Mancunian airman Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) General chat or in Tools, not sure I would greatly appreciate a recommendation for a low-heat soldering iron for modelling related items, most likely for wiring to frames for batteries and I also have some Brass lengths to create framework for sliding doors (aircraft hangar). Type of flux is also a requirement I think . . . . I believe recommendations rank high amongst those who use and know them well. Thank you in anticipation Ian Edited October 21, 2015 by Mancunian airman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Morpheus Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) I bought a Silverline battery powered soldering iron for about £8 which heats up quickly (30 seconds), and I converted it to USB power and run if off the mains (using a USB to 3 pin plug). Of course I needed a soldering iron to do that in the first place, luckily my late father had a really old grotty one in his shed... It certainly worked fine for the half a dozen IR LEDS and resistors I wired up for a couple of Freetrack IR LED arrays. Also you don't necessarily need separate flux - you can buy solder with flux in it, iirc from when I was looking at this sort of stuff a year or two ago you're looking for something called something like roisin flux core solder.. Have a look on Maplin.co.uk, they're solders all have a flux core. They also do soldering irons including the battery one I modded. Edited October 21, 2015 by Raven Morpheus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Williams Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Rosin flux solder is very handy, but please, please, extract the fumes. Long-term exposure to flux fumes can set off all sorts of respiratory ailments. (Nigh on 30 years in the electronics industry, ask me how I know). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raystorm Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I'd go for an Antex soldering iron. I've had one for years and I wouldn't use anything else. They have a selection of tips to choose from as well. Around £25 from Maplin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I have two Antex irons, a 15W and a 25W. I use both for modelling but probably get more use out of the 25W one. I use rosin cored flux but always supplement this with some plumbers flux paste such as the one made by Frys Metals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Moved that for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Budzik Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) H Edited January 9, 2018 by P_Budzik 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mancunian airman Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 I watched that video with great interest, I have an intention of building a frame work to replicate that seen on an aircraft hangar. I shall of course, practise on 'bits' before the final construction. I have brass angle-iron for that purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hacker Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Having used metal in modeling for a lot of years, I take a different approach ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBji-Oz3J7E Paul watched your entire series and hope more will be coming. A soldering iron is next on my tool list ( want one since l watched that video.....your fault ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 watched your entire series and hope more will be coming. A soldering iron is next on my tool list ( want one since l watched that video.....your fault ) Yup, me too! After watching that video I can not understand how I have managed without one so far.Dare I watch the rest of the videos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasermonkey Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I've been using Weller TCP irons since the early eighties, and there's a reason they they are pretty much industry standard. It's well built and very reliable. I've not found rosin-cored flux to be much of an issue, though I do have a rudimentary fume extractor. However, the "no-clean" or aquacore fluxes are a different mater entirely. I had to leave my first job because I was *that* allergic to them, and I wasn't the only one. The best soldering equipment I have ever used was the stuff made by Metcal. It's not cheap, but it was astonishingly good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watcher Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Which of the Weller irons should I look at? There are some at around £90 and some down around £30. I don't expect to do much welding so what can reasonably get away with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Antex in various flavours every time for me! Nowt you can't solder with them. Flux/solder to suit the material being used. Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watcher Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Rick, I looked at Antex and there are a number of different wattages. Which one would be best for normal modelling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Are you going for a solder station, where you can adjust the temp' of the iron, or just a soldering iron fixed wattage. Asking because it depends on what and size you want to solder. The solder stations allow you to adjust the temp' to suit what your soldering so are more adaptable for your needs. The fixed ones less so, too small and you'll have trouble getting enough heat into what you want to solder, too large and too much heat for the delicate parts, especially if you intend to solder white metal. Also the tips of the irons play a major part in what you are soldering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Rick, I looked at Antex and there are a number of different wattages. Which one would be best for normal modelling? I have 15, 18 and 20watt versions. I find the 18w is a good starting point and you can lower the temperature by winding a length of tinned copper wire round the end and extending out to use as a new tip! Works for me on white metal etc. Antex do a range of tips for different jobs. Through experience I find a higher wattage one works best for me. You then get in and out quickly so as not to let heat build up around the surrounding area. This can cause damage to the object. I suggest you look around the model railway sites as those guys have been working with soldering irons for years. I do have a temperature controlled one for larger projects. HTH, Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viscount806x Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 From my electrical enginering days I remember Weller irons featuring heavily. A look on E Bay shows loads of them. For small jobs, go for something around 100W and I'd stick with mains voltage unless you are travelling around with it. The springy thingy type stands are very useful too if you can run to it financially. Nige B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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