[Elecraft] was airports and planes -- soldeting stations

[Don Brown]

Hi

The reason for using a soldering station is not because of sensitive components. The soldering station has a closed loop temperature regulator that will keep the tip at an exact temperature whether setting in the holder or soldering a fairly heavy connection. The heating element is designed to provide much more heat when required than a non controlled iron. If the temperature is constant it is easier to make consistently good solder joints. 

You can build your kit with a non regulated 25-35 watt soldering iron, as many have. The soldering station just makes the process go better. Most non regulated irons get too hot for PC board work so it is best to use a variac or lamp dimmer to lower the voltage a little to drop the temperature. You will need to experiment to find the best setting. You will need a small 1/16 inch flat screwdriver type tip. The plated tips last longer. If you are using non plated tips then you will need to file and re-tin them from time to time to keep them in shape. Never file or scrape a plated tip. If you remove the plating the tip will quickly pit and be destroyed. 

If you are planning to make building Elecraft radios a regular activity then I would recommend purchasing a soldering station. The most popular units are the Weller WES-50 or 51, the WTCP or several made by Hakko. I like the PTA7 700 degree tip for the WTCP or the ETA tip for the WES-50/51 I set the temperature on the WES 50/51 to 750 degrees. There are several other brands that are good also, I just do not have any experience with them. Whatever you use, the tip size above is what you want and set the temperature control for 700-750 degrees f.

Don Brown



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MC Carpenter<mailto:southisland2 at earthlink.net> 
  To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net<mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
  Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2004 6:36 PM
  Subject: [Elecraft] airports and planes 


  thanks,  I thought it best to ask first, I miss the America as it was when I grew up. but things change. I am about to try my first kit built  I read about the first suggestion in the solder manual and that being the importance of a  temperature controlled soldering iron. when I saw that I got worried right away.  Just how sensitive are the components anyway. This one I have is a radio shack 35 watt and never doing anything like this before I am checking every possible building problem and every possible question before I start the kit and travel with it.  
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