How to solder with an old soldering iron

What can be used instead of a soldering iron?

How to solder with an old soldering iron

The soldering iron is far from the only tool that is used to join metal parts. There are several other options for soldering, both professional and folk methods. When a tool breaks or is missing altogether, people look for what they can use instead of a soldering iron. Often the solutions become quite unusual things.

Types of replacement tools

One of the best analogues that can replace a soldering iron for professional use is a torch. It can run on gas, gasoline and other types of fuel. The main advantage of this replacement is the relatively low operating speed. Burners are used in jewelry and some other areas. Due to the wide flame flow that comes from the burner, it is difficult to use it for working with microcircuits, but connecting wires and other contacts is also quite possible.

Gas heating pad instead of a soldering iron

A hot air gun is also used in a similar way to a torch. But this tool is more suitable for universal soldering, since its thermal flow is narrowly directed. These products are mass-produced and widely used in professional environments. There is a huge selection with options for different purposes.

Hot air gun as a replacement for a soldering iron

Very simple home methods include using an iron heated to the required temperature of a nail or a piece of copper wire, which will be an analogue of a soldering iron tip. All this is not a complete replacement, but for one-time soldering procedures it is quite suitable and can provide a decent connection.

Battery-based soldering device

One of the options for replacing a soldering iron at home for microcircuits is a homemade tool. A homemade battery-based device allows even complex types of soldering. Thanks to the presence of an additional power source, it does not need to be connected to the network, so it can be used in any convenient place.

Homemade battery-powered soldering iron

To make such a soldering iron you will need the following tools:

  • wires;
  • battery;
  • crocodile clips;
  • pencil with natural graphite lead;
  • rosin;
  • solder.

If we consider everything from a purely technical point of view, then a connection using a battery-based soldering iron is considered not soldering, but welding. To make it, you need to take two wires and wind several turns of solder on top. It is advisable to use solder that contains rosin inside. One of the battery electrodes must be connected to the products being soldered. A second electrode is connected to the graphite rod.

After all connections to the solder, you need to quickly touch and break the contact. This will create an electric arc that will melt the material so that it forms a reliable, unbreakable connection.

This technique may be suitable for those cases when a master is looking for something to replace a soldering iron for headphones or any other tool for soldering thin wires. It is not suitable for thick materials.

Soldering iron made from a lighter and a paper clip

Another option to use instead of a soldering iron is a homemade tool made from a paper clip and a lighter. To create it you will need;

  • autogenous lighter;
  • flat screwdriver;
  • several paper clips;
  • pliers.

Homemade soldering iron from a lighter

One paperclip needs to be completely unbent. Its end should be smooth. The paperclip is attached in pliers so that the master does not get burned during heating. The end of the product is heated using an autogenous lighter. The flame must be stable and constant to maintain the required temperature at the same level.

This method is suitable for working with tin, since the flame of a lighter will be enough to reach its melting point. When a paper clip becomes red hot, it can be used with tin. Such a simple “tool” can even be used for soldering microcircuits, since its tip is quite thin. To solder wires, you need to hold them together, and then put a piece of solder on them and heat them with a hot paper clip so that everything is soldered.

The difficulty of the work lies only in constantly maintaining the desired temperature. For small jobs, it would be difficult to find a simpler method. There are practically no difficulties in mastering such a tool. All delicate work can be done extremely quickly. If you don't have a lighter, you should use other flame sources. The main thing is to choose the right temperature.

Welding pencil: how to use

There are many options that you can use instead of a soldering iron for a straw. An excellent alternative, which can be called almost universal, is to use a soldering pencil. It is sold in specialized stores. Here, a lighter or other flame source is also required for work. With such a tool, work is done as simply and quickly as possible. With its help you can perform operations of almost any complexity.

Soldering pencil

The storage time of a pencil is practically unlimited. It's worth having in your home kit, since you never know when it might come in handy. It can be used to solder the following materials:

  • duralumin;
  • slate;
  • iron;
  • bronze;
  • aluminum;
  • plastic;
  • cast iron;
  • brass;
  • ceramics;
  • steel;
  • copper.

The special composition of the pencil itself allows you to solder even those materials that have rust. The technology for working with a specific model is given in the instructions, but in general the following points can be highlighted:

  • you need to take a soldering pencil and set it on fire from a flame source;
  • its working mass melts and at this time it must be applied to the working area;
  • burning of the material on the surface can continue for some time, which contributes to better spreading and setting.

"Important!

The pencil warms up time is about 20 seconds after ignition, so you shouldn’t use it right away, but rather wait half a minute.”

The molten material does not damage nearby areas of the work area. The average melting temperature is about 180 degrees Celsius. with one pencil you can carry out up to 30 rations.

Special alloy for soldering without a soldering iron

There are also options that help answer the question of how to replace a soldering iron and tin at the same time. The use of special alloys is excellent for working with small parts. This alloy is called “tertiary”. It consists of lead and tin. They do not need a soldering iron for soldering, but before starting work you need to prepare the surface.

