Members papa taco Posted December 1, 2006 Members Share Posted December 1, 2006 For the following uses: wiring speaker cabs;pickup, pots and jacks of electric guitar;effects pedal kits/repairs (BYOC). Will I need a different size iron, between the speaker wiring and effects pedal building? What about solder? What size/kind? And that solder paste (I think that's what it's called) for cleaning an iron? What's that all about? Anything else I need? Safety goggles? Mask? Or just a well ventilated room? thankspapa taco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Seth Carmody Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 No more than 35w if you're working on a circuitboard. Solder should be rosin core. I supporse for BYOC you want 0.8 (this could be metric system though, that's how it's sized at my electronics store). You don't want it too thick or it will likely run between the traces. Never heard of solder paste. I clean the tip with some fine steel wool. You probably should wear goggles - an involuntary reaction that flicks some molten solder into you eye would result in the loss of the eye I'd wager. That said, soldering technique is to heat the component lead and then apply the solder to the lead joint itself, so I don't really bother half the time - there's not great gobs of solder on the iron tip to the thrownn around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members papa taco Posted December 2, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by Seth Carmody - an involuntary reaction that flicks some molten solder into you eye would result in the loss of the eye I'd wager. Noted. I'm quite the spaz. I can't tell you how many times I've bashed my face into a microphone whilst rocking out. Should be on youtube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Narcosynthesis Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 I have a variable one Mine is 50 watts, but you can control the heat, so that gives you enough for heating up the bigger things like pots, but also can be used for more delicate stuff David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ZachOmega Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 As Seth said, no more than 35 watts and 25-30 watts is probably even better. You also may want to practice soldering something before jumping into the pedal. When I was in my first electronics class, they had us put some nails in a piece of ply wood, clean the nails with steel wool, and then solder some resistors to them like they were turrets. One thing though, make sure the nails are real thin and not aluminum. It was surprisingly good practice.-Zach Omega Originally posted by Narcosynthesis I have a variable one Mine is 50 watts, but you can control the heat, so that gives you enough for heating up the bigger things like pots, but also can be used for more delicate stuff David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Marshall Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 1.21 gigawatts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members psalt_phallow Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 between 25-50 will be fine. If you're confident get a higher wattage as you'll be able to work faster. However, also know that with higher wattage you MUST work faster or you'll burn components. So if you get the 1.21 gigawatt version make sure you are lightning fast! Try and get one with changeable tips and get a pencil and chisel tip. Chisel for pots and the like, pencil for smaller more precise stuff. Use rosin core solder then you don't have to worry about the flux paste crap. Get the some what thin stuff. Safety glasses are always a good idea, and always be in a well ventilated area, those fumes can make you feel pretty sickly after awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LavaMan Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by psalt_phallow between 25-50 will be fine. If you're confident get a higher wattage as you'll be able to work faster. However, also know that with higher wattage you MUST work faster or you'll burn components. So if you get the 1.21 gigawatt version make sure you are lightning fast!Try and get one with changeable tips and get a pencil and chisel tip. Chisel for pots and the like, pencil for smaller more precise stuff.Use rosin core solder then you don't have to worry about the flux paste crap. Get the some what thin stuff.Safety glasses are always a good idea, and always be in a well ventilated area, those fumes can make you feel pretty sickly after awhile. Good advice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BP90 Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by papa taco Noted. I'm quite the spaz. I can't tell you how many times I've bashed my face into a microphone whilst rocking out. Should be on youtube. ever catch a tooth on the mic? holy {censored} and ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GRINGO_LOCO Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Just buy a Weller WES51 and be done with it. For all intensive purposes, that iron will be all you'll probably ever need. GRINGO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GRINGO_LOCO Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by ZachOmega When I was in my first electronics class, they had us put some nails in a piece of ply wood, clean the nails with steel wool, and then solder some resistors to them like they were turrets. One thing though, make sure the nails are real thin and not aluminum. -Zach Omega Hillbilly turret board ! I LIKE IT ! GRINGO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members therhodeo Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Thats the one