solder iron

[mosschops]

Hi All since my dad passed I am now having to sort my own problems with my kat 6550. I have two irons one at 25 watt not hot enough and one at 40 better but i still feel it could be hotter would 60watt be better
Regards Steve

[TimN]

Yes - or hotter. I've got a 60W but often wish I had a 100W. A 60W is smaller and more maneuverable. It can fit into smaller spaces - nooks and crannies. However, a 100W can heat up a joint much quicker. Horses for courses.

[mosschops]

Many thanks Tim I will order two
Regards Steve

[TimN]

One of each I hope!

[A Stuart]

A new iron may be overkill. You are soldering bits of wire to tags, at the heaviest probably speaker wire to connector plugs, not copper water-pipes.

Different sizes of tip make a huge difference to your ability to transfer heat to the subject materials faster than it gets conducted away from the site.
This supposes that your iron takes interchangeable heads.
Also, does your iron have a variable thermostat?

On the other hand we all like new toys .

[bob orbell]

I agree with Allister, temperature controlled soldering stations are the best, look at Antex soldering products, also solder makes a big difference, low melting point solder is what most use on here, lead free is not favoured by many as it requires more heat and does not flow nicely as dose silver basted solder, but this is only for SMT components. Bob