Using a file or emery cloth, you need to clean the working surface from possible dirt and oxide film. Next, it needs to be treated with zinc chloride, applying the composition with a brush. When the preparatory work is completed, you should take the required amount of tertiary and place it on the surface of the part to be joined. Next, you need to take any flame source and heat the joint where the composition is located.

Instructions for using a tertiary

When it comes to soldering wires, it is advisable to additionally use rosin along with the alloy. An alcohol solution of this flux is enough to improve the quality of soldering. Working with various materials may require additional small nuances, which will already be visible during work.

Conclusion

Due to the fact that the operating principle of a soldering iron is quite simple, there are many alternative ways to use it. But if the factory tool itself is almost universal, then all large analogues are suitable for a narrow range of applications.

Despite their success in their field, analogues are more of a temporary replacement when there are no other alternatives. For professional work, it is better to use proven factory tools.

When looking for a replacement soldering iron for polypropylene pipes, you can find many ways to melt plastic with metal, but the convenience that will be provided by a tool specially designed for this cannot be achieved.

Source: https://svarkaipayka.ru/oborudovanie/payalniki/chto-mozhno-ispolzovat-vmesto-payalnika.html

How to properly solder with a soldering iron using rosin

How to solder with an old soldering iron

instrument.guru > Welding > How to properly solder with a soldering iron using rosin

Almost every man, be it an ardent fan of delving into radio equipment and electrical appliances or a simple owner who is faced with a situation in which the process of joining metals and wires is required, sooner or later will be forced to use a soldering iron, in this case you can to cope with the task yourself .

  • Devices and tools required for the soldering process
  • Recommendations for competent work with a soldering iron using rosin
  • Correctly soldering with a soldering iron with rosin: general recommendations

Devices and tools required for the soldering process

In everyday life, when it is necessary to repair something basic, special experience and expensive units and tools for soldering are not required. The main ones are the following devices and tools:

  1. Soldering iron. The main criteria when choosing it are the size, which must correspond to what you are going to solder, otherwise there is a risk of damage to adjacent circuit elements or poor-quality soldering of wires and power (it is advisable to purchase a pair of soldering irons, one for 25 watts for soldering microcircuits, the second for 40-watts). 60 watts in order to solder wider parts of parts).
  2. Soldering iron stand. When working with a soldering iron for a long time, you have to frequently unplug it to avoid overheating, then wait until it warms up again. Due to the fact that the soldering device heats up to 300 degrees, you simply cannot do without a stand for it.
  3. Rosin and solder. Rosin is an amorphous substance obtained from the resin of coniferous trees, very fragile under mechanical shock. What is rosin needed for? When soldering, it is used to degrease the surface and remove oxide films. Solder is an alloy of two metals - lead and tin for soldering.

Preparing tools and materials for soldering

Soldering is the process of joining parts by introducing molten metal of a lower temperature into the area of ​​their contact. Before you start soldering, you need to carefully prepare for work:

  1. Preparing the soldering iron for subsequent use. The main task of all manipulations is to cover the working area of ​​the soldering iron tip with a thin layer of solder. Method 1: when the soldering iron is first heated, its tip must be cleaned, thereby protecting it from oxidation and wear. Having warmed it up to operating temperature, you can touch the sting to the rosin, melting the solder on it, and then rub it on a wooden surface.

    Method 2: wipe the heated tip of the soldering iron with material treated with soldering acid, melt the solder and distribute it over the tip with a piece of solid ammonia using the rubbing method.

  2. Preparing parts for soldering.
  3. Regardless of the type of soldering (low-temperature or high-temperature), the surfaces of the parts must be thoroughly cleaned of oily and greasy contaminants and degreased using rosin or solvents. If there is rust, it must also be removed by any mechanical means. If you need to solder the wires, it is better to twist them together first, since tin is a rather soft metal that may not withstand even the slightest load.

Recommendations for competent work with a soldering iron using rosin

Rosin easily dissolves in organic compounds such as alcohol, acetone and others. When heated to 150 degrees, it is capable of breaking down chemical elements such as tin, lead, and copper.

Rosin is used in radio and electrical repair work as an antioxidant component for soldering. Its proper use will significantly reduce the spreading and surface tension of the solder, destroy the oxide film and prevent the formation of a new one.

Before you start soldering the necessary elements, you need to clean and then tin the contacts. To do this, place a piece of solid rosin on the part of the surface that will be soldered and press it with a soldering iron heated to the required temperature.

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Correctly soldering with a soldering iron with rosin: general recommendations

If the task is to solder a microcircuit, then you need to dip the soldering iron tip in rosin and coat the twisted wires with it, which will ensure free flow of tin to the soldering site.

If the solder was not used in sufficient quantity and a part of the twist or wire is visible in some places, it is necessary to repeat the previous step.

Next, having placed the solder at the soldering site, it is recommended to run the soldering iron tip over it, as a result of which it will melt. If the material is processed poorly, then it is possible that the solder will not adhere to the surface .

Of course, it is possible to solder without using rosin, but the quality of the soldering joint and the aesthetic appearance of the product will be lost.

If rosin is not available in everyday use, soldering acid, electrolyte from an old battery, pine resin dissolved in acetic acid, or acetylsalicylic acid may be useful as a replacement.

And yet, the best solution is not only to use rosin when soldering, but also to use it in excess for more reliable bonding. Until the composition hardens, do not move parts of the solder.

With effective tinning, soldering will occur almost instantly ; you just have to wait until the solder has completely cooled. On many Internet sites you can find videos with simple lessons on how to use a soldering iron and learn how to solder. If you follow the detailed instructions, then the process itself is not particularly difficult; to achieve a positive result, you just need to do everything clearly and consistently .

When thinking about how to properly use a soldering iron using rosin, do not forget about the need to carefully prepare tools and parts for the soldering process. When creating a permanent connection, the solder layer must be protected with rosin. For each individual soldering case, a soldering iron of the appropriate size and power may be suitable. When parts are connected correctly, soldering becomes reliable and durable.

Source: https://instrument.guru/svarochnye/kak-pravilno-payat-payalnikom-s-primeneniem-kanifoli.html

What and how can you solder

How to solder with an old soldering iron

In a world saturated with electrical metal products, the ability to handle an electric soldering iron and perform high-quality soldering can always come in handy. The well-known advantages of soldering parts of different sizes allow you to independently restore individual samples of household appliances (TV receivers, for example), repair various household utensils, and solder products made of copper, brass, and silver.

Preparatory stage

Before mastering the correct techniques for handling solder and a soldering iron at home, you should take a special course that includes training in soldering and everything that precedes this procedure. You can study on your own, but when mastering the work with jewelry and complex electronic circuits, you cannot do without an experienced mentor.

From the point of view of organizing the process, soldering metals using special solders is a set of operations that are quite simple in content. However, despite the apparent ease, not everyone can solder correctly the first time. When you first meet, some difficulties arise due to the lack of a clear idea of ​​what needs to be done and in what order.

It is recommended to follow certain rules for preparing for soldering operations, the essence of which boils down to the following:

  • it is necessary to correctly select the main working tool that will be used for soldering;
  • you should worry about making a convenient and functional stand, prepare a place where you will have to solder most of the time;
  • the student must stock up on suitable consumables, without which no such procedure can be completed (solder, liquid or paste flux).

And finally, a novice user must master the basic soldering techniques, which require a certain sequence of targeted actions.

You can solder with an electric soldering iron, gas torch or blowtorch. It is customary to solder boards and microcircuits with special hair dryers and thermal stations that ensure uniform heating. The choice of a particular type of tool and a stand or holder for it is determined by the temperature conditions under which work operations are expected to be carried out.

The next requirement in order involves the preparation of the required components that allow you to correctly solder any metal connection. These usually include various types of solder, flux additives and special soldering liquids necessary to improve its quality (rosin and alcohol compounds for tinning).

All components of the process must be selected for the specific conditions of formation of the solder joint and taking into account the characteristics of the parts used.

Basic operating procedures

The technological map or diagram of “correct” soldering using a soldering iron assumes the following order of operations.

Before directly soldering, the surfaces of the objects to be soldered are cleaned of heavy dirt and corrosive deposits, after which they should be cleaned to a characteristic shine.

After this, the places where the parts are soldered are treated with a previously prepared flux, through which it is possible to improve the conditions for the spreading of solder over the contact surface.

Then the contact pad or soldering zone is subjected to protective tinning, the essence of which is to apply solder melted to a liquid state on them. In this case, the consumable material spreads evenly over the surface of the parts that need to be soldered and ensures the formation of a reliable thermal connection.

When preparing parts for tinning, preference is given to paste-like fluxes, which are convenient to apply and easy to wash off. Before processing and soldering, the parts are pre-connected by mechanical twisting or compression with pliers.

After fixing, flux is applied to them again, and then the contact area is heated while simultaneously introducing a solder rod into it (its composition may differ from the material used for tinning).

It is impossible to learn how to solder correctly with your own hands unless you learn how to tin a soldering iron tip. For tinning, after the soldering iron has completely warmed up, the working tip should be pressed firmly against any foil-covered surface and rubbed over the molten rosin with solder.

This operation should be repeated until a characteristic film of solder appears on the edges of the copper tip, ensuring good adhesion to any metal.

The question of how to solder correctly comes along with an interest in why soldering is needed and what can be done with it. Previously, it was mainly pots and samovars that were soldered, but today you can also solder high-tech things.

