Soldering station tips

[JPGraphX]

Hi!

I just bought a soldering station Xytronic LF1600. I never used a soldering station. Is there any tips that you could share with me? I would like to know typical temperature for soldering typical things.. resistor and caps on board, back of potentiometer, ground bus, etc.

Thanks, it is much appreciated.

JP

[xtian]

I have my set at ~700°F. It will vary depending on your tip, soldering station, your skill at soldering, solder, and other variables.

[JPGraphX]

And you solder everything at that setting?

Thanks,
JP

[vibratoking]

I solder almost everything at 650 °F. I use a higher wattage iron for items with a lot of thermal mass. In general, get in and get out.

[xtian]

I will sometimes have to dime the temperature control (says 950°F max) when I'm trying to solder a ground wire to a tab that's already screwed to the chassis, due to all the heat being sucked away...poor planning really. Also use high temp when soldering to 1/4" plugs' grounds, etc.

[JPGraphX]

Why use high temp on 1/4 ground?

[beasleybodyshop]

Why use high temp on 1/4 ground?

because there is a lot of mass to heat up. Generally it is good to have a soldering iron with a few different size tips - bigger, chisel tips are good at quickly heating up larger items like ground connections on 1/4 jacks, backs of potentiometers (gasp!) and larger wire. Smaller tips can heat these up too, but take much longer, so you risk damaging your component with a smaller tip if it takes too long.

[xtian]

Right. And these things (heat sink clips) really do help protect critical components (diodes, small caps) from overheating:

[img:895:900]http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cat/images/HS3_700.jpg[/img]

Though I admit I rarely use them. There are some important times, though, like when trying to replace components in a single turret with four leads stuffed into it including a diode (part of the bias supply). It took a lot of heat to melt the solder in that packed turret, so I used the clips.

[Zippy]

Hi!

I just bought a soldering station Xytronic LF1600. I never used a soldering station. Is there any tips that you could share with me? I would like to know typical temperature for soldering typical things.. resistor and caps on board, back of potentiometer, ground bus, etc.

I recommend you just stay away from soldering to the backs of pots. There are better ways to go, and they won't damage the internals of the pots.

[John_P_WI]

Like other stations, turn the temp down when busy doing other things, always tin the tip before turning off, and "stab" the brass sponge don't wipe - that way you avoid the molten ball of solder from flying back at you.

[beasleybodyshop]

Like other stations, turn the temp down when busy doing other things, always tin the tip before turning off, and "stab" the brass sponge don't wipe - that way you avoid the molten ball of solder from flying back at you.

Haha. This is so true.

And don't solder in your underwear or shirtless.

[JPGraphX]

Cool thanks for all the tips!! That will help a lot!!

@John_P_WI You turn it down to? 200? 500?

@beasley... lol!!

JP

[John_P_WI]

JP, just turn it down as low as convinately possible.

[Structo]

Most quality stations are quick to achieve your temp setting and also recover lost heat quickly.

I usually set mine around 700F as well.

But leaving the iron at that temp while doing other things can be hard
on the tip.
So the advice about turning it down when not soldering is a good one.

But learning proper soldering techniques is a must for quality joints.

Make mechanical connection, clean iron tip, tin tip with solder, heat joint, touch solder wire to joint, flow solder, pull back solder, lift iron from joint.

This all happens in about 3-4 seconds.

Also make sure you don't move anything in the joint while the solder sets up.

A good solder joint is smooth and shiny.

If not, reflow the joint.

[JPGraphX]

Hey Structo, thanks. I think I'm good with soldering techniques, at least basic techniques. I've built a lot of guitar pedal but always with soldering iron, and they are not constant on temperature. So I decided to buy a soldering station.

But I must say, that I have never tin tip with solder.

How can I know when a tip is not good anymore? what does it looks like?

THanks,
JP