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Soldering iron

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Hello VU.

Last week my soldering iron finally gave out. I used a cheap 40 watt generic soldering iron and it worked pretty good. A little slow on heat up.

For the use of only soldering small boards, and wire is a station even necessary? I've heard Weller are like the industry standard for home use.

Any information is appreciated.

Thanks guys

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Droogbc

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
If you buy a Weller, it will be the only one you'll need for the rest of your life. Tips, solder, and flux will be the only maintenance items you would ever need.

That said, if you're not going to use it often and don't mind the possibility of having to buy another one some day, you can probably get away with a less expensive one. Do your homework though, especially if soldering circuit boards is your goal, as they are not all created equally.

Imho. I'm no pro electronics tech or anything.
 

Droogbc

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Member For 4 Years
I don't think butane irons are suitable for soldering pcb's due to high heat and limited (if any) ability to fine tune their output, but again, I'm no pro.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
As a Electronics professional those butane soldering jigs are only a last resort for any soldering.
Yup, there used in the field for emergency or non precision soldering.

I'm thinking I'm just going to get the hakku clone. It'll do what I need. I need a tip brush and I'll call it a day.

Hey Cromwell do you have experience with these?

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Ralph_K

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I have repaired a couple of LCD TVs with mine. Not really precision stuff just capacitors. At least the one I have you can adjust the heat
 

Droogbc

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Member For 4 Years
Yup, there used in the field for emergency or non precision soldering.

I'm thinking I'm just going to get the hakku clone. It'll do what I need. I need a tip brush and I'll call it a day.

Hey Cromwell do you have experience with these?

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Afaik, that would be option #2, after a Weller.

An original anyway. You know how it goes with clones. :D
 

The Cromwell

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Yup, there used in the field for emergency or non precision soldering.

I'm thinking I'm just going to get the hakku clone. It'll do what I need. I need a tip brush and I'll call it a day.

Hey Cromwell do you have experience with these?

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I usually use a sponge and some of the tip tinning powder stuff.

I am old school and sling the excess solder off vs brushing it off :)
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
The funny thing is that I could really eventually use a decent cheap one to make a custom digital station. I hate the fact companies charge fucking 400 for something that in parts is 45 bucks flat.

Chinese do a good enough job in the cause industry doing temp control devices, high wattage devices we put close to our mouths so I bet it'll be ok. I just need to get the one with the most reviews that are positive. That has done me pretty damn good over the years on eBay.

eBay {=} buyer better be aware that there's bull shit floating around. But reading reviews and looking up the seller makes for such better results. You can't go on there and grab the cheapest vtc5a batteries without reading/ seller lookup. That's just asking to get took.

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Zohmbiebuilds

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Member For 3 Years
Yep like Weller best.

Hakku is a soldering station?
LOL thought it was a RDA?
Yeah I know. I was had to fight that mind control. Haku in our world stands for a quality dripper. But in all seriousness a real hakku is like 400. This would be like the sxk version. LoL

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Zohmbiebuilds

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Member For 3 Years
Yeah I know. I was had to fight that mind control. Haku in our world stands for a quality dripper. But in all seriousness a real hakku is like 400. This would be like the sxk version. LoL

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I'm getting closer slowly but surely to getting my pwm squonk mod.

Then after that I'm doing a paraseries mod. I've been designing it for about a month. I figured a better way to hold the batteries. With risers and Bondo. Then spray on truck bed lining. It's going to be sexy as fuck.

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Droogbc

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Member For 4 Years
Ya know, I have an Auber RDK 300 controller for e-nail coils. I now wonder if I could get a replacement weller or similar wand, put an xlr on the wire, and have a budget multi purpose station.
 

SteveS45

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ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Butane Soldiering Irons are No Voltage and are Adjustable Temperature with precision tips for use on small or fine connections. Like I always say it isn't the tool it is the hands using it. Or should I say the tool criticizing it?
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
We need a modders section. Everything from actual modifications of existing Vapes to ground up modding. It's so funny how I got into modding. I am actually so thankful that mod broke and I was forced to fix it. When you don't got much, you gotta make shit work.