Soldering capabilities

There are more than enough opportunities to use your ability to correctly solder metal parts and products. This method is used to carry out many assembly and repair operations. Here are a few particularly important ones:

  • you can solder copper tubes that are part of the internal lines of heat exchangers and refrigeration units;
  • solder elements of various electronic circuits;
  • carry out repairs, soldering of jewelry, glasses;
  • fix carbide cutting inserts on metalworking tool holders;
  • in everyday life, soldering is also often used when it is necessary to fasten flat copper parts on metallized surfaces of sheet blanks;
  • the ability to tin high-quality surfaces can be useful for protecting metal structure elements from corrosion.

At the initial stage of learning the art of soldering, it is recommended to use the simplest circuits of electronic devices.

In addition, through the process under consideration, it is possible to solder parts from metals of dissimilar structures, as well as seal various types of rigid connections.

Types of soldering operations

The variety of soldering methods is explained by many different factors that determine the quality and efficiency of its implementation. Such factors include not only the type of soldering device and the type of solder that is used in the process, but also the technological features of the formation of the seam. To surface mount parts on a board, you need to learn how to use a solder mask correctly.

In any case, in order to solder correctly, you need to know the melting temperature of the metal you are working with. It affects the choice of soldering tools, as well as fluxes and solder. In accordance with the specified parameter, solder materials are divided into low-melting (up to 450 degrees) and refractory (more than 450 degrees).

Solder selection

Low-melting solders are used under normal conditions that do not require special strength of the elements being connected. They can be used to assemble electronic circuits or solder small-sized jewelry.

During these operations, parts are fused with liquid tin, which contains lead as an additive.

True, lead-free solders have been spreading recently. When choosing the type of heating tool in this case, preference is given to electric soldering irons with operating powers from 25 to several hundred watts.

If it is necessary to solder products made of refractory metals that are operated in extreme conditions in terms of temperature and deformation, so-called “hard” solders will be required. This type of soldering composition is prepared on the basis of pure copper with the addition of zinc or other reactive metal. Refractory copper-zinc solders are recommended for use when it is necessary to join parts operating under conditions of high static loads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKZBAqnGoZ4

With their help, you can solder products made of brass and other copper alloys, in which the copper content does not exceed 68 percent. To connect steel blanks and parts, pure copper or certain types of brass are most often used as solder.

To summarize, we note that in order to learn how to properly solder metal parts of various structures, desire alone is not enough. It is possible to perfectly master the known techniques of proper soldering only after all the issues related to this process have been studied.

The latter include the choice of a heating tool, a competent approach to the selection of consumables, as well as strict adherence to the established procedure for carrying out soldering procedures.

All this will eliminate possible errors when working with molten solders and obtain a reliable and durable connection.

Source: https://svaring.com/soldering/praktika/pajka-dlja-nachinajushhih

How to solder correctly with a soldering iron. Soldering techniques and subtleties

One way to connect metal parts is to solder them using molten metal - solder. Do you know how to work with a soldering iron?

Preparing for work

Before you begin soldering, make sure the tool is ready for use. The working surface of the soldering iron tip should be covered with a thin layer of solder.

If this is not the case, put off soldering, no matter how urgent it is, and put the tip in order.

Armed with a file, process the working plane (or planes) of the tip with it, making its surface smooth and uniform. Carry out the work until the tip begins to sparkle with a copper sheen.

Having formed the working surface of the tip, tin it. Having heated the soldering iron to operating temperature, dip its tip in rosin, immediately after that touch the solder with it, and then rub its working surface along the surface of some wooden part.

Repeat the procedure several times. If, after several attempts, you are unable to get the tip into working condition, take a file in your hands, use it to remove the layer of solder and oxide from the working surface of the tip, and then try to tin it again.

You can tin a soldering iron tip by heating it to operating temperature, and then wiping the working surface with a piece of cloth soaked in a solution of zinc chloride.

High-quality soldering without the use of flux is impossible, since this auxiliary substance removes the oxide layer from the workpieces, due to which the solder is evenly distributed over their surface.

The most common is rosin flux. In addition to it, alcohol-rosin, glycerin-rosin, zinc chloride fluxes and many of their combinations are also used.

A regular aspirin tablet, acetylsalicylic acid, copes well with the oxide film. If you dissolve it in a small amount of acetone, alcohol or water, you get an effective and inexpensive soldering agent.

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A mandatory component for soldering parts is solder, usually in the form of a tube or thick wire. Tubular solder, the internal space of which is filled with rosin, is especially convenient for work.

Solder, consisting of tin alone, which is an environmentally friendly metal, is used for soldering food utensils and medical instruments.

In order to reduce the cost of solder and increase its strength, lead is introduced into its composition. Such solders (POS-30, POS-40, POS-61) are called tin-lead. There are tin-silver solders, consisting of tin and silver (PSr-2, PSr-2.5) and soldering agents, which are a combination of tin, zinc and cadmium (Avia-1, Avia-2).

Tinning

Remove dirt, dust and oxide film from the surface of the parts to be soldered. Use a file, sandpaper or the point of a knife to remove the oxide layer.

Degrease the treated areas by wiping them with a cloth soaked in acetone, solvent or alcohol.

