[Boatanchors] soldering/desoldering on boatanchors

[Eugene Hertz]

Well, if anyone is interested, the radio shack model 64-2185 does not do =
a good job for melting big solder joints. I am working on desoldering a c=
an type capacitor from a PCB (oops, did I say pcb? I meant chassis ;-) ) =
and it just can get the solder melted enough to do a good clean up job. T=
his is despite an 840F high temp.

However, the unit does seem very nice for regular work, so I'll keep it.

For desoldering bigger jobs, I am now considering getting radio shack mod=
el 64-2187 150W/230W gun type. Any opinions on this amount of wattage? I =
know that I have to be careful to not destroy everything in its path at t=
his wattage.

By the way, I know the real way to go is a hakko/weller/Xytronic, but if =
I told my wife I just paid $300 for a soldering iron, she would promptly =
solder together parts of my genitalia.

Usual disclaimers, I do not own radio shack or even work there.

Eugene




>-----Original Message-----
>From: Gerry Steffens [mailto:gsteffens at pitel.net]
>Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 11:23 PM
>To: ''Eugene Hertz'', boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] soldering/desoldering on boatanchors
>
>I have an old 90/125 watt Weller gun and a newer 100/140 watt Weller gun=
. 
>Neither seemed to be doing the job on the BAs and yes I have cleaned and=
 
>tightened, etc. 
> 
>At the office I was exposed to a solder station, usually used on newer p=
c 
>boards and more. I tried it on Bas it worked fine. I purchased a Xytroni=
c 
>988 solder/desolder station complete with vacuum pump. It works quicker,=
 
>easier and better than any of the old guns (and because of size, I toast=
 
>fewer wires in tight spots) for regular BAs. The temp is adjustable betw=
een 
>250 and 850 degrees F for both the pencil and desolder tool. 
> 
>I also purchased a 150/250 watt gun for the heavier chassis work. 
> 
>I am debating putting the old guns on a plaque on the wall since they ne=
ver 
>get used anymore. 
> 
>I wouldn't worry about the watts now that you have it. If it is a good u=
nit 
>it should function well, if not, well then pass it on somewhere and try =
to 
>find what meets your criteria. 
> 
>After three years I would never go back to the old guns, I guess I am to=
o 
>impatient but that's me. 
> 
>Cheers from Minnesota, 
> 
>Gerry 
> 
> 
>Collecting & Restoring E.H. Scott, 
>McMurdo Silver, Hallicrafters, Zenith 
>Transoceanic and any other interesting 
>radios since the 1960s 
>Gerald Steffens P.E. 
>Radio Historian 
>Oronoco, MN 
> 
> 
>Collection stands around 300 radios, 3 60s Oldsmobiles, 1950 GMC 1/2 ton=
, 99 
>Eldorado, 3 Suzukis and a couple of daily drivers and then there is audi=
o 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>-----Original Message----- 
>From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Eugene Hertz 
>Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 9:12 PM 
>To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net 
>Subject: [Boatanchors] soldering/desoldering on boatanchors 
> 
>Ladies and Gents: 
> 
>Recently began trying to work on some radios and other equip. I came acr=
oss 
>an alumn can-type lytic capacitor that was (I believe) bad in a power 
>supply. I began to try to desolder it, but found my 40W Ratshack iron wa=
s 
>barely melting the solder, even after holding it for many many minutes. =

> 
>I decided I needed more power. I went to ratshack and while looking for =
a 
>100W iron (gun) I stumbled across a temperature controllable with a digi=
tal 
>readout to set and also read the actual tip temp. No where on the box or=
 
>instructions could I find the wattage rating, but it did say the temp wa=
s 
>controllable from 350F to 840F. I bought the thing, but can anyone tell =
me 
>what are the watts associated with this temp range? 
> 
>I opted to buy this instead of their 100W gun, because I am unfamiliar w=
ith 
>the techniques for using the guns vs the pencil-style. Most unfamiliar w=
ith 
>how the tip can work, so I went with the pencil-style with the temp cont=
rol. 
> 
>thanks 
>Eugene 
> 
> 
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