soldering station

[cmac]

I'm looking to replace my Hakko 936. What are you guys using? I want to upgrade. I still have some difficulty getting the solder to melt quickly. It will not get the solder to melt when touching the underside of a Traxxas connector, it has to be in direct contact with the solder. If I try to touch the tinned wire on top it won't get hot enough to melt the solder on the tinned traxxas connector. My results are, as you can guess mixed at best. I want something that will melt solder with ease.

[Arct1k]

936 should do that pretty easily... Maybe try a new tip.

[suicideneil]

Bigger/fatter tip for sure- I must admit I love my Weller 75watt iron for doing bullet connectors and soldering directly to A123 cells, but the fat tip on it makes all the difference compared to the little pointy type ones..

[snellemin]

Fat tip Weller are very good. My primary soldering station is a old Metcal. Heats up super quick and got a bunch of different size tips for them. Ebay got plenty of them.

It's the black tower thing underneath my computer screen on my desk.

[skellyo]

Originally Posted by cmac

I'm looking to replace my Hakko 936. What are you guys using? I want to upgrade. I still have some difficulty getting the solder to melt quickly. It will not get the solder to melt when touching the underside of a Traxxas connector, it has to be in direct contact with the solder. If I try to touch the tinned wire on top it won't get hot enough to melt the solder on the tinned traxxas connector. My results are, as you can guess mixed at best. I want something that will melt solder with ease.

Make sure your tip is clean. Traxxas connectors are an easy job for that iron.

[cmac]

Hey guys, all this talk about how fat your tips are can you show me What would work best for me?

[whitrzac]

http://www.rctech.net/forum/radio-el...ef-lesson.html

[BrianG]

I'm cheap. I just use a 60W Hakko iron with a fat tip and a smaller tip, and my home-brew setup to adjust temperature for when the full 60w is not needed: http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19227

[TexasSP]

I would also say dirty tip. I am on the original hakko tip with thousands of joints done and a 4 year old hakko. Keeping the tip clean is integral to good soldering. In fact that is one of the first things I remember as being the most important lesson when soldering.

[BrianG]

Ditto. At high heat levels, oxidation occurs rapidly and cleaning is essential. Also helps to prep a new tip by tinning properly.

[hashemio]

I just use my good 'ol fashion Radio Shack iron and I am happy, but it sounds like I might be in the wrong lol, I too would like some suggestions for a good starter iron.

[suicideneil]

Well, if you don't struggle to make quick, solid joints with the iron you have already, then no need to upgrade really- keeping it clean & tinned makes all the difference, even with an iron that is hot enough

[cmac]

Update guys,
I ended up buying the "fattest" tip that I could find, and got the right solder. I just put 7 traxxas ends on batteries that I have had for awhile , but just have not had the time to work on them. The "tips" I got from you guys made all the difference in the world.I put it off because it was such a frustrating experience. This time all 7 went off without a hitch I think I will keep my 936 for awhile