solder iron

[John Caswell]

I did write about this a long time ago, but I concur with Ali Stuart about thermal mass.
I have two Weller TCP2 48 watt irons for general use, one a 3mm bit, one a 1mm bit. Anything larger and either a Weller 60 Watt and/or a Henley Solon 125 Watt come into play. They generally sort the men from the boys
Copper PCB tracks are very good heatsinks especially if they are the plated through (PTH) type with a large mass of copper on the other side.
I consider a temperature controlled 50Watt to be the best so you get good fast heat transfer. Slow heat transfer is a disaster for PCB as it will lift tracks very quickly.
In my TV servicing days (1958) at the start of PCB construction we became very wary of "lifting tracks" and soon became pretty skilled and fast at component replacement.

John

[bob orbell]

Originally Posted by Mark

Bob,

Fair comment. Which make and model number do you have ?

Mark

Hi Mark, I have the 760 RWK, OK, I know it is expencive, but it works and the hot air gun is very uesfull for heat shrink tube, plus, if the iron burns out they supply a new element assy at a good price. I have had mine now for about 10 years and only last year did I need a replacment iron element.Bob

[Mark]

Originally Posted by John Caswell

I did write about this a long time ago, but I concur with Ali Stuart about thermal mass.
I have two Weller TCP2 48 watt irons for general use, one a 3mm bit, one a 1mm bit. Anything larger and either a Weller 60 Watt and/or a Henley Solon 125 Watt come into play. They generally sort the men from the boys
Copper PCB tracks are very good heatsinks especially if they are the plated through (PTH) type with a large mass of copper on the other side.
I consider a temperature controlled 50Watt to be the best so you get good fast heat transfer. Slow heat transfer is a disaster for PCB as it will lift tracks very quickly.
In my TV servicing days (1958) at the start of PCB construction we became very wary of "lifting tracks" and soon became pretty skilled and fast at component replacement.

John

John,

Many thanks. My mate found a 125W Henley Solon and a 60W unnamed monster bit iron on that internet auction site and got the pair for £13.69 (see photos attached). The 60W one with the bent handle did the job. I had forgotten how long old school irons take to heat up - 5 to 15 minutes, and even worse to cool down, as I had forgotten to get a suitable rest !

Mark