soldering-gun vs iron

[pantablo]

I have borrowed a friends soldering iron which looks like this (but isnt this exact brand/model).


In the sodlering threads and videos I've been studying (can you say 'search noob', lol) I see people using a soldering gun to solder wire instead of above iron.

I'm new to this so can I use the first image type of 'iron' to solder the wires from my ESC to the motor or should I (or need I) use a sodlering 'gun' like second pic.

thanks,
pablo-

[PEDEcrawlerguy]

you can use the soldering iron just fine... the main difference between the two is the soldering iron stays hot as long as you have it plugged in or turned on... where as the soldering gun has a switch ( trigger) to heat up when you wanna use it, the gun might take up to a few seconds to heat...


i have always used an iron... just because its always hot... no waiting after i turn it on between uses

[Mnster]

Irons are always the best.

Never had any luck at all with the guns.

[scaryfast12]

if you do a lot of soldering you might want to look into getting a station...weller, hakko, and even Radio Shack.

A station takes up a little more space in your tool box, but I rarely need to solder outside of the shop...and it is well worth the investment.

[pantablo]

Thanks for the replies. I wont be doing much soldering, only occasionally. I was more concerned as to whether I needed to buy a gun or if I could use the iron I have. Sounds like I can use it. Thanks.

[chrisjlittle]

I have both a gun and a soldering station and use them for different things. My gun is really very hot, but it's bulky and the tip is very large, so it's really only good for bigger wire (16 gauge+) the station doesn't get as hot, but has interchangeable tips and is more flexible, so I use it for finer wire and electronics work. It really all depends on what you want to do.

[intimadationrc]

soldering stations all the way

[jwcustomwurks]

a decent wattage gun or iron will be fine. The idea is to heat up the piece to soldering temp quickly rather than ending heating up the whole dang thing with a lower wattage anything. Keeps things from being destroyed, melted and burned

[sloppy]

guns suck. get a decent 40watt iron and you will be set. like allot have said stations are sweet becasue you can adjust the temps. the Iron will always be the same temp keep it clean and you will have no problems.

[cspyy]

well, i just started soldering at the end of last year and bought the radio shack 40 watt soldering station. i have had a hard time soldering.

i recently bought a soldering gun of the Mac tool truck




it was a lot more expensive but man this thing is baddd. its a 400-150 watt gun, so it gets really hot really fast.
i have been having MUCH better luck soldering now with this gun than the iron, and the size isnt that big of a deal to me. i have used it today to solder in a micro toggle 3 position switch with the tiny wire.

[crazytimmy]

Ok i think i know the answer to this question but i just have to ask it. Can i sodder tubes with an iron and some sodder? or is it just not strong enough?

Thanks,
CrAzY TiMmY

[punkafi888]

personally the iron is a heck of a lot easyer to use. the gun is bad i only use it for when i lose my iron. the gun gives you uneven heat accross your solder. i do a lot of circuit board soldering.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by crazytimmy

Ok i think i know the answer to this question but i just have to ask it. Can i sodder tubes with an iron and some sodder? or is it just not strong enough?

Thanks,
CrAzY TiMmY

Like...... Brazing? No.