[Elecraft] New Builder

[Don Brown]

Hi

While a good soldering station is the way to go if you must use one of =
the inexpensive soldering irons. Get a lamp dimmer to plug it into. =
These irons make up for their lack of regulation and low mass by running =
way too hot for most PC board work. Get a table top lamp dimmer or mount =
a wall type dimmer in a box with a plug for the soldering iron. Try a =
few joints at different settings of the dimmer until you get good joints =
without burning the board. Use an old board for testing. You should be =
able to make a good joint in 2 or 3 seconds if the heat is right.=20

This goes for any type of iron, do not wipe the tip too much before =
making the joint. It just cools the tip. One quick wipe on both sides is =
enough. Do not wipe the tip between joints wipe only when removing the =
iron from in the stand. In other words you have inserted 6 or 7 =
resistors. Remove the iron from the stand and make one wipe on each side =
then make the 12 -14 joints and put the iron back in the holder. The =
excess solder left on the iron after completing the joints will protect =
the tip. The holder should be the type that does not touch the tip or =
the heating element but holds the iron by the handle. (I have seen ash =
trays used. Not good!) If anything touches the tip or element it will =
just cool it or make the iron cycle too much if it is a soldering =
station. The stations have the proper holder built in use it.

 Get yourself a temperature controlled soldering station as soon as you =
can you wont be sorry.

Don Brown

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Steve.Lawrence@itwfeg.com=20
  To: Ryan Neary=20
  Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net=20
  Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 2:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New Builder


  Dear Ryan,
  Good soldering skills is are key to success.  However, these are =
easily=20
  learned.  There's even a tutorial on the Elecraft web site!  Look in =
the=20
  "builder's resources" section.

  Successful soldering begins with a reasonable soldering iron.  You can =
pay=20
  $100 (give or take) on a temperature controlled soldering station, but =

  others have been successful with a $25 pencil iron from Radio Shack.  =
Have=20
  a look through the email list archives for several good =
recommendations=20
  from Hakko, Weller, Edsyn, and perhaps others.

  SNIP

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