[Elecraft] Soldering temperature

Sun Jun 1 13:37:00 2003

650 didn't seem to be quite enough for me either (Weller WES50) so I
went back to using 700 deg.  I used my very old Weller soldering gun
for the binocular cores on the KPA100.

73,
Bob, N7XY
K2 #3273

On Sun, Jun 01, 2003 at 09:40:25AM -0400, Tom, W6WW wrote:
> 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.
> >
> >