[Elecraft] Solder Station

[Tom Hammond NØSS]

Woody:

>I have a RS solder station with an iron that can be switched between 20W &
>40W.  I have always used 20W position for light work on flimsy boards & works
>fine.  40W position for sturdy boards (like Elecraft?).  I'm also use to
>using a pointes tip and it works just great for me.  Questions:
>
>1.  Is the 40W position O.K. for the K-1 kit?
>2.  Am I really going to get "poor results" if I don't use a "chisel or
>     spade" shaped tip?

The 40W position will probably be OK if you use care to not dwell on the 
joint too long.

A station with '20W' and '40W' positions implies that it does not control 
the temperature, but rather the amount of voltage applied to the heating 
element. This being the case, your tip temp can easily exceed 750-800 deg. 
F... even when in the '20W' position. This generally will not be a terribly 
bad thing as long as you use care in your application of heat. The intent 
should be to make a good THERMAL connection and then get in and back out as 
quickly as possible, but yet ensuring a well-soldered joint.

Personally, I prefer a chisel tip, AND one which is about 75%-90% the width 
of the PCB pad on which I'm soldering. This helps to ensure less chance of 
me dragging solder between two adjacent pads. This seems become easier to 
do when you have a LOT of heat available... not certain why, just an 
observation.

Given the opportunity to use either a 20W or a 40W heat range, I'd use the 
40W because it should allow you to get in and out more quickly.

73,

Tom Hammond   N0SS