Re: Balun for Sector

On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:50:20 -0700 (PDT), Knight
<petelarosa@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Did we start talking about two different applications here because I
got confused.

I'm good at doing that. I won't appologize because I have no plans to
change my ways.

For the Balun and 1/4' tubing you thinks the 80 W would be better
correct?

The balun is a tiny wire. No need for a hotter than hell iron. 750F
will work with either type of solder.

However, the 1/4" copper tube and PCB are great heat sinks. You need
a big tip fat chisle tip, propane torch with soldering tip, or giant
electric soldering iron. It's not about how hot it gets, but about
how much energy you transfer from the iron to the work. Big heat
sinks require much more than small pieces of coax cable. YOu can do
all that with one iron and a selection of tips and temperatures
(possibly adjustable).

Did you also say the 12W isnb't good for the tiny work?

I have a 12w pencil iron in my truck for emergencies. If I want to
wait all day for it to heat up my work, I can sorta use it. It's a
PITA and nearly useless except for really tiny work.

What you want is an iron that gets really hot. Then you work VERY
fast to minimize the heat affected zone. You can do it the other way
around with a nearly stone cold iron, but it will take nearly forever
to get the solder to melt and flow.

USB adapters
and the kids
game controllers?

60 watt iron. 750F tip for lead-tin. 850F tip for lead-free. 1/16"
chistle tip (or something similar) for working with PCB with
conventional components. Pointed tip or tweezer tips for SMT. Two
soldering irons for playing tweezer if you're lazy (like me).

If I get a bigger iron for the tiny soldering then it's hard to find
tiny tips that fit it, is that correct?

Dunno. The really big irons, suitable for stained glass work, and
soldering nickel steel sewing machine attachments, won't work for
small PCB work. However, the common soldering station has a huge
array of tips for every possible purpose.
<http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/weller/index.cfm?model_list=1&att_id=WEL007%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&att1=Tips%20and%20Nozzles%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&att2=PT%20Series>

Oh wait, did you then say 80W is right for both!
Both tiny and the copper tubing!?

Nope. I said that the commercial soldering stations are 75 to 80
watts. However, I again stress that it's not the wattage, but the
temprature that's important. All the wattage buys you is the ability
to run big tips, solder big heat sinks, and get up to temperature
fast.

Sorry buddy, just trying to learn more.

Argh. Stuff like this is all over the internet.

I'm pretty good at general soldering but I didn't realize the
different solders to use now!

The middle photo didn't look all that wonderful.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 jeffl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
# http://802.11junk.com jeffl@xxxxxxxxxx
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
.

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