Hakko is a good tool. I have a non-digital, but temperature controlled unit and I’ve gotten a lot of use out of it.
What is even more important is the type of solder. Some points: 1. Most of us were trained to use good old 60/40 tin/lead. This produces marginal results in hand-soldering. It is more for flow soldering and piping. 2. The political do-gooders decided to be “RoHS” meaning 100% tin. I’ve yet to produce a satisfactory hand solder out of pure tin. AND, it’s a great boon for electronics companies in the age of disposable everything as 100% tin grows “whiskers” in humidity - crystallization that will eventually short out traces on a circuit board. KJ5Y had one of those in a gizmo not long ago. 3. The best solder for hand soldering is 63/37 eutectic solder. I was taught this by another ham who was trained by the Navy back in the day. With a good rosin flux, you can make a nice connection that will last. 3% silver is a bit harder, but some prefer it. With respect to “RoHS”. One of my XYL’s masters degrees is in Environmental Engineering. She has absolutely no worries about lead on circuitboards leeching out of modern land fills. That’s my 2-cents worth, ($75 under Obamacare). 73 N4HPG > On Jun 3, 2015, at 4:16 PM, Jonathan Guthrie via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org> > wrote: > > The Hakko is a good choice. The important thing, I think, is the temperature > control. Don't get anything that isn't temperature controlled. > > The exception I would make to that is the iron you need to solder the braid > to PL-259's. That needs a big honking chunk of hot metal to work properly. > I think the best iron to use for that is one they sell to the guys who do > stained glass. I don't know that they make irons that have a temperature > control and have a tip that has enough metal to work in that application. > > On 6/3/2015 3:51 PM, Jon Noxon via BVARC wrote: >> Kevin, >> >> My current choice would be this one: >> http://www.frys.com/product/7550776?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG >> >> I purchased an earlier non-digital version a few years ago and love it. It >> is a bit expensive, but should last for years, and parts and tips are >> readily available. >> >> Also check EPO as they have several models to choose from. If you just need >> a cheap iron and some solder, let me know and I’ll donate one of my old >> ones, all retired after the Hakko purchase. >> >> Good luck, >> >> Jon / KF5TFJ >> >> >> >>> On Jun 3, 2015, at 3:06 PM, Kevin Thornsberry via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org> >>> wrote: >>> >>> I have an [audio] microphone cord that I need to repair so I'll use this as >>> an excuse to outfit myself with a serviceable soldering iron or gun and >>> some appropriate solder/flux for my new ham hobby as well. I assume my >>> primary use would be soldering connectors on ground cables and antennae >>> leads. >>> >>> I would welcome any recommendations. >>> >>> Thanks >>> >>> Kevin Thornsberry W5KLT >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> BVARC mailing list >>> BVARC@bvarc.org >>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> BVARC mailing list >> BVARC@bvarc.org >> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org > > > -- > Jonathan Guthrie KA8KPN > > > _______________________________________________ > BVARC mailing list > BVARC@bvarc.org > http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Bill Crowell b...@pavuk.com
_______________________________________________ BVARC mailing list BVARC@bvarc.org http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
