Soldering Accessories
Soldering Iron Tips
Try
to use the right size tip whenever you can. Smaller wires and circuit
boards require small fine tips, and mic cable onto an XLR would need
a larger tip. You can get pointed tips, or flat tipped ones (sometimes
called 'spade tips'). If you have a solder station with a desolderer,
you will also want a range of desoldering tips and cleaners.
Soldering Iron Stands
These
are handy to use if you are doing several or more joints. It is a
heat resistant cradle for your iron to sit in, so you don't have to
lie it down on the bench while it is hot. It really is essential if
you are planning to do a lot of bench soldering as it is only a matter
of time before you burn something (probably your elbow resting on
the hot tip) if you don't use one.
Clamps
I
strongly recommend clamps of some sort. Trying to hold your soldering
iron, the solder, and the wire is tricky enough, but when you have
to hold the connector as well it is almost impossible. The are however,
adjustable clamps that can be manipulated to hold both the connector
and the wire in place so you still have two free hands to apply the
heat and the solder. These are cheap items, and I know mine have paid
for themselves many times over.
Magnifying glass
If
you are doing work on PCBs (printed circuit boards) you may need to
get a magnifying glass. This will help you see the tracks on the PCB,
and unless you have exceptional sight, small chip resistors are pretty
difficult to solder on well without a magnifying glass. Once again,
they are not expensive, and some clamps come with one that can mount
on the clamp stand.
Solder Wick
Solder
wick is a mesh the you lie on a joint and heat. When it heats up it
also melts the solder which is drawn out of the joint. It is usually
used for cleaning up solder from tracks on a circuit board, but you
will need a solder sucker to clean out the holes in the circuit board.
Place the wick on the solder you want to remove then put your soldering
iron on top of the wick. The wick will heat up, then the solder will
melt and flow away from the joint and into wick.
Solder Suckers
If
you don't have a solder station with desolderer, and you work on PCB's,
you are going to need one of these before too long. They are spring
loaded and suck the melted solder out of the joint. They are a bit
tricky to use, as you have to melt the solder with your iron, then
quickly position the solder sucker over the melted solder and release
the spring to suck up the solder. I find solder wick to be easier
to use and more effective.
Fume Extractors
Solder
fumes are poisonous. A fume extractor will suck the fumes (smoke)
into itself and filter it. An absolute must for your health if you
are setting up a soldering bench.
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