I need to change some batteries in various carts and thought I'd try a couple of console mods as well. It's been about 20'years since I've used a soldering iron so I'm not too sure which one to get.
I read somewhere that a 15-20 watt iron will be fine for what I need it for but then I read elsewhere that it won't do.
Can anyone recommend one that will be suitable? Also I understand that I need to avoid lead free solder? But what size/type should I buy?
Cheers
Yup, I recently bought a little Atten soldering station from RS components that did not break the bank at all (around 40 pounds) and it is really suitable for that kind of tasks. I will check the model when I arrive home today :)
First off, get an iron where you can control the temperature. As mentioned below, Atten is a good low-cost choice, such as this: Atten AT938D Soldering Station !!Special Promotion!! (http://www.batronix.com/shop/soldering/Atten-AT938D.html)
Don't buy a no-name device, because you won't find replacement tips and tips need to be changed regularly.
Solder: For what you'll be doing you should get leaded 0.5mm solder. Lead-free solder should only be used on PCBs that were manufactured with lead-free solder and all retro gear was made with leaded solder.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 21:07, 05 July 16
First off, get an iron where you can control the temperature. As mentioned below, Atten is a good low-cost choice, such as this: Atten AT938D Soldering Station !!Special Promotion!! (http://www.batronix.com/shop/soldering/Atten-AT938D.html)
Don't buy a no-name device, because you won't find replacement tips and tips need to be changed regularly.
50 Euros, that'll be about £500 now.
Would this solder be suitable?
400g 0.5/0.6/1.0/1.2mm 60/40 Tin lead Solder Flux Wire Rosin Core Soldering Roll (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400g-0-5-0-6-1-0-1-2mm-60-40-Tin-lead-Solder-Flux-Wire-Rosin-Core-Soldering-Roll-/282032395249?var=&hash=item41aa70d3f1:m:mGon-pjmdAoMplpzeekikkQ)
Yeah, the 0.5 or 0.6 of that would be fine.
Bryce.
Mine is the Atten AT60D
| RS Pro AT60D, Soldering Station, 220V, Type F - Schuko plug, Type G - British (http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/soldering-stations/7998939/)
Sadly, it seems discontinued in RS components and the one they offer as an "equivalent" option is much more expensive. However, Atten lists the AT60D ESD in their web page. Maybe is a revision of my station, they seem very similar :)
AT60D ESD Free Soldering Station_ATTEN (http://www.atten.com/Soldering%20station/AT60D.html)
You may also need desoldering braid if you do not have a pistol. I like this one for the retro-mods :)
2mm Desolder Desoldering Braid Wick Wire Mop Solder Sucker Remover Fluxed Flux | (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191412743681?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)
Quote from: ||C|-|E|| on 22:22, 05 July 16
You may also need desoldering braid if you do not have a pistol. I like this one for the retro-mods :)
2mm Desolder Desoldering Braid Wick Wire Mop Solder Sucker Remover Fluxed Flux | (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191412743681?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)
Wow, that's a tiny sample, I'd go through one of those every day :D I buy this braid: ELL FE 30-2: Entlötlitze a. Kupfer, B: 1,5mm, L: 30 Meter bei reichelt (http://www.reichelt.de/ELL-FE-30-2/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=7390&artnr=ELL+FE+30-2)
I don't use it directly from that reel of course, I have a small handheld "feeder".
Bryce.
Hahahaha, yes, it is a bit on the tiny side :D I use one every month, more or less, depending on my activity. The upgrade of the 464 Plus ate more than one by itself :laugh: I think that I am going to buy one of those big rolls though, the price seems very good :)
Then buy yourself one of these first. You can refill it from the big reel: AREXX - AW-200 - DESOLDERING BRAID ESD SAFE 2MX1.7MM | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AREXX-AW-200-DESOLDERING-BRAID-ESD-SAFE-2MX1-7MM-/141910399612)
Bryce.
That is actually a good idea :) I have to check the prices of the big reels, anyway, because it seems that you are able to buy them very cheap in that German store, cheaper than e-bay, even including delivery cost to UK :-\
Thanks for the advice guys. I couldn't find the AT60D for sale anywhere so I've ordered the model that Bryce suggested. I found it on eBay for £49.99 with free shipping.
I don't think I've ever used a temperature controlled iron before, what temp do you recommend soldering at?
For most stuff anywhere around 340°C to 360°C should be fine. If you are soldering big stuff with a large thermal mass (Heatsinks / Connectors / Connections to a large ground plane) then you should up it to around 380°C to compensate for the irons lack of thermal mass.
Bryce.
I asked the same question in the past as well :) I solder/desolder in the PCBs setting the temperature at 360-70ºC. However, sometimes you may need to increase it further if you have something big that is soldered to the ground and is connected to a big track. For cables or things that are not PCB related I may work at 380ºC or even 400ºC if they are very thick. I use quite a lot of flux, by the way, I find it really helpful to keep the temperature under control. Then, I always clean the boards with isopropanol when I am done :)
P.D: ups, Bryce, you had already answered :laugh:
Does it matter what type of flux I use, is this one ok?
New 20g FLUX, ROSIN for electronics SMD solder flux COLOPHONY -HIGH Purity | (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-20g-FLUX-ROSIN-for-electronics-SMD-solder-flux-COLOPHONY-HIGH-Purity-/371569411354?hash=item568343451a:g:6DoAAOSwZQxW59U7)
That is the most traditional one, I would say :) The one I use is rosin flux as well but softer, like a cream, and I find it more convenient because I like to dip things on it from time to time, like the desoldering braid. However, I cannot recommend you my brand because I brought it from Spain and it is not sold in UK :) Maybe this one could be an alternative:
50g Rosin Soldering Flux Paste Solder Welding Grease Cream for Phone PCB F7 | (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50g-Rosin-Soldering-Flux-Paste-Solder-Welding-Grease-Cream-for-Phone-PCB-F7-/221998485638?hash=item33b0241086:g:s9QAAOSwGotWnNMm)
You can also buy the rosin you suggested and use pure isopropanol to thin it.
Both of those are "old hat". Get a decent Flux pen like this: FL 88: No-Clean SMD Flußmitteldispenser bei reichelt elektronik (http://www.reichelt.de/FL-88/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=7809&artnr=FL+88) No mess, completely liquid, easy to dose. Most of the time you shouldn't need additional flux anyway, there's enough flux inside the solder.
Bryce.
Everything ordered now. Lets hope I won't need to send my console to Bryce to fix after butchering it with my nice new soldering iron :doh:
Quote from: Bryce on 19:59, 06 July 16
Both of those are "old hat". Get a decent Flux pen like this: FL 88: No-Clean SMD Flußmitteldispenser bei reichelt elektronik (http://www.reichelt.de/FL-88/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=7809&artnr=FL+88) No mess, completely liquid, easy to dose. Most of the time you shouldn't need additional flux anyway, there's enough flux inside the solder.
Bryce.
I am an old fart, using the same rosin since who knows when and cleaning afterwards :laugh: :picard: