Electronics > Beginners
Soldering temperature question
DBecker:
--- Quote from: tautech on February 12, 2020, 08:10:38 am ---
--- Quote from: DBecker on February 12, 2020, 05:35:02 am ---My go-to is lead solder, a knife tip, and a temperature of 260C. I only go higher if something isn't working, and then I'm very careful about heat damage.
I feel that I should be working at 240C and am cheating with 260C. I'm a little surprised that people are comfortable with over 300C.
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Is your station temp accurate ? How would you know ?
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I use a 'Hakko 191' (from China, probably unlicensed). It's consistent with thermocouple measurements.
I've designed my own soldering station controller (history-based overshoot control, not PID), so I'm familiar with the issues. But most of my soldering is using a commercial station.
ferdieCX:
I have an ERSA I-CON 2 and use almost only leaded solder
i-Tool at 290 ºC for soldering thin cables to connectors, 300 - 320 ºC for soldering trough hole and 0805 SMDs
For really massive components, I hook to the station the Power-Tool, mount the biggest usable tip and set it to 320 - 380ºC
In the seldom occasions when I have to use unleaded solder, I set the iron to about 350 ºC
Jwillis:
I use a 120W TS1200A with TSS02 tips. Most of my soldering is done at 185C (365F) with 63/37 solder and always get excellent results with little fouling of the tips. To hot and the flux burns of and gives really poor results. I'll only go to higher temperatures for wire gauges thicker than 8 But flow is really restricted.Its more like bead welding at that point . High wattage irons will hold the temperature better than low wattage irons .
Other things to consider is whether the solder is eutectic or not. This means the different components of the solder melt at the same temperature and solidify at the same temperature. For example 50/50 solder is Non-eutectic and has a range of temperatures.Not to say it isn't a good solder , it's just going to give different results.
I've used some lead free solder with fairly good results but I have to admit to having less experience with it. Probably because of the flux I used.
I go by this little chart I found and it seems to work. As far as I know these are all eutectic solders . I'm a little apprehensive on using CASTIN for the cadmium content but I'm probably just being paranoid .
The big thing is not to go to hot because oxidation accelerates at higher temperatures and can give poor results. Especially important not to exceed the temperature of your flux there by defeating it's purpose. Your flux should melt just below the melting point of your solder.If your getting alot of excessive smoke your welding to hot.
Shock:
--- Quote from: Jwillis on February 12, 2020, 11:13:01 pm ---I use a 120W TS1200A with TSS02 tips. Most of my soldering is done at 185C (365F) with 63/37 solder and always get excellent results with little fouling of the tips.
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The look on your face when you discover the station is displaying Celsius temp and you thought you were reading Fahrenheit will be priceless.
Jwillis:
--- Quote from: Shock on February 13, 2020, 12:47:11 am ---The look on your face when you discover the station is displaying Celsius temp and you thought you were reading Fahrenheit will be priceless.
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SMC component soldering is done at 185C , Through hole is around 250C. I don't need any more than that . Heavier gauge wire I have to go higher for sure .Very rarely do I need to go higher than 350C and that for 14 gauge solid wire. I can tell the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit since I have to use both all the time.
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