What is soldering?

If you were to take apart any electronic device that contains a circuit board, you’ll see the components
are attached using soldering techniques. Soldering is the process of joining two or more electronic parts
together by melting solder around the connection. Solder is a metal alloy and when it cools it creates a
strong electrical bond between the parts. Even though soldering can create a permanent connection, it
can also be reversed using a desoldering tool as described below.

Soldering iron

A soldering iron is a hand tool that plugs into a standard 120v AC outlet and heats up in order to melt
solder around electrical connections. This is one of the most important tools used in soldering and it can
come in a few variations such as pen or gun form. For beginners, it’s recommended that you use the pen
style soldering iron in the 15W to 30W range. Most soldering irons have interchangeable tips that can be
used for different soldering applications. Be very cautious when using any type of soldering iron because
it can heat up to 896′ F which is extremely hot.

SOLDERING PENCILS

If you are looking for a cheap soldering iron for DIY projects, a soldering pencil can be the best choice.
They are very easy to use, and their compact design makes storage convenient. However, these are not
recommended for commercial applications as they do not offer any kind of temperature control feature
which can be a requirement for commercial applications.

SOLDERING GUN

A soldering gun is also an ideal choice for small home applications and DIY projects. A major difference
between a soldering pencil and a soldering gun is the short warm-up time of the latter. They feature a
transformer to convert 110 V AC to lower voltage and another transformer to produce hundreds of
amperes of current. It is this high current produced by the transformers which quickly heats up the
soldering tip. As compared to standard soldering pencils, soldering guns are more expensive.

SOLDERING STATION

A soldering station consists of a soldering pencil and a power station which can be used to adjust the
temperature of the soldering iron tip. Some of the models also come with electronic temperature
control for better accuracy. The power station not just helps the tip to reach the right temperature but
also maintains that temperature throughout the time you use it.

Selecting the right soldering iron

So now we have understood the types of soldering iron. Now we will look on to the factors we should
look before buying it. If you are looking to buy soldering iron, the below-mentioned factors can help you
select the right one for your requirement-
1. WATTAGE One of the most important considerations is the wattage of the iron. Most models now
range in between 20W-60W, and a model with the wattage of 50W is ideal for most applications. Higher
wattage is recommended for commercial applications.

2. Temperature control- Depending on your application, you might or might not need temperature
control. If you are regularly involved in basic DIY projects at home, you do not really need temperature
control. For other applications, temperature control can be very useful.

3. Tip shape and size Not every soldering iron can be used with multiple tip shapes and sizes. Choose a
model as per the type of tip you usually prefer. You can also look for a model which can be used with
multiple tip shapes and sizes for all the different types of projects.

Soldering Tips - No iron is complete without an iron tip. The tip is the part of the iron that heats up and
allows solder to flow around the two components being joined. Although solder will stick to the tip
when applied, a common misconception is that the tip transfers the solder. The tip actually transfers
heat, raising the temperature of the metal components to the melting point of the solder, and the
solder melts accordingly. Most irons give you the option to change your tip, should you need to replace
an old tip or if you need to switch to a different style of tip. Tips come in a variety of sizes and shapes to
accommodate any component.

Wand - The wand is the part of the iron that holds the tip. This is also the part that is handled by the
user. Wands are usually made of a variety of insulating materials (such as rubber) to prevent the heat of
the tip from transferring to the outside of the wand, but they also house wires and metal contacts that
transfer heat from the base or outlet to the tip. This dual role of heating and preventing burns makes a
high quality wand much appreciated.

Base - The base of the soldering iron is the control box that allows the adjusting of temperatures. The
wand attaches to the base and receives its heat from the electronics inside. There are analog bases,
which have a dial that controls the temperature, and there are digital bases, which have buttons to set
the temperature and a display that tells you the current temperature. Some bases even have extra
features such as heat profiles that allow you to quickly change the amount of heat provided to the tip
for soldering a variety of components.

The iron stand (often referred to as a cradle) is what houses the iron when it is not in use. The stand may
seem trivial, but leaving an unattended iron laying around on your desk or workbench is a potential
hazard: it could burn you, or, worse, it could burn your desk and start a fire. Again, they can be as simple
as a metal stand, or they can be complex, offering an auto-shutoff feature that reduces the temperature
of the tip when the wand is placed in the cradle. This helps prevent the wearing of your tip over time.
As you solder, your tip will tend to oxidize, which means it will turn black and not want to accept solder.
Especially with lead-free solder, there are impurities in the solder that tend to build up on the tip of your
iron, which causes this oxidization. This is where the sponge comes in. Every so often you should give
your tip a good cleaning by wiping off this build-up. Traditionally, an actual wet sponge was used to
accomplish this. However, using a wet sponge can drastically reduce the lifespan of your tip. By wiping
your tip on a cool, wet sponge, the tip tends to expand and contract from the change in temperature.
This expansion and contraction will wear out your tip and can sometime cause a hole to develop in the
side of the tip. Once a tip has a hole, it is no good for soldering. Thus, brass sponges have become the
standard for tip cleaning. Brass sponges pull the excess solder from your tip while allowing the tip to
maintain its current heat level. If you do not have a brass sponge, a regular sponge is better than
nothing.

For electronics, it is traditionally a mix of tin and lead. Tin has a lower melting point than Lead,
so more Tin means a lower melting point. Most common lead-based solder you'll find at the gadget
store will be 60Sn/40Pb (for 60% tin, 40% lead).

Notes to slide 1

Buff the copper foil of a PC board with steel wool before soldering.

Remove any oil, paint, wax, etc. with a solvent, steel wool, or fine sandpaper.

Notes to slide 2

Heat the connection, not the solder.

Hold the soldering iron like a pen, near the base of the handle.

Both parts that are being soldered have to be hot to form a good connection.

Slide 34

Transistors and some other components can be damaged by heat when soldering. A crocodile clip can
be used as a heat sink to protect these components.

36

If you are soldering a wire (called the lead) onto a PC board (on the track), it should have a volcano
shape. See Figure 3.

If the connection looks bad, reheat it and try again.

Caution: A soldering iron can heat to around 400°C, which can burn you or start a fire, so use it carefully.

Unplug the iron when it is not in use.

Keep the power cord away from spots where it can be tripped over.

Take great care to avoid touching the tip of the soldering iron on a power line. If a power cord is touched
by a hot iron, there is a serious risk of burns and electric shock.

Always return the soldering iron to its stand when it is not in use.

Never put the soldering iron down on your work bench, even for a moment!

Work in a well-ventilated area.

The smoke that will form as you melt solder is mostly from the flux and can be quite irritating. Avoid
breathing it by keeping your head to the side of, not above, your work.

Solder contains lead, which is a poisonous metal. Wash your hands after using solder.

Tips Tips