[1000mp] Advice on MP Mods

[Joe Staples]

Ian,

Thanks for the advice.  I was aware of the need for small dia. solder ... I 
have some 0.020" dia Kester that was recommended.

As for the soldering  iron tips, I can see the need for a "fine" tip to get 
into the tight spots ... and I guess that's the basis of the 20/40 watt 
suggestions.  But I did see Weller specs. setting out the "temperature" of 
their various tips and figured it might be a clue.

I"ll track down the PTH-8 as you suggested.

Tnx es 73,

Joe, W5ASP
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ian White G3SEK" <G3SEK at ifwtech.co.uk>
To: <1000mp at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 1:59 AM
Subject: Re: [1000mp] Advice on MP Mods


> Joe Staples wrote:
>>In many of the exchanges regarding the various mods for the Yaesu 
>>FT-1000MP I've seen repeated cautions about using a low wattage (20-40 
>>watts) soldering iron when adding components to the MP's circuit boards. 
>>I wonder if anyone can put this suggestion in terms of the optimum 
>>temperature of the soldering iron tip ?
>>
>>In several instances I've seen the manufacturer's spec on their soldering 
>>irons indicate that there is a choice of tip temperature depending  upon 
>>the task at hand.
>
> Tip temperature and iron wattage are not practical problems.  The real 
> problem is tip SIZE - your old tube-age soldering iron is too darn big for 
> these tiny components, and can do a lot of "collateral damage" to 
> components close by. Also your tube-aged 16ga solder will make big blobs 
> on the joints.
>
> Simply buy a modern small iron with a cone-shaped tip like a sharpened 
> pencil. The pointed end lets you apply the heat exactly where it's needed. 
> Don't worry about wattage and tip temperature - with the right kind of 
> iron, they will automatically be about right.
>
> (Don't use those long, skinny tips - they chill down too easily if you're 
> soldering a ground connection to a large area of foil on the PC board. For 
> occasional SMD work, a short, sharp-pointed cone is the best shape. For 
> Weller TCP users, the magic word is PTH-8.)
>
> While you're in the store, buy some very thin solder. Also buy a small 
> reel of de-soldering braid, in case you use too much solder and need to 
> remove some.
>
> Then you're all set.
>
>
> -- 
> 73 from Ian G3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
> http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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