Apply flux to the desired fragment of the part, and then apply a heated soldering iron tip with solder to it. To distribute the solder evenly, use the tip to rub it over the surface of the part.

To maximize the contact area between the soldering iron tip and the part, position the cut of the tip parallel to the surface of the part.

Soldering

When soldering correctly tinned parts, difficulties arise quite rarely.

Solder can be applied to the parts to be joined in two ways: from the tip of the soldering iron tip or directly onto the surfaces being processed.

When performing soldering using the first method, put a small amount of molten solder on the soldering iron tip and press it onto the parts. The flux will boil and begin to evaporate, and the solder will flow from the tip to the soldering area.

Move the soldering iron to the side and wait for the solder to harden. Displacement of parts relative to each other at this time is unacceptable.

When soldering using the second method, first heat the parts to be joined with a soldering iron to the melting temperature of the solder, and then apply solder into the space between the tip and the parts. After this, remove the soldering iron and let the solder cool and harden.

Some tips

Do not forget to periodically clean the soldering iron from the remains of burnt flux and oxides. To do this, it is enough from time to time to run it with a sting on a foam sponge soaked in water.

After soldering, be sure to wash off any remaining flux from the connected parts. This is especially true for acid flux, which through corrosion can destroy the completed connection.

Also remove rosin - it absorbs moisture and over time turns into a conductor of electric current.

You can determine the quality of soldering by its color. The bright shine of the solder will indicate high-quality work, its grainy structure will indicate insufficient heating of the solder, but if the solder is burned, the soldering surface will be matte.

Good luck to you! May everything work out for you!

Source: https://goodmaster.com.ua/dom-i-kvartira/kak-payat-payalnikom.html

How to solder with a pulse soldering iron

Soldering is popular when assembling various electrical and radio devices. It provides electrically conductive connections of copper wires and other copper products to each other, to electrical circuit components and other metal parts made of pure copper and copper alloys, as well as to solder aluminum. Soldering is simple, very flexible, and allows for low contact resistance of the components being connected.

The essence of soldering technology is to heat the contact zone and then fill it with liquid metal low-melting solder. After cooling, the melt provides electrical contact. Before soldering the wires, additional processing of the surfaces to be connected is usually necessary (most often the so-called tinning of the wires), which guarantees long-term stability.

In the absence of vibrations and shock loads for small parts, good connection strength is achieved. In all other cases, solder with additional fixation.

What might you need for soldering?

Soldering requires a heat source. You can solder using an open flame, an electric spiral, or a laser beam. The latter allows you to solder even with pure metal. At home they mostly use an electric soldering iron. It is intended for:

  • installation and repair of various electronic circuits;
  • design and repair of electrical equipment;
  • tinning a layer of solder on various metal products.

Soldering iron

Solder with a hand soldering iron, which is used for:

  • warming up the connected components;
  • heating the solder until it turns into a liquid state;
  • applying liquid solder to the elements to be connected.

The soldering iron, which is shown in Figure 1, contains:

  • a spiral heater made of nichrome wire insulated with mica film or fiberglass;
  • copper tip, which is located inside the spiral;
  • plastic or wooden handle;
  • housing for placing a soldering iron tip and spiral.

Figure 1. 100-watt soldering iron with plastic handle and three-pole plug

Connection to the electrical network is made with a cable approximately 1 m long, which exits from the rear of the handle through a bending radius limiter.

The wooden or plastic handle is shaped like a simple handle. Electronic circuits are soldered with low-power products equipped with pistol grips with a trigger button for quickly heating the tip. One version of such a tool is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Pistol type radio soldering iron

Household soldering irons are designed for connection to a network with voltages of 12 and 220 V.

For reasons of electrical safety, 220-volt soldering irons must be equipped with a 3-pin plug that provides reliable grounding. For 12-volt equipment, a simple 2-pin flat plug is sufficient.

Solder

They are soldered with solder - an alloy of tin and lead; additions of other metals are possible. Solder comes in the form of a tube or wire of varying diameters. Tubular solder is filled with rosin inside; soldering with it is more convenient.

Lead is added to the alloy to reduce cost. Its specific content varies, which is directly reflected in the brand. For example, POS-61 (a very popular tertiary) means:

  • P – solder;
  • OS – tin-lead;
  • 61 – with 61 percent tin content.

In everyday life, they solder with alloys with a reduced tin content; it is advisable to tinning dishes using POS-90.

In addition, they can be soldered with soft and hard solders. Soft compositions have a melting point of less than 450, the rest are classified as hard. The melting point of POS-61 solder is 190 – 192 °C. Due to the difficulties of heating, high-temperature soldering using hard solders is not performed with an electric tool.

Aluminum is soldered using compositions with the addition of low-melting metals: aluminum and cadmium. Due to increased toxicity, soldering with them can only be done if there is no alternative.

They must be soldered using flux, an auxiliary component that provides:

  • dissolution of oxide films on the surface of the parts being joined;
  • good adhesion of the soldering alloy to them;
  • improving the conditions for the alloy to spread over the surface in a thin layer.

