[Elecraft] Soldering temperature

Sun Jun 1 09:45:00 2003

I tried 650.  While it works OK, I think the 700 degree temp gives me more
quicker action and more positive control over the operation.  YMMV.

73,
Tom, W6WW
K2 #3453

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce D. McLaughlin" <[email protected]>
To: "'Tom, W6WW'" <[email protected]>; "'- Elecraft'" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 9:51 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Soldering temperature

> For what it may be worth with respect to the KPA100 I think it may be
> less a question of solder temperature than of soldering iron tip mass at
> a couple of demanding junctures.  I have an Edsyn station which has
> served me very well for constructing the K2 and all options, including
> the KPA100.  I usually set it at 700 which worked quite well.  On a
> couple of occasions I did raise it to 800 degrees.  I have a standard
> .22 inch tip.
> Larger tips are available but I have not acquired them to date.
> Instead, when it came to the large binocular transformers in the KPA100
> as well as the final transistors, I changed to a Radio Shack 40 watt
> iron with a wide tip.  I just felt that both of those steps involved
> large metal areas which might cause the narrow tip on the Edsyn to sink
> too much temperature.  I also have a 100 watt gun which, for some
> reason, I just couldn't bring myself to use because I was afraid it
> might inadvertently contact some nearby component which should not be
> contacted.  That RS iron (It's a Weller) did very well for the above
> portions of the construction.
> An inadequate iron should reveal itself in short order.  If it seems to
> take more that 3-4 seconds to cause good solder flow I would suspect it
> is not up to the job.
>
> Bruce - W8FU
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tom, W6WW
> Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 10:40 PM
> To: - Elecraft
> Subject: [Elecraft] Soldering temperature
>
> Bob,
>
> Let us know what you think of 650 compared to 700.
>
> 73,
> Tom, W6WW
> K2 #3453
>
> > I have the WES50 (predecessor to the WES51) and was surprised at how
> > easy it was to solder the very thick tab of the voltage regulator on
> > the KDSP2.  I was all prepared to use my soldering gun, but the iron
> > handled it nicely.  I used the 700 degree setting on everything I have
> > built so far, but will give 650 a try on the KPA100, which is next in
> > line on the bench after the WPX (which is giving the new K2 a good
> > workout) is over.
>
>
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