Devices and tools for soldering

Description of instruments and tools that are necessary for soldering. The main aspects when choosing tools and instruments.

As they say, the real owner should be able to do a lot, including soldering. I don’t argue, soldering complex boards is not easy, there must be knowledge, practice, expensive instruments and tools. But in an economy where you need to fix something basic, you don’t need special skills and expensive instruments and tools for soldering. About that how to solder today we will not talk, but about what you need to have from tools and devices, just remember.

Devices and tools for soldering:

Soldering iron

Soldering iron - the main device, without which in soldering anywhere. You need to choose a soldering iron seriously and slowly. The main criteria when choosing a soldering iron is its power and size. The size should correspond to what you will solder, and in almost all cases it corresponds to the power of the soldering iron, but there are exceptions.

For soldering radio components and repairing home electrical appliances, the appropriate size of the soldering iron is 25 cm and the tip diameter is not more than 4 mm.

Now about power. As we already know from school, it is measured in watts. I advise you to purchase two soldering iron: 25 watts and 40-60 watts. The first is suitable for soldering microcircuits and various small parts, and the second for soldering larger parts, tinning boards and massive contacts.

For more information on choosing a soldering iron, see here - How to choose a soldering iron

Electrical tester

Tester (otherwise it is also called multimeter) a very useful thing. They determine the presence of gaps, measure the voltage and resistance. In our case, it is worth choosing an inexpensive tester, with a small set of functions.

Soldering Iron Stand

Since the main soldering unit heats up to 300 degrees, a stand under it is a very useful thing. I advise you to get it immediately after buying a soldering iron. I did not do this, in the end I got a burnt table and some molten objects. It costs a lot, but I didn’t spend money on the purchase of this item, went the other way, searched the Internet a bit, found a great simple pattern for making this stand, which I followed, as a result, having spent a little time and effort, I saved a little money.

Rosin and Solder

Solder Is an alloy of lead with tin. It is harmful to breathe with this alloy, I advise you to ventilate the rooms when soldering. Use solder for tinning soldering surfaces.

Rosin Is a hardened resin. Breathing with this substance is also harmful. Used to remove oxide films and degrease surfaces.

Soldering Tools:

Tweezers - an optional thing. It helps to work with small parts, to get something from hard-to-reach places, etc. Tweezers should be taken non-massive with a sharp end, since they can be scraped off and picked.

Side cutters. They are used for stripping wires. Various objects that are softer than iron also bite with side cutters.

File. This item will be needed to file a soldering iron tip. In our case, it’s worth buying a small file.

Set of screwdrivers. I think why they are needed, you do not need to say. It is worth buying a whole set with various nozzles. But you do not need to save on a set of screwdrivers, cheap twists are eaten very quickly and become unsuitable for operation.

To save time, it is advisable to store all this in one place, in any box, suitcase or bedside table.

I do not argue, this is not the whole list of items that used when soldering, but the article describes only those that you must have on the farm. You can buy all this in the store or on the radio market.

A soldering iron is a high-risk tool, so you must handle it very carefully! In addition, when soldering, pairs of tin and lead that are unhealthy are released, therefore, before starting to five, read this article - What is soldering? Soldering Safety. Life is already too short, so we should not consciously shorten it ourselves!