SeamusG

Hey, I tried a search but the search engine keeps getting lost. Oh please, get this server migration wrapped up.

My year old soldering iron gave up the ghost this evening. The types of soldering that I do includes the occasional throttle cable / soldered threaded adapter, soldering brass wire wrapped around wire (landing gear, DEPS, tail feather supports), servo wire extensions, etc.

Please make a recommendation and a reason.

Thanks much for your input.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

I use three types. For wire or leads I use a small 25W Weller. I don't use store bought leads, I solder everything to length and this one is small enough to work with. I also have a small cordless Weller, I use it for burning out the covering where the servos, screws and wires exit. Without the cord it's just easy to get into tight places and nothing to hang up on and make me slip. For everything else, LG, soldering on washers to LG, anything that is big enough to require heat I use a hand held propane torch. I saw some at Harbor Freight for about 3 bucks last week. Very ugly orange, mine is a nice looking chrome job. I do have a bigger propane blow pipe if I need it but I don't use it often, these are my big three. The Wellers I just buy at Lowe's.
Gene

SeamusG

Hey GB - Ya caught me "fixing" the Killer Chaos. Sounds like the CA party was a hoot - you could get lost in the crowd pretty easy.

When you say a hand held propane torch - I have a propane torch that stands 18" high. Is that the kind that you're talking about or something just about the size of your palm?

For holes in covering, I use a small "T" pin held with pliers fired up to rosy red with my MAP torch - just better not drop the "T" pin on the covering.

[img]file:///C:/Users/Seamus/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/img]This is a pic of the Harbor Freight micro-torch - $8.00
Then there's the pen torch - $15.00
Then there's the butane pencil torch - $10.00

Redback

I use a 25W iron for electrical and other small stuff, and an 80W iron for most of the rest. Also have a propane torch if I need it.

The 80w iron is also useful for freeing loctited joints where I want to be tight with applying the heat.

Terry

Hewey19

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXWFJ8&P=7

Jetdesign

My Feedback: (8)

I use a soldering gun which has 2 voltage settings - I think 100 and 250W, depending on how far you pull the trigger. It is overkill for smaller projects, but works just fine for me. Handles the big stuff (10-12ga wire) for my 10S applications.

jester_s1

For anything structural I use a propane plumbing torch, but it is overkill. It's easy to overheat the wire so I turn it down as far as it will go and hold it away from the work. A pencil torch would be more convenient and easier to use, but not better enough to bother buying one when I have the plumbing torch already.

SeamusG

Things that I learned about Weller soldering irons.

Weller 25w pencil 750 degrees $16
Weller 40w pencil 900 degrees $18
Weller 75w gun 1050 degrees $21
Weller 100/140w gun 1020 degrees $32
Dremel woodburing kit 30w pencil 1050 degrees $27

Ihad the Dremel kit - died within a year.

Idon't understand what you guys are calling torches. I have both a MAP and propane torchs. These things are huge - where's my hard hat (combat flying hard hat of course). Are these the torches that you're talking about or are you using mini / micro propane / butane torches?

jaka

Hi!
My 33 year old Weller(50W) still works fine and can older most anything due to 3 different soldering tips.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Sea, my hands started shaking a couple years back, you know what would happen to the pin!! A photo just for you. Not much room on my bench for photos at the moment, my bench has run amuck with several projects all at teh same time. Anyway, my soldering tools. The blow pipe on the end is adjustable and for the most part used for silver soldering or bigger LG.
You just missed the sale but Harbor Freight just has a 30W for $3 a pencil tourch for 2 bucks. THe little pencil tourch is for your flight box but I like the small ones with tips for field use. The orange one your showing is just fine, they were 3 bucks a week or two ago. For our modeling use there isn't a lot required for soldering. I had the Weller gun type, two of them, both broke so fast I wouldn't ever buy another one!! Irons are just fine.
Gene

ARUP

Like Gray Beard, I use a 25w iron for electrical (25 gauge and up) and smallish mechanical soldering jobs. I use a gas torch for everything else that requires a 'Stay-Brite' solder job. It's an art form in its own right and I have years of successful experience with only these two items.

bullseye000

I think what the guys are trying to say is that you wouldn't break up concrete with a hammer, nor would you use a sledgehammer to pound nails. You need to size your iron according to the job you want it to perform. I also have 3 irons, a 15w, a 30w and a 45w. For larger music wire I think the torch is a better way to go.

scooterinvegas

My Feedback: (1)

I have two of these. I love them. They do everything I need. I can throw one in the flight box if need.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...u=SPM222409892

SeamusG

Hey scooter - ya might retry posting that link 'cause it's kinda unlinked at the moment.

LunaSea

[link]http://www.harborfreight.com/180-watt-industrial-soldering-gun-4328.html[/link]

I have one of these Harbor Freight soldering guns (on sale now for $10). It gets HOT, and works well for doing gear legs, cabanes, etc. I also have one of the Harborfreight small torches (pictured above). It is also great for soldering steel parts. For electric I have a small (probably 15-25watt) iron and one of the battery-operated ones.

The HF gun can also be used for cutting out servo and gear pockets in foam by making a suitably-shaped "tip" from large copper wire (like home wiring).

huck1199

Radio shack has a butane iron/torch for about $20 that is very handy in the shop and the field.  Compact in size but gets very hot. Good for small wire like servo leads, etc.