Life dealt me my hand so I've had to learn when to hold, and when to fold.

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The Cromwell

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The funny thing is that I could really eventually use a decent cheap one to make a custom digital station. I hate the fact companies charge fucking 400 for something that in parts is 45 bucks flat.

Chinese do a good enough job in the cause industry doing temp control devices, high wattage devices we put close to our mouths so I bet it'll be ok. I just need to get the one with the most reviews that are positive. That has done me pretty damn good over the years on eBay.

eBay {=} buyer better be aware that there's bull shit floating around. But reading reviews and looking up the seller makes for such better results. You can't go on there and grab the cheapest vtc5a batteries without reading/ seller lookup. That's just asking to get took.

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I used a Weller WP30 iron for years with a light dimmer to control the temp.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Butane Soldiering Irons are No Voltage and are Adjustable Temperature with precision tips for use on small or fine connections. Like I always say it isn't the tool it is the hands using it. Or should I say the tool criticizing it?
Yup, I wouldn't pick it personally but I guess if your good with one and have the experience it would be fine. I personally have 0 experience with the flame soldering pens.

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Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Ya know, I have an Auber RDK 300 controller for e-nail coils. I now wonder if I could get a replacement weller or similar wand, put an xlr on the wire, and have a budget multi purpose station.
I would save that for your enail. You know you love that thing. Easily the most efficient way to use bho/wax. Takes me back.

I'm a sober Sally now

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Droogbc

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Butane Soldiering Irons are No Voltage and are Adjustable Temperature with precision tips for use on small or fine connections. Like I always say it isn't the tool it is the hands using it. Or should I say the tool criticizing it?
Didn't realize they offered that level of control. Good to know.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Didn't realize they offered that level of control. Good to know.
I have seen some while looking and they are much better designed than when I first started seeing them. They actually used this technology for concentrate use. I've seen some wicked set ups and custom glass portable enails on toke City.

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The Cromwell

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How about a soldering iron with a heating element made of SS316L and use an evolve board to control the temp. Temp range would need to be adjusted up though...
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
I have seen some while looking and they are much better designed than when I first started seeing them. They actually used this technology for concentrate use. I've seen some wicked set ups and custom glass portable enails on toke City.

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I remember when the whole concentrate thing took off. I was making ounces of concentrate from trim n immature nugs. I don't know if we're supposed to talk about this stuff tho so Ill leave it at that. Nothing wrong with it, just not for me anymore.

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SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Didn't realize they offered that level of control. Good to know.

I have one in my toolbox that I actually use in the field for IT Work because there are circuits you cannot use an electric iron on it will destroy components. One of the best features of them is when repairing a wiring harness you can shrink the heat shrink tubing and be done with 2 tasks with one tool.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
How about a soldering iron with a heating element made of SS316L and use an evolve board to control the temp. Temp range would need to be adjusted up though...
Well you can use vape boards. I've seen it on YouTube. I'd still need a power supply. I'd do pass through like analog mods does and use the mod to regulate. Can you hack the escribe software to go up higher???

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Droogbc

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I have one in my toolbox that I actually use in the field for IT Work because there are circuits you cannot use an electric iron on it will destroy components. One of the best features of them is when repairing a wiring harness you can shrink the heat shrink tubing and be done with 2 tasks with one tool.
Love this place. I learn something new everyday, and it's not necessarily vape related.
 

The Cromwell

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If not, there's always the hohm wrecker.

Quick, somebody design a 510 based iron so the chinese can clone it and sell it to us on the cheap.
Most TC chips only go up to 600f not hot enuf for soldering for the most part.
The adjustable wattage might work though?
If the tip was designed right like with .3 -.5 resistance...
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Love this place. I learn something new everyday, and it's not necessarily vape related.
Knowledge is what makes me love life. I love to learn. I used to not be able to retain information when I was younger. I'm like information starved. When I got sober I realized I read a geek trapped in a junkies body. LoL. I've read 48 books in 5 months the best one easily doctor sleep by Stephen King...

