Small cheap solder pot

[Faringdon]

Hi,
Done a wide search for a solder pot, but the smallest i can find is...

https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/150w-solder-pot-0-3kg-lt-360b

This is 36mm diameter, and it doesnt say how deep.
Most of the ones on ebay give no dimensions.

Do you know of any really small cheap ones? Just want to dunk one lead at a time, can be very small.

[pcprogrammer]

That one looks affordable, but why invest in it while you are still in prototyping stage. Just use your soldering iron like advised in your other thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/stripping-enamel-from-copper-wire/msg4323715/#msg4323715

There are smaller ones to use with for instance JBC soldering stations, but these are more expensive. https://www.jbctools.com/c245-sp01-solder-pot-cartridge-15-x-18-product-1205.html

[Gyro]

Hi,
Done a wide search for a solder pot, but the smallest i can find is...

https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/150w-solder-pot-0-3kg-lt-360b

> Supplied with UK plug

Note the illegal Chinese unfused mains plug.

[Faringdon]

Just use your soldering iron like advised in your other thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/stripping-enamel-from-copper-wire/msg4323715/#msg4323715

Thanks, though i think i may  struggle  trying to strip the end of TEX-ELZ 7/0.3mm.

...In fact, even with a solder pot, i am not sure how it coudl be certified that each of the 7 strands of the TEX-ELZ 7/0.3mm  had been fully stripped of enamel.
Surely the only way to be sure woudl be to use a current source and measure the voltage through the TEX-ELZ? (to check the resistance corresponds to all strands being corrrectly stripped and conencted)

[Zero999]

This is 36mm diameter, and it doesnt say how deep.

You can estimate it. It specifies a maximum solder weight of 0.3kg. Look up the density of solder, calculate the volume and then the depth. I know this isn't 100% accurate as the density of solders differs and it shouldn't be filled to the top, but it should give you a fairly good estimate.

[Faringdon]

Thanks very much
Density of solder (60/40) is 8.6g /cc
So vol is 34.9 cc
..is 34.9E-6 m^3
Vol of cylinder is area * height
Area is pi.r^2 = 1.02E-3 m^2

So height is 34.3mm
Thanks again.

Aaah....when they say "300g", do they mean leaded or unleaded solder(?)...presume leaded, as its Chinese.
Unleaded solder density is just 3.5g/cc
..that would give 8.4cm depth which it obviously isnt

[Kean]

I have one of those solder pots, although mine is not Atten brand and is 50mm diameter (model KLT-350).  I bought it about 11 years ago, and I think I put 300g of leaded solder in it back then.  It was less than half full, but that wasn't a problem.  I would not recommend filling it too much as it will take ages to heat up and will be even more dangerous if bumped while hot.  You can always top it up if used regularly.

I pretty much only ever use it for tinning Litz wire, which it does reasonably well.  It certainly does it better than I can do with even my biggest soldering iron tip.  With the Litz wire you need to tin a much longer section than actually needed (at least 10mm on my 105/0.08) to be sure the solder wicks into the strands well.

[Zero999]

It appears to be a PoS. As mentioned above, it's an unfused plug and has a sheath on the earth pin, which makes it worse. It's probably dangerous. Is it earthed? Does it have a thermal fuse to protect against fire, if the controller fails?

[onsenwombat]

It appears to be a PoS. As mentioned above, it's an unfused plug and has a sheath on the earth pin, which makes it worse. It's probably dangerous. Is it earthed? Does it have a thermal fuse to protect against fire, if the controller fails?

Wow, that's another masterpiece. Sheathed earth pin is totally legit, could even be safer than the bare metal one!! Earthed? Sure, at least when the user has his/her hands on the chassis. Just hope that none of the automotive grade components happen to yield when doing that. Fire? Totally fireproof, made from thick steel...ish material(?). No need for fuses.

When considering this kind of no-name Chinese stuff that looks utter dogshit even in the product photos, always consider your personal safety. You can have the thing only powered under surveillance in your workshop, far away from any flammables, but remember that using any legitimate insulation materials, or caring about clearances is purely optional for these manufacturers. Don't play with your lives.
Ok, you can disassemble the beast, and rebuild/repair the parts that are shoddy. Worth it? I dunno, just get a proper one I'd say.

[Kean]

100% this is not something you should be careless with or leave unattended - but unlike some stuff I've bought online, it is earthed and fused.  I didn't check for a thermal fuse.

It does have a Chinese power plug which is upside down compared to an Aussie one.  The earth pin is not sheathed, but neither are live or neutral... so not compliant in the opposite way.  Changing the power lead is simple enough I imagine but with the occasional use and 150W power consumption I don't think I'll bother.