Soldering Iron Temperature

[mbratch]

For those of you who use a temperature controlled soldering iron, what's your favorite temperature setting for working on a Fender eyelet board?

[Jade]

Right about 700 degrees is what I set my Weller WESD51 at. Any hotter, and the tips just seem to oxidize too fast.

[Faustine Amps]

I leave mine at 600 deg. F. and that seems to work great for most things. For bigger solder, larger leads (like 2 watt or greater resistors), or for tinning large stranded wires, I turn it up to 700.

Regards,
Tim Gregoire

[phsyconoodler]

I agree with Faustine.It also depends on the physical size of the tip you have.Smaller tips don't retain or transfer heat as well as larger ones do.It's best to practice a bit around the 600-700 range and find what works best for you.

[mbratch]

OK that all makes sense. I think I usually end up around 675 or there abouts for doing eyelet board soldering. If I get impatient I turn it up a little. :P But I wasn't sure if there was an optimum point. The feedback is helpful.

[donnyjaguar]

700°F lower than that it'll cause a cold solder joint, higher than that it'll crystallize the solder. If you find you have to turn the temperature up to solder larger wires, then you need a bigger tip - or iron.

[HipKitty]

It also depends on whether or not you are using Rohs compliant solder (lead free). The "unleaded" type requires higher temps to get it to flow properly.

[ChickenLover]

I go about 675-700 for soldering and then crank it to 725-750 for desoldering...then I'll forget to turn it back down for a while.:D I'm using the 4% silver solder from WBT.

[WesKuhnley]

I use a Hakko 936, and that iron, with the medium sized chisel tip, seems to like be at 750 or a tick higher. Lower takes too long to melt the joints using the water-washable flux and solder. As long as I stay under 800, it doesn't seem to oxidize very quickly.

[VaughnC]

For a Fender eyelet board I've found 650-675 to be adequate.

[jay42]

It also depends on whether or not you are using Rohs compliant solder (lead free). The "unleaded" type requires higher temps to get it to flow properly.Very important and not to be ignored.

[Swarty]

What is the consensus on lead-free solder?

[Mike9]

Temperature? lets see . . . the first (and last time) I grabbed the wrong end of my 40 watt iron there was a sizzling sound and the smell of a piece of meat hitting the grill. DOH!!!!! :rotflmao

[Bonenut]

I use a Hakko 936, and that iron, with the medium sized chisel tip, seems to like be at 750 or a tick higher. Lower takes too long to melt the joints using the water-washable flux and solder. As long as I stay under 800, it doesn't seem to oxidize very quickly.


Same here. 750 for the Hakko.

[Bonenut]

What is the consensus on lead-free solder?

Don't use it, don't want it, don't like it.

[HipKitty]

What is the consensus on lead-free solder?


Can't say that I'm a fan of it by any means...just doeasn't flow the same...but have to use it to be RoHS compliant.

[stratman_el84]

I refuse to use the lead-free/RoHS-compliant crap. The high tin content with no/very little lead causes "tin whiskers" to form and cause all sorts of chaos. It's become a major problem in the electronics manufacturing world since the regulations regarding it's use were enacted, and has even been blamed for equipment failures on the Hubble space telescope and space shuttle. Good old Kester 60-40 rosin core is the stuff. ;)

Cheers!

Strat

[trey85stang]

I refuse to use the lead-free/RoHS-compliant crap. The high tin content with no/very little lead causes "tin whiskers" to form and cause all sorts of chaos. It's become a major problem in the electronics manufacturing world since the regulations regarding it's use were enacted, and has even been blamed for equipment failures on the Hubble space telescope and space shuttle. Good old Kester 60-40 rosin core is the stuff. ;)

Cheers!

Strat

we have to keep space lead free though.

[HipKitty]

I refuse to use the lead-free/RoHS-compliant crap. The high tin content with no/very little lead causes "tin whiskers" to form and cause all sorts of chaos. It's become a major problem in the electronics manufacturing world since the regulations regarding it's use were enacted, and has even been blamed for equipment failures on the Hubble space telescope and space shuttle. Good old Kester 60-40 rosin core is the stuff. ;)

Cheers!

Strat

Kester 60/40.....ahhhhhh....ooooooh......the sweet memories.......oooohhhhh

[stratocaster]

Temperature? lets see . . . the first (and last time) I grabbed the wrong end of my 40 watt iron there was a sizzling sound and the smell of a piece of meat hitting the grill. DOH!!!!! :rotflmao

LMAO :rotflmao