Soldering

[Austin]

Could you all post photos of your soldering irons ? There is so much great work being done here. I have a 40 w from radio shack that just doesn't do the job. It is great for the wires as that is what I got it for. I will get one from Santa if it on my list. :text-thankyouyellow:

[HomeRacingWorld]

[waaytoomuchintothis]

After many years and a series of Wen/Weller guns, I got this amazing thing, and it is the best soldering equipment I've ever seen. It goes from Off to 900 degrees in about 30 seconds. I use it at 850, and solder flows so nice I begin to get the idea I know what I'm doing. You can set it at any temp you want, of course. The tip cleaning stuff on the stand is perfect, and the units themselves are quite heavy, never any concern about anything getting knocked over. I still use the torch for some things, but seldom.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hakko-70-Wat ... lsrc=aw.ds

[RichD]

I use a 45 watt Ungar for just about everything including brass chassis for 1/24th cars. Irons with the heating element built into the tip work better that irons with a heating element and separate tip. When you are soldering heat transfer is probably 90% of the game. Everything should be clean and shiney, including the tip of the iron. I use a light dimmer to turn down the heat and keep the solder on the tip from oxidizing when I am not actually soldering. Using the right flux is also important. Rosen flux is best for electrical work anf acid flux is best for chassis work.

[chappy]

I was looking a while ago, and follwed Harrys lead.
Very happy now.
Bob

[gascarnut]

All the advice above is good, particularly for beginner scratch builders and those who do not plan to build lots of cars.

However, if you plan to do lots of building and especially if you intend to use larger pieces of thick brass, then IMO the best bang for the buck in soldering irons is the Hakko 601X.

It has a built in temperature setting, interchangeable tips and heats up in an instant. The tips are very high quality and last forever with care.

I have built 600 frames over the last 10 years, using a bewildering variety of irons over that time, and if this one had been available back then, I would never have needed another one.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

The iron Dennis is talking about is so similar to the one I have it uses some of the same tips. Because it is just the iron, it costs only about 2/3rds of the solder station I have. I do a lot of electronic stuff with my son the guitar inventor, so I need to be able to get into tight spaces and get the soldered connections right the first time. For me, the range and digital feedback on tip temp are very important, but if you are doing brass chassis and that's all, by all means don't be afraid of a $60 iron. Mine was $100. Hakko is the best quality you will find the world over, and you will never need another one, plus parts are easy to find. I use one of 3 tips most of the time, but I have six to choose from.

[Austin]

I wish to thank everyone for all the information, it is very helpful. Maybe, just maybe I will be able to build a chassis without burning home the house.