Members Tube Sock Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 had some trouble soldering to a pot and i want to fix it. should i get another iron w/ more wattage? :idk: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DavidFisher Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 I have a Hakko 936, which goes up to 60 watts. However it has temperature regulation and measures itself in temperature- not in watts. I don't ever turn it up to the 896F temperature... but I suppose I could. Are you using lead-free solder? You should honestly be able to solder a pot with most irons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Casey4s Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 Mine is an adjustable soldering station that gets to around 90 W I think. When soldering pots make sure the pot surface is clean. I use a little fiber optic cleaning brush from Radio Shack and clean the crap out of the soldering area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sn8ke Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 Whoa... 40 watts should be PLENTY.... Anything over that requires a lot of experience to not fry pots and get cleand solder joints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LordOVchaoS Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 25 is too cold for soldering to pots! 40 is about right for what you're wanting to do. If you do manage to get the back of the pot hot enough with a 25w iron chances are you're going to damage something inside the pot from overheating. 40w heats up the back enough to solder to it but does it quickly enough that not much heat will travel to the inside of the pot. Also, if it's a new pot clean it with alcohol, lighter fluid, or something similar as they're almost always coated with a corrosion inhibiting oil from the factory. THEN hit it with some fine sandpaper or steel wool. Doing this will make soldering to it a lot easier and you will get a better, more secure solder. If you plan on doing this a lot get an adjustable soldering station like the other guys said! I just got a Xytronic XY9-60D adjustable station and I LOVE it! I can turn it down low for circuit board work, up for guitar work, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tube Sock Posted January 10, 2008 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 i'll get an adjustable or a 40W iron and clean the pot as suggested. in the past, i'd not had a problem, but this time it did. maybe teh pots are nto created equal or it's just not clean? anyway, thanks for the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 If you aren't already, try a chisel tip. I find for larger jobs, like soldering to the back of pots, they make better contact and heat the joint quicker. Also keep your tip tinned and clean. That said, I just got an adjustable iron, and I will never go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cloudscapes Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 I use a weller soldering station that has a range of 0-40 watts. 25 watts is plenty for most DIY cases! solder efficiently and quickly. Especially quickly! you don't want to be mucking around on a chip's pin for more than a couple seconds, idealy just one. pots are more resistant. 25 watts should be enough if you hold the oron on the pot's lug for a couple seconds before applying solder, I dont know why you're having trouble! I keep mine at 30w almost all the time and don't have that problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kerzeck Posted January 10, 2008 Members Share Posted January 10, 2008 I'm a horrible solderer. Just thought I'd throw that in there. Lotsa practice...little results. I have a $14 radio/hack iron, however, I can't blame the tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tube Sock Posted January 11, 2008 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2008 I'm a horrible solderer.Just thought I'd throw that in there. Lotsa practice...little results.I have a $14 radio/hack iron, however, I can't blame the tools. well i suck too. just like my playing. but i don't suppose i;ll give up just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members De-bone-air Posted January 11, 2008 Members Share Posted January 11, 2008 If this is an "I suck at soldering post"....you can include me too.I suck at soldering with a 30 watt Weller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mfergel Posted January 11, 2008 Members Share Posted January 11, 2008 yeah, I use a 40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ziggs65 Posted January 11, 2008 Members Share Posted January 11, 2008 yeah, I use a 40. OT, but where can I find a larger version of you avatar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blwilli Posted January 11, 2008 Members Share Posted January 11, 2008 Hi...I'm actually an electronics technician for the FAA. I would suggest using eutectic (63% tin, 37% lead) rosin core solder. This is standard for electronics, as it has a relatively low melting point (361 degrees F) and an almost nonexistant plasticity stage (the period of time it is gel like going from liquid back to solid) The iron should be set at about 750 degrees F, typically a 35 watt iron will do the trick (unless you have a nice temperature controlled soldering station). Clean the case of the potentiometer with isopropyl alcohol, and rough a little bit with a wire brush. Dap a little bit of flux on the pot, as this will aid in solder flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kerzeck Posted January 11, 2008 Members Share Posted January 11, 2008 Love your avatar willi!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blwilli Posted January 11, 2008 Members Share Posted January 11, 2008 thank you Kerzeck. I've got 5 electrics, and two acoustics. that's one of the two electrics I built myself. Fender American Standard neck, Allparts Surf Green body (SBF-SFG) Seymour Duncan antiquity pups, CTS pots, Gotoh tuners, and cloth covered wire. I have a friend who's been playing semi-pro for 30 years, who hates strats...plays Les Pauls, he says this thing almost makes him wanna play a Strat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members munkie Posted January 12, 2008 Members Share Posted January 12, 2008 I'm using a 30W soldering iron and that works fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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