Typically, rosin is used for this purpose, as well as compositions based on its mixture with alcohol, glycerin and zinc. Rosin has a softening point slightly above 50°C and boils at 200°C. Chemically, rosin is quite aggressive towards metals and is hygroscopic; when saturated with moisture, it quickly increases conductivity. Depending on the additives and their concentration, it demonstrates the properties of neutral or active fluxes.

Rosin and solder

Rosin flux is sold in the form of powder, pieces or rosin solution.

Silver, stainless steel and some other metals can only be soldered using special fluxes (known as acid fluxes or soldering acids).

Some installers who solder wires, to improve the quality of service, perform preheating on an aspirin tablet, the vapors of which act as a flux.

Solder pastes

Solder paste is a composition of solder and flux. It is used for soldering in hard-to-reach places, as well as when installing leadless electronic elements. The composition is applied to the component, which is then simply heated with a sting.

You can make your own pasta. To do this, tin filings are mixed with liquid flux to a gel-like consistency. The paste is stored in an airtight container; the shelf life due to tin oxidation does not exceed six months.

Soldering iron stand

They solder with a tip heated to a high temperature, so during breaks the tool is left on the stand. For powerful soldering irons, it is made with two supports: the back one for the handle, the front one for the body. The supports are mounted on a plywood base, which is used for:

  • installing a box of rosin;
  • storage of solder wire (an example is shown in Figure 3);
  • cleaning the tip.

Figure 3 shows that the stand does not require scarce materials and can be made by hand.

Figure 3. Homemade stand for a powerful soldering iron

For low-power devices, a cone-shaped holder (regular or spiral, which is also shown in Figure 3) is often used, into which the tool is inserted with a tip.

Older models of stands are equipped with an operating temperature regulator and an LCD display for indicating the temperature of the tip, Figure 4. Such a soldering tool is often called a soldering station.

Rice. 4. Example of a soldering station with indicator

Solder Removal Braid

They are soldered with braiding in cases where it is necessary to remove solder from a printed circuit board when dismantling parts. It is a dense mesh of thin copper wires coated with flux.

The principle of operation is based on the surface effect: the mesh “absorbs” solder melted on the printed circuit board due to capillary forces.

Source: https://MyTooling.ru/instrumenty/kak-pajat-impulsnym-pajalnikom

How to solder correctly with a soldering iron: video instructions on how a soldering iron works, soldering wires

To effectively join metal surfaces, it is best to resort to temperature effects. The simplest and most common method is soldering with a soldering iron. In this case, metal materials are joined under the influence of a local increase in temperature and welding at a lower temperature.

In order to correctly connect metal parts using a soldering iron, you need to know the main points that characterize the soldering process. To do this, it will be enough to read the article, watch the video lesson and try to master the technology in practice.

How does a soldering iron work?

Soldering devices that produce heat are called soldering irons. Depending on the heating method, they can be electric, gas, hot air, induction . Most often, electrical devices are used, the power of which is selected for soldering certain materials:

  • to connect electronic components, the power of the soldering iron must be up to 40 V;
  • for parts with thin walls up to 1 mm, a power of 80-100 W is required;
  • workpieces with wall thicknesses of 2 mm or more require a device power above 100 W.

The most energy-intensive soldering irons include hammer devices , the power of which can reach up to 550 W. They can heat up to temperatures of 600C. Hammer soldering irons are used to connect massive parts.

small acoustic soldering iron The device has a low heat capacity, so it is used for fine soldering work.

In addition to the massiveness of metal products, the required power of a soldering iron is influenced by the thermal conductivity of the material being processed. For example, for copper products the device should be heated much more than for working with steel parts.

The optimal required temperature of the tip of the soldering device can be maintained either manually or automatically. Thyristor regulators are used for this.

Preparation for the soldering process

Before starting work, you need to prepare a soldering iron, materials, tools and workplace.

It is recommended to equip the work area with:

  1. A stand on which the heated device will be placed. On it you will need to place flux, “crocodile” and pieces of foam rubber, which are needed to clean the tip.

  2. A tripod on which will be placed: a holder for a soldering iron, a bath of rosin, clamps.

The set of necessary tools includes:

  • files;
  • round nose pliers;
  • wire cutters;
  • pliers;
  • tweezers;
  • sandpaper;
  • knife.

Preparing the soldering iron

Before working with a soldering iron, its tip is given a certain shape . This is done using a file. The most used shapes are cut and corner. The knife type is used for soldering connector pins or several contacts of microcircuits.

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The tip of the working tool must be evenly covered with solder . It will be difficult to solder with a “dirty” tip. Therefore, a cold soldering iron with a file must be cleaned down to the copper from which the tip is made.

After this, the device should be heated and sequentially touch the rosin and then the solder. This should be done several times, ensuring that the tip is evenly covered with solder. After this, you can begin to connect metal parts by soldering.

