


Blieve me, if the tip is not plated, it will not last
long. I,ve been soldering for about 45 years.

greg

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article .net, "Ralph
Mowery" wrote:

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article . com,
wrote:
I need to solder couple of surface mount capcitors,but the tip is not
sharp enough.

Is there any way to do it without buying expensive tools ? Can i tie a
needle to the gun?


File it down.

It will not last long afterward. The flux will eat up the bare copper.


Flux will not eat up the bare copper. Atleast not flux for electronic
circuits.

The copper on the tip mixes with the solder and is removed from the tip
and
deposited on the circuit board.

It may be possiable to wrap some # 12 or # 14 solid wire around the tip,
extend one side out and use that to heat the SMD


Blieve me, if the tip is not plated, it will not last
long. I,ve been soldering for about 45 years.

greg

Greg, I did not say the tip would not last long if it was not plated.

Reread and notice that you said the FLUX would eat the copper. Flux
(designed for electronics) will NOT EAT copper. The copper dissapears
because it mixes to a small ammount with the tin/lead when the solder melts.
It becomes an aloy of coper/lead/tin. That aloy is then pulled off the tip
of the iron and becomes part of the components that are soldered.

I have also replaced my share of the plane copper tips in the 40 some years
I have been soldering.

Most any mom and pop electronics store stocks soldering iron (as
opposed to a soldering gun) tips in a wider variety of sizes for under
two dollars, but remember, a smaller tip takes longer to heat up the
trace/lead due to decreased surface area.