[Elecraft] Soldering temperature

Tue May 27 21:56:01 2003

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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