Flux preparation

Choosing the right flux is the solution to one of the important problems of soldering. It is necessary so that the soldered surfaces do not oxidize during heating. Otherwise, the joint will turn out unstable and loose. It can be damaged very easily. Therefore, the quality of the flux determines the difficulty or ease of the soldering process, and how firmly the material being processed will be connected.

Fluxes must be selected for the material prepared for soldering:

  1. to connect wires and microcircuits . Externally, this crystalline transparent substance of a red-brown, red, yellow or orange hue is similar to amber.

  2. For soldering hard-to-reach or inconveniently located parts, rosin-alcohol flux is used. To obtain it, rosin must be crushed to the state of sand and dissolved in denatured alcohol or technical alcohol. It is applied to the workpiece with a brush and stored in a tightly closed container.

  3. For galvanized iron, flux LK-2 is used, which consists of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, ethyl alcohol and rosin.

  4. For stainless steel, phosphoric acid is used.

  5. Active acid fluxes based on zinc chloride prepare the surface of resistant metals

  6. For soldering steel, soldering acids and aqueous solutions based on zinc chloride are considered effective fluxes.

You should know that for soldering stainless steels, more active fluxes are required than for processing low-alloy and carbon materials. Cast iron must be soldered with high-temperature soldering, so an electric soldering iron will not cope with it.

Soldering alloys

Low-melting tin-lead alloys are used for electrical soldering and radio installation work. The most popular solders are POS-61, POS-50, POS-40, PSr-2, PSr-2.5.

It is very expensive to connect parts using pure tin, since this is a valuable material, so it is used quite rarely.

The best soldering quality is obtained after using solders that contain lead. However, this material is harmful.

To avoid holding hot solder in your hand while working, hold it with pliers or place it on a special device.

How to solder correctly with a soldering iron - tips, video

Before soldering, the surfaces of the parts to be processed are cleaned with sandpaper and degreased with gasoline or acetone. Then they need to be installed and secured in their original position. After this, you can warm up the soldering iron and start soldering in one of two main ways.

  1. When applying solder to parts from a soldering iron , you first need to melt a certain amount of solder on the device, and then bring the tip to the connecting workpieces and press it. At this time, the flux should begin to boil and evaporate. At this time, use the tip of the device to distribute the solder along the joint.

  2. When applying solder to the parts to be joined , first the workpieces themselves are heated using a soldering iron. Once they reach the required temperature, you will need to apply solder to the joint between the part and the soldering iron or onto the part. The melting solder will begin to fill the joint.

The choice of connection method depends on the nature of the work being performed. The first method is suitable for soldering small parts, and the second for connecting large products.

When working with a soldering iron, you must comply with some requirements:

  1. It is good to warm up the device and the parts to be connected. If the solder smears and does not flow, then you need to increase the heating temperature of the soldering iron.
  2. Residues of acid fluxes must be washed off after soldering. Otherwise, after some time the connection may be destroyed by corrosion. Alkaline substances can be used as a detergent.
  3. Do not add too much solder during the soldering process. The seam should be slightly concave. Excess solder is removed by braiding or suction. If the tip of the device has acquired a metallic shine, then there is enough solder. The fact that there is a lot of solder is indicated by the changed shape of the tip.

A high-quality solder should shine brightly . Burnt solder looks dull, but in some cases it is acceptable. The spongy granular structure of the junction indicates insufficient temperature and an obvious defect.

How to solder wires

At the preparatory stage, the wires should be stripped, twisted and tinned:

  • the wire is lowered into a bath of rosin;
  • a drop of solder is distributed over the copper wires using a soldering iron;
  • In order for the coating to be on all sides, during the tinning process the wire must be rotated and heated;
  • The tinned end of the wire is dipped into heated solder, the excess of which is removed.

Single-core wires are cleaned to a shine before soldering. After this, they need to be dipped in rosin, connected, heated for a few seconds and solder applied. To ensure reliable insulation, a heat-shrinkable tube is placed on the exposed wire, which should be of a larger diameter. When exposed to high temperatures, it will shrink and form wire insulation.

If, due to the presence of enamel or varnish, the conductor does not want to tin, then regular aspirin can be used. To do this, you need to place the tablet on a plate and, pressing the conductor to it, warm it up for a few seconds. The tablet should begin to melt, and the acid released will destroy the varnish.

The oxides with which they are coated can prevent tinning on old wires The same aspirin tablet will help to cope with them.

To tinning an aluminum wire, you need “Flux for soldering aluminum.” It is universal, so it can be used to join metals with a chemically resistant oxide film. At the same time, in order to avoid corrosion, do not forget to clean the products from flux residues after soldering.

You should know that it is unacceptable to twist aluminum and copper wires together . They can only be fixed through an intermediate element, which can be another metal, a terminal clamp, or separation with washers.

Proper soldering with a soldering iron requires careful preparation of parts and tools. During the process itself, the solder layer must always be protected with flux. For various materials, a device of appropriate power and the required shape of the tip are selected. If the optimal temperature conditions are maintained and the parts are connected correctly, the soldering will be reliable and will serve for a long time.

