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I need to repair and re- solder my dash lights( they are out of the car ) and was looking to maybe get a new soldering gun. I was kinda surprised at the price, and I noticed they some that had a finer pencil like tip. Has anyone used one of those with the small tip for something like that?
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TR2/3/3A re- solder my dash lights
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mrv8q
Luke Skywalker
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FWIW, I picked up a Weller W51 soldering starion a decade ago on eBay, in nice condition for around $50.
I don’t Think they go for much more now. Reliable unit with adjustable temp. Tons of support and accessories.
Think Hakko brand for new, but watch out for counterfeits!
I don’t Think they go for much more now. Reliable unit with adjustable temp. Tons of support and accessories.
Think Hakko brand for new, but watch out for counterfeits!
dklawson
Yoda
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Guns and irons... two different things.
Guns are usually used to put a lot of heat into an area quickly. Irons can be big (for plumbing and such) but are often smaller, pencil-like tools for electronics. For automotive wiring you can use either as long as they are rated for 100 Watts or such. You can use a smaller iron if you want to but I generally like to use a larger Watt gun to get the heat in quickly before the vinyl insulation has a chance to melt.
With old wiring, do your best to clean the stripped copper wire strands before you get started. They often build up a patina that can slow the process down or prevent the solder from flowing.
Guns are usually used to put a lot of heat into an area quickly. Irons can be big (for plumbing and such) but are often smaller, pencil-like tools for electronics. For automotive wiring you can use either as long as they are rated for 100 Watts or such. You can use a smaller iron if you want to but I generally like to use a larger Watt gun to get the heat in quickly before the vinyl insulation has a chance to melt.
With old wiring, do your best to clean the stripped copper wire strands before you get started. They often build up a patina that can slow the process down or prevent the solder from flowing.
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I use a 25 watt soldering iron like the one below. It’s certainly adequate for most jobs. Amazon has them for $13.
dklawson
Yoda
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Oddly enough, I used one about a week ago after it sat in my tool box for years. I didn't buy mine, I found it. Mine uses a regular disposable butane lighter for the fuel source. It worked remarkably well. I was soldering a hinge to sheet metal that already had paint. I needed to get a lot of heat in quickly and get out. The butane lighter torch worked great for me in that application.