Author Topic: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List" (Read 1634 times)

Geoff · « **on:** March 30, 2021, 06:10:23 am »

Electro Fan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2021, 07:12:07 am »

solder sucker / desoldering gun?
hot air gun?
magnifier / microscope?

RayRay · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2021, 12:53:41 pm »

The alcohol you've picked is not fit for purpose! You need a bottle of pure (99%+) alcohol with a cork, not a spraying nozzle.
For solder, I'd recommend this one (I typically use 0. 5/8):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000128472972.html
It's a very high quality solder, and 63/37 is better than 60/40 btw (no plastic phase, goes instantly from liquid to solid)
If you wanna try lead-free, this ones pretty good:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32824531083.html
You could use 0.6 for general purpose, and smaller diameters for SMDs.
For Flux, I highly recommend this one:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32394410435.html
You could easily apply it with either tweezers or wooden tooth picks, no need for syringes.
Also, I'd suggest you get a goot solder pump, as it's better then the average low quality ones:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32869114560.html
For wicks, I use these (2.5mm) and they work great:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32931554391.html
For cutters, I like these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001736644112.html
And this PCB stand is amazing:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001126472525.html
Nothing wrong with a third hand (for smalker stuff, or connectors) but for actually holding decently sized boards, it's fantastic.
Never used a tip refresher, I don't see the point in getting one to be honest (just keep the tip's temperature in check, and don't leave the iron on execssively without need). Also, I'd highly recommend this lamp:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001593591937.html
You could just use it with a power bank (helps seeing what you're working on).
And as said above, there are also other things you should add to that list. Hot air station be useful (but if you're only getting started, it can wait I guess). Magnifier with LED lights is very useful, and a Microscope too (G1200 provides a pretty good cost/value ratio). Also, don't forget to get a stand for the iron (and better use a brass tip cleaner, not a sponge!)

Smith · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2021, 06:07:41 pm »

Quote from: Electro Fan on March 30, 2021, 07:12:07 am

solder sucker / desoldering gun?
hot air gun?
magnifier / microscope?

A quality solder sucker will come in handy. Specially for larger quantities of solder the regular solder wick will become costly. Also sucking out some PCB holes will go much faster. I really like the ones with a flexible tip at the end. DO still get the solder wick too, it really has its purpose. For example getting solder from between IC pins.

A desoldering gun / hot air gun seems like a nice thing to buy if you really like soldering and saved up some cash later. You will be better off buying some good gear now.

A magnifier of microscope will really come in handy. Your eyesight can be very good, but there will be shorted pins or something that you will not be able to see. Any average monocular microscope will do for finding shorts or checking traces / components. But if you want to work under the microscope just get a good stereo one. Anything too cheap will just be frustrating and annoying to work with.

Electro Fan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2021, 08:56:56 pm »

Quote from: Smith on March 30, 2021, 06:07:41 pm

Quote from: Electro Fan on March 30, 2021, 07:12:07 am
solder sucker / desoldering gun?
hot air gun?
magnifier / microscope?

A quality solder sucker will come in handy. Specially for larger quantities of solder the regular solder wick will become costly. Also sucking out some PCB holes will go much faster. I really like the ones with a flexible tip at the end. DO still get the solder wick too, it really has its purpose. For example getting solder from between IC pins.

A desoldering gun / hot air gun seems like a nice thing to buy if you really like soldering and saved up some cash later. You will be better off buying some good gear now.

A magnifier of microscope will really come in handy. Your eyesight can be very good, but there will be shorted pins or something that you will not be able to see. Any average monocular microscope will do for finding shorts or checking traces / components. But if you want to work under the microscope just get a good stereo one. Anything too cheap will just be frustrating and annoying to work with.

+3 (that's me agreeing plus me voting twice) on the microscope

and while the desoldering gun is great for removing through hole components if the budget is tight I'd forgo the desoldering gun and apply the funds first to the microscope

I learned more about soldering in about 3-4 months with a microscope than in about 30-40 years without a microscope. When you can clearly see what's happening it makes a huge difference in your ability to learn, adjust, and improve.

