Soldering electronics

[Lazarus]

Can someone tell me if you are using rosin core 60/40 .032 solder is there a need for a separate rosin core flux?

[logicprobe]

60/40 rosin core is just fine for electronic work.
63/37 is "ideal" solder, with no "eutectic" or "plastic" range between solid and liquid (heating), and liquid to solid (cooling)... but much more expensive.
As long as you don't jiggle the joint as it cools, you should be fine with 60/40.
Extra rosin flux isn't usually needed for small jobs. The rosin core melts just before the solder does, to help clean and prepare the joint. The only time I ever need additional flux is when I'm doing a larger job.

The trick in soldering is HEAT first, then apply solder and let it flow, then remove the solder, then the heat.

Just DON'T use acid-core solder on electronics!

[Lazarus]

Thanks logicprobe, about the solder and I found a four wire 18 Gauge speaker wire (stranded) that will work better for L-pads and the credit modification. Parts express part #100-716 100ft for 11.90.

[arbycoffee]

Acid core is bad, the joint will degrade in time and short out.
I learned this watching "Bob Villa" on Pub. TV.http://www.users.qwest.net/~arbycoff...s/lurker17.gif

[k46tank]

Lazarus, I think you meant Parts Express part #100-716.

[Firewire]

I never trust anything that says "As Seen On TV", but this one commercial caught my attention:

https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/vc...ldheat/115810/

Any thoughts on the Cold Heat Soldering Iron?

[Tulsa]

Seems cheap enough with that wire stripper included. Well, seems to cheap to be honset..

[RKnarr01]

i know of an electrician that uses that cold heat and he really likes it and it works well for him and he uses it frequently, i was considering ordering one for myself

[Firewire]

Most reviews aren't so good:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4623

[Tulsa]

eww, a split tip is used and is heated by a six volt battery. Yep, another good reason to never trust anything that says, "As Seen On TV"!

Glad you found that review site.

[RKnarr01]

nice to see that site i was going to order one because the one person i knew didnt have a problem with his but now after seeing all the bad reviews i wont be ordering one

[Lazarus]

I edited the post Parts express #100-716. :oops:

[lockburn]

I was just looking at a Cold Heat yesterday! (Got sucked in from the infomercial)

I did a good amount of research, and in the end decided against it. It appears as it would not be a good device to use on electronics, due to the possibility of flowing a large amount of current through an IC. I'd hate to use this on a motherboard and find out the board's now toast.

It would have been nice for installing speaker volume controls and the like, though it sounds like more often than not these things work for a few days or better yet come DOA.

[Bobby Bowling]

While a 15-30 watt pencil soldering iron available for $5-$25 will work adequately for most small electronic projects, those looking for a more professional soldering solution might consider HAKO products. For about $100 (at Fry's) they offer an ESD safe thermostatically controlled soldering station with an adjustable heat range of 400-900 deg. A multitude of interchangeable tips at reasonable prices are available for applications including SMD. I've been usind a model 936 for years on projects including replacement of SMD devices on IBM Thinkpad motherboards.

[syph]

I had one of the cold heat things and returned it. I couldn't get it to do anything other than a great light show and some warm solder. Sometimes I'd have it in place and it would do some really great sparks though. I got better play out of a solder removing kit I bought at a yard sale for $2.50.

[luckydog]

my soldering gun is about 40 years old from sears :lol:

it still works great :lol: