[Elecraft] Unable to mate front panel to FP board due to mic connector bead size

[Tom, W6WW]

Good analysis.  I have noticed how constant the temperature stays.  I'm
using 63/37 solder too, and when I get back to it I will try the 650
setting.  Thanks for the comments.

73,
Tom, W6WW
K2 #3453


> Tom,
>     Ideally, you should use the lowest heat that solders well. Since I am
> using 63/37 solder, which has a slightly lower melting point than 60/40,
> and since the iron responds instantly to heat transfer out of the tip, 700
> like Elecraft recommends isn't really necessary. Also, the WESD51 is a 50
> watt iron, which I notice means that the tip stays at the set temp while
> you are soldering- even on the ground plane, drifting only a couple of
> degrees. I think the purpose of the higher temps on the older, lower
> wattage irons was because they couldn't control their temperature very
> accurately- I liked the WTCP series, but I'm guessing it was +- 40 degrees
> and the tip temp would drop precipitously when you began to solder (so you
> wound up closer to 650 anyway with a 700 tip). Plus, the Elecraft boards
> are really clean, as are the components, so they solder well and don't
need
> a lot of wetting time.
>