Having said that, if you are just doing through hole and you have good eyesight you might be able to bypass the microscope and apply the funds elsewhere, but if your eyesight is just so-so, or if you are going to be doing SMDs, or if you really want to dial-in your soldering (and desoldering) an optical microscope is great tool for moving up the learning curve. If you are just getting started there's plenty to be done and learned without a microscope but if you are going to be doing a lot of soldering at some point the microscope should be on the list.

tooki · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2021, 06:08:20 pm »

Quote from: RayRay on March 30, 2021, 12:53:41 pm

The alcohol you've picked is not fit for purpose! You need a bottle of pure (99%+) alcohol with a cork, not a spraying nozzle.

That's ridiculous. It's >99% IPA according to the MSDS, so it's certainly fine. I often use spray IPA.

With that said, I don't use IPA for flux removal any more, since so many modern fluxes are not fully soluble in IPA, leaving white residue. Commercial flux removers aren't that expensive and do a better job with less work and less solvent used.

tooki · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2021, 06:20:08 pm »

Quote from: Geoff on March 30, 2021, 06:10:23 am

Can you see anything missed, or could be improved on, in this list of equipment for a Soldering Bench?

This is what I use. And I was asked to recommend a list of what is need for a soldering bench.

Do you have some tool that is the "best thing since sliced bread" that should be add to this list? eg I find that an old "Dental Pick" is great for removing flux as well as poking and prodding.

[…]

What would you consider a must have piece of gear, that is missing from this list, for a soldering bench?

Skip AliExpress entirely for solder, the chances of getting garbage are just too high. Name-brand solder really isn't that expensive. (Even if you spend $50 on a half kilo reel, it'll last a long time, so the cost per project is still absolutely negligible.) Stick to a name brand solder like Kester, Multicore/Loctite/Stannol, Alpha Metals, AIM, MG Chemicals, SRA, Asahi, etc.

My primary solder diameter is 0.7-0.8mm, plus 0.5mm. I have thinner and thicker, but almost never use them. I use mostly 63/37 leaded at home, but at work we are lead-free and it's fine too, if it's a good brand.

If you take care of your tips by always keeping them well tinned, you don't need the tip refresher. "Taking care" means NEVER wiping away excess solder before returning it to the stand* — leave it on (or even add more!) as a protective layer, and wipe off and re-tin just before use. And re-tin generously during use. Tips are a lot more expensive than solder. Also, the flux in tip refresher is rather aggressive and actually is meant to be cleaned off after rejuvenating the tip, at which point you're supposed to re-tin it with solder. IMHO it's just easier to just treat the tips well to begin with.

* Doing so cooks the tip, whereas a layer of solder becomes "sacrificial" — the solder oxidizes instead of the tip itself.

coppercone2 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2021, 11:57:08 pm »

you need alot of wick, its actually used for gold plated connectors, you are supposed to tin them, then suck all the solder off with wick, then solder to it, for proper joints.

lescro · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2021, 05:58:06 pm »

Isopropyl Alcohol
https://www.sydneysolvents.com.au/isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-isopropanol-100-5-litre
As at April 17, 2021, .125 Litres (ie 1/8 Litre) of isopropyl alcohol from Bunnings costs $9.20. For $10, Sydney Solvents supplies 1 Litre. It's even more economical if you buy five Litres. Five Litres of 100% isopropyl alcohol from Sydney Solvents costs $25.30. (All currency is AUD)

artag · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2021, 07:04:33 pm »

Wouldn't bother with the third hand thing. It's the metal ones I hate particularly but although that has more reach it doesn't look as though it fixes the worst features : crappy alligator clip ends, and a springiness to the arms (I've used coolant pipes, which is what those are) that means it always srpings a little away from where you put them.

Get a decent small vice instead. Panavise are good but expensive. You might be able to find a clone. What you're looking for is a ball that moves freely and then clamps with a lever, not a tight joint that relies on friction to hold position and doesn't have a 'free' setting.
A machinists dial-gauge stand might work well, but I haven't tried (because i've got some panavises)

I'd ++ the lighted magnifier AND the microscope. Don't use a PC USB microscope, use one with direct video. The USB one will be laggy. If you have an infinite amount of money you could look at long-arm optical stereo microscopes and Mantis.

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned above are hot tweezers. When you want them, you really want them.


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Author Topic: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List" (Read 1634 times)

Geoff

Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

Electro Fan

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

RayRay

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

Smith

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

Electro Fan

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

tooki

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

tooki

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

coppercone2

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

lescro

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

artag

Re: Can you see anything missing from this "Soldering Bench Equipment List"

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