| |
02-07-2009, 08:20 PM
| #1 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: in my bubble
Posts: 532
|  Soldering iron
i'm trying to solder my tekin Fx r into my truck, my soldering iron just doesn't seem to get hot enough, I have a radio shack 45 watt... Do the $100 plus irons get that much hotter to make all the difference ? I'm no stranger to soldering but for some reason these motor wires dont EVVVVEEERRRR want to solder clean and easily, SOOO FRUSTRATING |
|  |
| Sponsored Links | |
| | |
|
02-07-2009, 08:36 PM
| #2 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wayne county. PA
Posts: 2,507
|
i bought the hakko 936 soldering station and glad i did....wires, tabs even banana plug tabs to deans tab wasn't even an issue..............bob .... |
|
| |
|
02-07-2009, 08:41 PM
| #3 |
| TEAM MODERATOR   Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tennessee
Posts: 10,855
|
I've got a $20 45 watt iron I bought at a discount store,works good for motor wires and battery bars on Sub C's. I have made a few new tips for it though,the factory tip went south pretty quick. Tinning the wires and the motor tabs are the key to a clean solder joint. Same for battery bars and Sub C's. Without tinning,it can take a long time. Bigger guns will do the job without tinning,but I feel it gets things way to hot.
|
|
| |
|
02-07-2009, 09:29 PM
| #4 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: in my bubble
Posts: 532
|
I am tinning everything first, the solder wont melt when i'm trying to join the two, i also have a bit of solder on the tip of the iron....its almost like those irons that only get hot when you push a button, but this has no button. i'm going to try go to the hobby store tomorrow and set up shop there to do all my wiring |
|
| |
|
02-07-2009, 10:17 PM
| #5 |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ward, SC
Posts: 1,108
|
I have a Weller WLC100 and it works perfect. Think I paid around $75 for it. Its a great iron for the money.
|
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 01:28 AM
| #6 | ||
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hueytown, Alabama
Posts: 6,777
| Quote:
Quote:
X2 I have the hakko 936 now. I just got it about 2 weeks ago and I love it. About a year or so ago I had the WLC100 but I sold it when I got out of racing. It was a great one too though. I believe you can get the hakko's for around $75 or so also.  Before the hakko, I did the same as you.....went and bought a good soldering iron from radio shack.............   It didnt last long.  | ||
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 02:07 AM
| #7 |
| MWRCA'er  Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Machesney Park IL
Posts: 3,995
|
I too own a $125 Hakko solder station. I can't say I regret my purchase at all. I fumbled with several cheap irons for years before finally just giving in. It makes soldering so much easier, stronger and professional. I'd say if you own a fleet of r/c vehicles its totally worth the cost. The iron heats up in seconds, doesn't roll off the bench, the heat is adjustable for different wire gauges, tips and replacement parts are available at most any electronics store. It just totally simplifies soldering.
|
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 07:17 AM
| #8 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Centered
Posts: 2,082
|
I just replaced my Weller WES50 which was great, with a Hakko 936 which is even better. The main goal when soldering is to get on and off as quickly as possible, so a good iron/station that maintains it's heat well is important. Even if you only solder once in a while, it's worth the investment. And Hakko is still running their deal on the 936 station...$79 and change shipped |
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 10:53 AM
| #9 |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hiatus..sutiaH
Posts: 1,620
|
I got like a 700 Watt Weller at Home Depot for pretty cheap and the thing will solder anything!!!
|
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 11:00 AM
| #10 |
| Pebble Pounder Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Marietta
Posts: 141
|
Make sure the tip is CLEAN, not just tinned. The easiest thing to use is Radio Shack's tip tinner / cleaner.
|
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 11:27 AM
| #11 | |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Centered
Posts: 2,082
| Quote:
 Weird though, because most stations and good irons are between 80 and 100 watts and will have a degree rating up to about 850-875. I'm curious as to why that Weller only hits 700 degrees at 100 watts? Good question for the Tech thread I guess. | |
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 12:19 PM
| #12 | |
| Pebble Pounder Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Marietta
Posts: 141
| Quote:
| |
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 03:48 PM
| #13 |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hiatus..sutiaH
Posts: 1,620
|
Well, at least I got the 700 part right, lol. Either way, it is a pretty nice iron for the price. I have used it on some pretty dense/think jobs. I use it alot for my Jeep scaler build - lots of body soldering. |
|
| |
|
02-09-2009, 07:38 PM
| #14 |
| Pebble Pounder Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tomball, Tx
Posts: 168
|
+1 on the Hakko 936. Just googled, found prices from $75 to $85. I would buy it again
|
|
| |
|
02-10-2009, 10:20 AM
| #15 |
| Rock Stacker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: G.R.
Posts: 62
|
$18 Weller 40 watt Iron from Home depot. Just use the med. size tip it comes with. If I need more juice I pull out the 80 watt weller. I've soldered battery terminals on 0ga wire with that beast. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100391613 |
|
| |
|
02-10-2009, 11:20 AM
| #16 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: N.E. Mpls
Posts: 854
|
I picked up a 80 watt iron for about 8$. So far hasnt let me down.. The tips are cheap but you get an extra 2 tips ( 1 chisel 1 point). Im not saying the hi dollar ones arent good, just saying ive had good luck with mine. If I was doing a bunch of cells into packs I might get a better one... But so far mine doesnt have an issue with soldering cap leads to cans....
|
|
| |
|
02-10-2009, 04:03 PM
| #17 | |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Fresno
Posts: 1,464
| Quote:
i tend to have better luck w/ inexpensive soldering irons the one im currently using is a 60w weller, bought it for like $12 at a mom 'n pop electronic store in town, the only problem w/ it so far is that i lost one of the screws that hold the tip in place but it was pretty finding a replacement. *damn i love my random screw jar  it also gets hot enough to use in under 1 min. | |
|
| |
|
02-10-2009, 04:08 PM
| #18 |
| Rock Stacker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: lafayette
Posts: 65
|
i love my walmart iron
|
|
| |
|
02-10-2009, 04:23 PM
| #19 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In A Nut Shell
Posts: 626
|
i have a Hakko 936 and love it! I even got a free sticker kit and thing to get the solder off the tip.
|
|
| |
|
02-10-2009, 05:12 PM
| #20 |
| Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Irvine KY
Posts: 299
|
Take a knife or screwdriver and scrape the end really good, always helps me. |
|
| |
 |
| |
Linear Mode
