baih

i also tell people thats just learning to solder to use deans solder. you will need any flux and its easy to use.
and you do need at least a 40 watt soldering iron with a flat screwdriver tip. the needle pointed tip does not work that well.

JakeDaSnake

Yea the I considered a 60 watt but I didn't think I needed it my dad has a digital solder station at work its 60 watts and it doesn't really get much hotter... But I can see were wind makes it hard to heat up...

Later
Jake

gearless

By an Hakko, with the push button. It idles at 25W and when you push that magical button you got 120W. That's all I need to do all my soldering, indoors or outdoors.

Still Bill

iTrader: (16)

I didn't know that about the Hakko. Very kewl.

antoniop

Here you go. It's calles teh Presto in the American market

http://www.hakkousa.com/products.asp?PID=980-981&Page=1

Buy the chiseled tip. The one that comes with the iron makes it difficult for certain jobs that we do. However it's excelent for electronics.

calstarjig90j

iTrader: (2)

Don't use too much solder, tin work and iron, use right tip for amount of surface you are soldering and use a tool like a third hand device that gives you an extra edge on holding things to be soldered in place.

galway

i have a 100 watt iron meant for stained glass. It does an amazing job. You just touch the surface for a second and the solder is melting. When it comes to building batteries the only thing I have seen do a better job is the spot welder things pro-match uses.

kufman

iTrader: (6)

I went a different route when it came to a soldering iron. I use a Weller 90/120W soldering gun that is about 30 yrs old (maybe older according to my dad). Most poeple think this is too much, but when it comes to batteries, 12 AWG wire, and copper headed motors.... I can't imagine not having it. The other good thing in my mind is the way it works. It only gets hot when you pull the trigger and the rest of the time it doesn't consume any power. I don't know if this setup is the recommended way of doing things, but it works great for me.

cr250

........

KREATOR1

iTrader: (8)

i suck at soldering too, untill i realize that my solder is just for circuit board at the end .... I suck. lol!!!

Harlow

FYI - The Goot TQ77D rests at 20w and goes to 200w when you pull the trigger. The tips hold up great. $35.00
http://www.bomir.com/online/index.php?sub=78

JakeDaSnake

I have to have a Solder Iron not a Solder Gun... I can solder with a gun worth a crap I like the feel of the pencil type... just my 2 cents...

Later
Jake

Harlow

The Goot TQ-95 on the same page is the pencil type. It's 15/150 watt.

Corruptor

I was thinking about getting one of those, but the tip seems like it's a bit small for doing battery work. Have you tried to build a pack with it yet?

Harlow

Corruptor, I was using a 200w stained glass iron for battery work. Haven't done a battery with the Goot yet but I know it will work just as well. I use the 3mm chisel tip. The big benefit of the Goot is the watts drop back when not in use. This helps the tips from getting fried. It seems o take 20-30 seconds to get really hot after you pull the trigger. If you look on my site at the CommSleeve instructions. It will solder those plates on in 2-3 seconds. Thats about the same area as a battery bar.

Also, The gun type TQ-77D is really small. 6.5" long and 4.125" tall. .875" thick. I was using a pencil type solder station. I went with the gun type on the Goot because I wanted the extra 50 watts it has over the pencil type TQ-95. After using it just a while I got used to it and now actually prefer the gun. It isn't big like a weller gun.