marine6680

iTrader: (2)

Not sure, it appears to be the same as the team checkpoint. So that means it is a re-brand of the hakko. See if you can find info online.

marine6680

iTrader: (2)

Just checking back... No activity it seems... at least the forum isn't forgetting to send emails about replies again.

asc6000

iTrader: (15)

Yea Iv'e f'd up my share in the beginning.
Iv'e been using the same $30 stick iron for 20 years, on at least my 5th tip, same can of flux too.... and I am on the 3rd 1lb roll of solder. Funny thing is people bring me their stuff to solder cause my joints are so clean.
Watch the good guys, practice, clean your tip a lot. tin tin tin

desoldering? on a simple esc post or wire just get it hot and shake it off.

nice post and thread

marine6680

iTrader: (2)

Yeah... you can do a lot with even lackluster equipment if you practice and follow good technique.

TCCustoms

iTrader: (9)

Great thread...Read the whole first post by you and then jumped to the last 2 pages to catch the more recent gossip. I currently use a big ol honking thing my bro in law gave me but it workd consistently and have been happy with it since it had 3 tips i could change out. This unit was just off and on with no adjustment so i didnt have the luxury of Temp Adjustment

BUT, i finally broke down and bought the TK-950 from TrakPower(From TowerHobbies with a sale on it and my coupon allowing me to get it for $69 shipped) you guys are talking about and came in the mail yesterday and have my fiirst job for a buddy with his new Tekin RX8 esc and Tekin Pro4 motor he is slapping in his new sc10. Since the ESC has the connection right at the esc i was worried about temps but after reading this and watching Randys Vid i feel alot better and usually im not worried as im the GO-TO guy for my buddies when it comes to soldeing connectors on new batteries and esc wires!

SO ONCE AGAIN MANY THANKS and what i know and learned were from my brother who was in the Air Force for years and taught me what i know so i could use it on my car stereos and have been thankful every since and just another way our ARMED FORCES have served our country and I PERSONALLY THANK YOU!

cherokee95

iTrader: (5)

It is the same. Tower killed off the Team Checkpoint name and re-branded everything Trakpower.

I still think this thread needs to be a sticky. I've never, in nearly 30 years of RC had solder joints this clean. Thank you again.

AusOffroader

Very useful and informative post.
Hopefully I will now be able to get better connections!
I'll find out when my new connectors arrive (hopefully this week) but for now I'm off to get some flux
(I didn't know that flux cored wire wasn't any real benefit)
Cheers

TCCustoms

iTrader: (9)

Ok guys, I have a problem! I went to use the new 950 and even 800* it didn't seem to get hot enough so I went back and used old faithful....if the setting is on 700* should the tip be that hot if checked with a temp gun?

marine6680

iTrader: (2)

Thanks

It should be pretty close, within a few degrees. What is the temp range for your temp gun? I am not sure how accurate that method will be for checking the tip temp. They have special equipment for calibrating these irons. The closer you can get the temp gun to the tip the better for accuracy though. With the error rate possible in the temp gun measurment, I would say that at 700* it should at least read over 600* It is also possible that you received a bad unit.

Good to know... I will update soon. (time to go eat right now)

Glad I could help.

TCCustoms

iTrader: (9)

Well i have the Losi Temp Tuner screw driver and its very accurate since i have a Losi 810 buggy i use it on that and my brother in law has some industrial brand temp gun and another buddy has the Duratrax Temp gun and all run consistent with eachother ...When i got the unit up and running it just didnt seem to be getting hot enough to take the 2 tinned ends and mend them together so i got out my other (old) unit and it zipped it right together and that temped out at like 4xx*.

I am noticing now that the tip starts to have a glowing red look as i wait for it to warm up when i have it set on 650 which it didnt do when i got it but there is a calibration screw under the temp knob and i played with that to try to match the temp at 396(lowest temp on unit) to match with our temp guns since when outta the box it only showed about 250 when on the 396 setting

marine6680

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, It should read close to the set temp. If you can not get it to work, then return it for an exchange.

I am not sure what you mean by the tip getting red... thats not something I have seen.

TCCustoms

iTrader: (9)

tip getting red means its turning cherry red and hot and didnt know if that is normal for 700-750*

But i did email TRAKPOWER last night and got a response today and said they believe it to be faulty so i will let you kno how the total experience goes since this is the first time ive dealt with them and so far im happy since it was less than 24 hrs with the first response

marine6680

iTrader: (2)

Yeah a glowing tip is bad.

JPG

iTrader: (1)

I'm new to soldering and am curious why so much info I find out there says to stay away from using flux and also recommends using the silver solder, when you recommend the opposite? Opinions?

TCCustoms

iTrader: (9)

UPS says new one will be here tomorrow...So we will see how it goes!