I am going to start a business. I have the dive to do it. I see so many companies charging so much for custom mods. I wouldn't necessarily undercut but I'd be fair. I hate being charged a 500% mark-up price myself. I couldn't imagine doing that to my customer base. They ones that support me, and believe in me. Making money is part of the business but there's a fine line between making money and a total ass raping with no lube and lots of Kitty litter.

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Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Most TC chips only go up to 600f not hot enuf for soldering for the most part.
The adjustable wattage might work though?
If the tip was designed right like with .3 -.5 resistance...
Brilliant. I'm an unregulated mod user 99% of the time. Ooooh pwm!!! You could get hot enough easily.

Ideas ideas. I'm gonna pull the plug on the china 936b seems like a good machine. There problems with most reviewers is there using 500 dollar machines and doing heavy work, and precision work on the station all day long every day. If course it's not going to function like a 500 dollar machine. But for what I do, it'll be great.

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Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
I made sure to like all who commented. Everyone here helped this topic grow extremely fast so there must be users interested in modding. I'd love to see a place for us guys.

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Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
SteveS you should start a topic named the right tool for the job. That would be an awesome topic. Between you and Cromwell you guys have great knowledge on tools. Real mens men know tools. I love tools. I live to see tools used in the proper way. I know it sounds weird but I fucking love tools. I love repair/modding. Hacking. Using my brain.

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Droogbc

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Since we're on the topic...

Is the difference between a "soldering iron" vs a "soldering gun" that the iron has an internal heating element which radiates heat to the tip vs a gun which heats the tip via sending electricity through it similar to how our coils operate... Or have I got that wrong?

Since I'm learning stuff, lol.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Since we're on the topic...

Is the difference between a "soldering iron" vs a "soldering gun" that the iron has an internal heating element which radiates heat to the tip vs a gun which heats the tip via sending electricity through it similar to how our coils operate... Or have I got that wrong?

Since I'm learning stuff, lol.
For the most part you have it right. There are also guns that use heating elements. There called automatic soldering guns. I'm not exactly sure how those are used and don't think there anything I'd probably use making mods. God damnit. Now I have to look those up. Lol emerse myself in knowledge.

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Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Sorry buddy the Crommy has me Ignored so it will never happen.....................
Oh, I didn't know that. Well, still yet, your pretty knowledgeable on tools. What is your trade if I may ask?

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The Cromwell

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Since we're on the topic...

Is the difference between a "soldering iron" vs a "soldering gun" that the iron has an internal heating element which radiates heat to the tip vs a gun which heats the tip via sending electricity through it similar to how our coils operate... Or have I got that wrong?

Since I'm learning stuff, lol.
pretty much a soldering gun has a step down transformer that steps 120V down to a low voltage but high current.
The current heats a copper (i think) tip up very fast.
I have one (Weller) and the tips appear to be straight copper.
they are most used for soldering big wires and such since their lowest wattage is often 100W.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Soldering iron tips are made of a copper core plated with iron. The copper is used for heat transfer and the iron plating is used for durability. Copper is very easily corroded, eating away the tip, particularly in lead-free work; iron is not.

Can you grind a soldering iron tip?

Yes solder tips are not solid, they are just plated. So you do not want to grind it down. That will remove the plating and then solder will no longer stick to the tip rendering it useless.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Soldering iron tips are made of a copper core plated with iron. The copper is used for heat transfer and the iron plating is used for durability. Copper is very easily corroded, eating away the tip, particularly in lead-free work; iron is not.

Can you grind a soldering iron tip?

Yes solder tips are not solid, they are just plated. So you do not want to grind it down. That will remove the plating and then solder will no longer stick to the tip rendering it useless.
Solid info.

Tips are cheap. You'll know when that tip is no good. The Sponge is ok, but your tips if cared for can last quite a while. Using the brass Brillo will keep your tip clean. I had both sitting side by side.

I got soldering down pretty easy. I will say that my biggest problem was actually over thinking the process. That and confidence.

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