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How to solder correctly

In order to solder well and correctly, you should know several basic points that characterize the process of soldering with a soldering iron, no matter whether it is electric or gas.

Here we will consider how to solder with PIC solder (an alloy of tin and lead, depending on the proportions of the content of these metals, the melting temperature of the solder changes).

Solder can be used to solder different metals together. The easiest way to solder is copper and brass. Somewhat more difficult - steel; soldering of other metals, such as aluminum, is possible, but requires the use of special fluxes and additives.

Let's talk about flux right away.

This is a substance that prevents metal oxidation during soldering.

The simplest and most famous flux is pine rosin. Used in lump or liquid (alcohol solution) forms for soldering copper and brass. It is a passive flux, that is, it only prevents the oxidation of the metal when it is heated with a soldering iron, but cannot remove the existing oxide film (for this, various active fluxes or trivial mechanical cleaning are used).

Removing the oxide film is a mandatory process when soldering, since the solder melted with a soldering iron must wet the surface of the metal, but oxides prevent this, just as fat prevents water from wetting any surface. I think that when you consider specific examples, everything will become clear to you.

How to properly prepare a soldering iron

Before soldering, you should properly prepare your soldering iron. Its tip should be evenly covered with solder. Let's look at the photo:

This is what a “dirty” sting looks like. It is very difficult to solder correctly with such soldering irons.
From a cold soldering iron, use a file to remove all the dirt down to pure copper (the material of the soldering iron tip is copper).
It should look like this.
We heat the soldering iron, sequentially touching the rosin and solder (several times) to achieve uniform coverage of the working part of the soldering iron with solder.
The result, having achieved which you can solder.

Connecting wires by soldering

You can solder wires to each other in various ways, for example, by placing pre-tinned wires on top of each other and heating them with a soldering iron until the solder melts.
This is the result.
You can pre-twist the stripped wires.
Solder the twist as for tinning. By the way, all examples use solid rosin. If liquid flux is used, it is simply applied with a brush to the desired location.
You will get a connection like this.
If you are soldering any radio elements without using printed wiring, then here are several ways to solder their terminals.
On the left, the conductor is pre-twisted onto the LED terminal, on the right, it is soldered “overlapping”. The first method is more reliable, the second is faster, in addition, if it is necessary to configure the circuit or replace elements multiple times, it is more convenient.
It's just the end result.

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How to solder correctly with a soldering iron

Before soldering, the parts to be joined are cleaned of dirt and oxides on the metal surface, almost to a shine, otherwise the solder will not stick to the desired place. It is best to remove the oxide film with sandpaper or, very carefully, with a file or sharp knife.

Degreasing is carried out with gasoline, acetone or turpentine. But cleaned metal surfaces quickly oxidize, and in order not to have to clean them again, a protective coating (flux) is applied to them, protecting them from oxidation and facilitating the joining of parts. The most affordable and safe flux is rosin. To solder steel, you need a mixture of equal parts of borax and hydrochloric acid, diluted to a thick paste with a solution of zinc chloride.

If you suddenly need to solder something urgently, but there is no rosin or hydrochloric acid, you can use an aspirin or citramone tablet - the acid they contain is enough to degrease the soldering area.

Preparing the soldering iron for soldering

The soldering iron also needs to be prepared for use. The tip is cleaned to a shine, the soldering iron is connected to the mains and heats up for 5-6 minutes. You should not heat it for too long, because the solder will not stick to an overheated tip. The degree of heating of the tip is checked on a piece of rosin. If the rosin boils instantly, it means the soldering iron is overheated and needs to cool down a little. When it takes a few seconds for rosin to boil, this means its temperature is normal and ready for work.

The sharpened tip of the soldering iron is carefully processed in a piece of rosin and, lightly pressing it on the solder, they try to melt it. It will take about 10 seconds to melt the solder, after which the tip must be tinned, that is, covered with a thin layer of liquid metal. Excess solder should be cleaned off by lightly rubbing the tip on sandpaper.

Bonding parts before soldering

Before soldering, the parts must be mechanically fastened, preferably tied with wire. You can clamp it in a clamp, or if the parts are made of sheet metal, bend the edges and connect them with a “lock” into which the solder, when ironing the seam with a soldering iron, will penetrate.

If you need to solder wires, you should first tin them and twist them. The twisting area is heated with a soldering iron and covered with a thin layer of solder.

A tin of Montpensier candies is perhaps the best means of home storage of solder and, perhaps, flux along with it. The jar closes tightly, takes up little space, and is not afraid of heat. True, when soldering, you need to place it in a place that will not be damaged by heat, or put thick cardboard, plywood or a board under it.

The room in which you solder with flux or acid must be well ventilated - their vapors are quite poisonous. 

Source: http://1000-podelok.ru/kak-pravil-no-payat-payal-nikom

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