Soldering irons

What is needed is a high heat applied for a short a time as possible both the pins and all the wires in the cable need to be heated to above solder melting point so it(the solder) can flow into all the gaps making a solid shiny joint, without any melting of the sheathing.
If this is teaching grandma etc.. I apologies.
I managed to borrow a 150 watt iron and now use a large "old fashioned" heat in the gas type iron.
This allows above conditions to be met.If possible I would have thought a 100 watt iron should do the job.I have tried 35 and 50 watt before and they aren't up to the job.
Where are you? Maybe if you have some other like mined individuals in your area you could buy a communal iron? As for makes I have no knowlege as all the ones I have used said BT on them.
Sorry got a bit carried away there.
Howard

I have a 70w iron and reckon that to be the minimum power to solder A5 with ease.


Willy.

Best general purpose iron on the market is the Metcal series from OKI. http://www.metcal.com/
It does not have the "slam" that a gas-fired iron does but in the right hands a MX-500 series iron with the high temp tip will easily do the trick with NACA5.
They are not cheap though!
David

Yes i have and used a metcal 5oox for many years now.

one of the best purchases ever made for me.

The de-soldering station attachment is absolute genius. ( bearing in mind they are re-work irons )

steve

Thanks everyone, so over 100w is needed.

I've just looked at the Metcal MX500, yikes! Trust me to ask for the best one. Anything cheaper?

Count,

I would say a 65-70 watt is adequate, It's your soldering skills that are more important and how you go about executing the naca5 that really matters.

The metcals are really for manufactoring re- works. I use mine mainly for re-wiring boats, but occaisionally bring it home for the odd naca5 which it does a treat.

Steve

I would say get 100w that will give you that little extra and help towards a good solder joint.
Antex 240v 100w about £30.
Google "soldering iron 100 watt" UK pages.

I've just ordered a Weller 80W iron from here:

http://www.brewstersbatteries.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_30_33

£22.60 including the postage.

quote:

It's your soldering skills that are more important and how you go about executing the naca5 that really matters.

Part of the soldering skills is having an iron that will do the job. A bigger iron will heat up the work quickly and allow a good solder flow which is key to getting a good strong joint.

quote:

The de-soldering station attachment is absolute genius.

Steve, they are genius. I have multiple tips for my regular soldering, a set of the forceps for surface mount and that amazing desoldering tip as well. A total Metcal convert.
Wonder what they're using at Naim? I hope the Metcals, they are so much easier on the line folks than anything else I've used.
David

Would agree with all the sentiments here re fast heat. I have tried using smaller irons in the past and they just don't work properly. You don't get a good solder flow.

Thanks again everyone.

Does anyone use any special solder to do hifi joints or is the standard stuff ok?

I still use the multi core(leaded) with built in flux. Just brush off any excess flux when you've finished (it will probably have evaporated already).

quote:

Originally posted by Allan Probin:
I've just ordered a Weller 80W iron from here:

http://www.brewstersbatteries.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_30_33

£22.60 including the postage.

I think this will easily be adequate. It maybe worth tracking down some non-clean 60/40 tin lead alloy, personally i much prefer this type of solder when doing Naca5.

To clean off any excessive flux - use IPA, but i doubt that will be necessary.

Steve