I'm looking at getting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Majai Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by GRINGO_LOCO Just buy a Weller WES51 and be done with it. For all intensive purposes, that iron will be all you'll probably ever need.GRINGO I've been lurking here as I'm going to get a Solder Iron as well. Will I need to get any attachments with this Iron? I plan to use it to mod pedals, attach speaker cables, and maybe one day build an amp from a kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ZachOmega Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 haha...Yeah...I was in 9th grade at the time and it was my first lesson in how to solder correctly...although I had done a real botch job on a friend's guitar in 7th or 8th grade thinking I understood how to solder pickups. It worked though...most of the time...unless you hit the guitar real hard and then it would cut out until you hit it again. -Zach Omega Originally posted by GRINGO_LOCO Hillbilly turret board ! I LIKE IT ! GRINGO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BP90 Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by ZachOmega haha...Yeah...I was in 9th grade at the time and it was my first lesson in how to solder correctly...although I had done a real botch job on a friend's guitar in 7th or 8th grade thinking I understood how to solder pickups. It worked though...most of the time...unless you hit the guitar real hard and then it would cut out until you hit it again. -Zach Omega Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeah Boyeeeeeeee! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuyaGuy Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by papa taco For the following uses: wiring speaker cabs; pickup, pots and jacks of electric guitar; effects pedal kits/repairs (BYOC). Will I need a different size iron, between the speaker wiring and effects pedal building? What about solder? What size/kind? And that solder paste (I think that's what it's called) for cleaning an iron? What's that all about? Anything else I need? Safety goggles? Mask? Or just a well ventilated room? thanks papa taco MORE POWER!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dan-o-guitar Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 Originally posted by Brian Marshall 1.21 gigawatts. Marty, I'm sorry. But the only power source capable of generating 1.21 gigawatts of electricity is a bolt of lightning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members erksin Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 I'd also get a few alligator clips or hemostats to work as heat sinks - less chance of damaging another nearby component by overheating. And pick up some copper de-soldering braid too (basically a sponge that sucks up old solder)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonny guitar Posted December 2, 2006 Members Share Posted December 2, 2006 :thu: Practice a few times on some peices of wire to get a feel for what you are doing before attacking valueable stuff... review some "good soldering guidelines/tips too" so you know what to do correctly. It ain't rocket science but good soldering does take proper technique and a little know how. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members papa taco Posted December 4, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 4, 2006 I have a 40 watt iron. Should I get something smaller? I'll probably start on BYOC kits and see how I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonny guitar Posted December 4, 2006 Members Share Posted December 4, 2006 Radio shack has some cheapy 25 watters that work fine for pedals and small stuff. I hardwired a wall dimmer switch into and extension cord so that I can adjust the heat on all my irons when they are plugged into it (dremels too). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GRINGO_LOCO Posted December 4, 2006 Members Share Posted December 4, 2006 Originally posted by jonny guitar Radio shack has some cheapy 25 watters that work fine for pedals and small stuff. I hardwired a wall dimmer switch into and extension cord so that I can adjust the heat on all my irons when they are plugged into it (dremels too). I hated every second I had to spend with a Rat Shack iron. Went through tips constantly, inconsistent heat, etc, etc.. My Weller WES51 has had the same tip for 2 years now and it still is in great shape, the iron heats up / cools down quickly, has variable temp., etc. WELL worth the extra cash if you are going to do more than 1 or 2 projects, IMO. GRINGO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonny guitar Posted December 5, 2006 Members Share Posted December 5, 2006 ^^ I have both and while I agree that the tips don't last as long, my experience with the Radio Shack is very positive...especially for the 5 bucks I bought it for. Taco isn't going to be going into the soldering business so cheap is fine imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members papa taco Posted December 5, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 5, 2006 Originally posted by jonny guitar Taco isn't going to be going into the soldering business so cheap is fine imo. Actually, I'm training for my line of pedals to be released in 2008. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GRINGO_LOCO Posted December 5, 2006 Members Share Posted December 5, 2006 Originally posted by papa taco Actually, I'm training for my line of pedals to be released in 2008. I'm still waiting for your line of guitars. I want a Taco-caster !(preferably a pink one)GRINGO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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