Soldering Tips

10 Soldering Accessories for your Workstation

by Andy on July 13, 2012

It is quite obvious that every soldering station needs a soldering iron, but what other items should you be using on your workbench? While worktop real estate can be hard to come by, here are 10 items that you should consider for your work area to make your projects easier and safer.

Soldering Workstation

1. Fume Extractor: The flux used in both lead-free and leaded solder will release harmful fumes when melted, so it is important to have proper protection. A bench top fume extractor/absorber can help keep your air clean and breathable.

2. ESD-Safe Mat: Proper grounding is essential in any ESD sensitive project. If your product can be damaged by static discharge then a properly grounded ESD-safe mat is the protection you need.

3. Magnifier: In order to solder anything you need to be able to see what you are doing. If you are doing any precision work then magnification is essential, options include magnifiers, microscopes, and video inspection systems.

4. Circuit Board Holder: You want your hands to be free to work with the soldering iron and solder, so having a vise or work holder is essential for those of us with only two hands.

5. Solder Wire Holder: Having a proper solder dispenser can help keep your work flowing smoothly. A stationary holder can keep your solder wire from rolling away, and make one handed solder feeding much easier.

6. Solder Tip Cleaning Sponge: While you are working you need to keep your solder tips clean to ensure a long lifespan. Many soldering irons and stations come with sponges, but having a clean sponge or wire pad can be a solder tip saver.

7. ESD-Safe Pliers: Sometimes you need precision or a little extra leverage when working with your components. From bending to twisting, ESD-safe pliers can give you a better grasp on your project.

8. Vacuum Pick-Up Pen: If you need to move small, delicate pieces around your project, vacuum pick-up pens may be your best bet. They have the added benefit of being gentler than pliers, allowing you to place sensitive parts where you need them.

9. Flush Cutters: When you have a small piece of a component sticking out that you need to clip off, flush cutters are extremely helpful.

10. Inspection Arrows: If you are working with a team on a project, then paper/vinyl inspection arrows can allow you to easily point out areas of interest for your coworkers. This is especially helpful if you have to leave notes for the next shift, or point out components for other departments.

Do you have a soldering accessory that you can’t work without? Leave a comment below and tell us what you use at your workstation!

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Selecting the Right Solder Tip: Selecting the Right Shape

by Andy on May 29, 2012

While you need to choose the correct size tip for your project, it is also important to look at the shape of the tip. There are plenty of types of tips to look for, and it can be daunting to try to choose. Just like with tip size, the most important factor is making sure your tip will fit between the components on your board. After you ensure your tip will fit then you can look for the most efficient tip for your job.

Chisel Tips

Chisel tips are one of the most common types available. For most soldering jobs a chisel tip will work the best, giving you a tapered edge that can fit between most components with a flat tip that facilitates heat transfer.

Conical Tips

Shaped in a cone, these tips are perfect if your project has hard to reach places that need soldering. These tips should be used only when needed to get into small areas, as they do not have as much contact area with the component as tips with wider heads. This can lead to difficulty getting the component to heat up, making your project take longer.

Pyramid Tips

Pyramid tips are also great for small components in enclosed spaces. They also have the benefit of a flat side, making heat transfer happen faster and easier. If you are restricted in space but have enough room for a pyramid tip it can be a good alternative to a conical tip to make your project a bit easier.

Bevel/Single Flat Tips

Bevel tips are great if you want the best of both worlds from chisel and conical tips. A bevel tip is made with one flat edge and one round edge on the tip, so you can use whichever your project needs. One thing to keep in mind when getting a bevel tip, make sure both sides are the correct size for your project. Having the round and flat parts together can save money through buying less tips, but that does not work if you need two different sizes.

Blade Tips

Larger and wider than most, blade tips are great for rework applications. With soldering braid and a blade tip you can easily remove solder from multiple components at once. Blade tips can also be used for pad leveling applications.

Specialty Tips

There is a wide range of specialty tips that can be used for specific situations. Whether you need a bent tip to get around other parts, or a slotted tip to sit on your board perfectly, you can find the exact tip for your needs, even if the standard tips do not fit your project.

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Selecting the Right Solder Tip: Selecting the Right Size

by Andy on May 21, 2012

When looking for a soldering iron tip it is important to know your project. Measure and check the components that you are soldering and choose a solder tip that will be the correct size. Typically you want the face of the tip to be as wide as the soldering site for the best thermal transfer.

If your tip is too narrow then it will take much longer for the component to heat up, causing longer dwell times which waste your time and potentially damage components.

If your tip is too wide then it may be less efficient in its heat transfer. When the tip is wider than the application it can resist heat transfer, leading to longer dwell times. Also if your tip is larger than the joint you are soldering then you may inadvertently heat the board as well. This can cause the board to deform or bubble, possibly leading to component failure.

The most important consideration for the size of your tip is the space you have to work. While it is best to get a tip that is the same size as your component, it does not help if your tip cannot fit. If you have space restrictions be sure to get a tip that can fit where you need to solder.

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Maintaining your Soldering Iron: Tip Tinning

by Andy on February 27, 2012

While proper soldering techniques are important to form working joints, it is also necessary to maintain your iron to keep it at its peak performance. By regularly cleaning and inspecting your soldering iron, you can lengthen its lifespan as well as ensure your solder joints are free of contaminants. Today, in the first part of our solder iron maintenance series, I’ll be going over how to keep your solder tips tinned to extend their life.

Tinning your soldering tips involves coating them with a thin layer of solder. When you get a new solder tip, it is very important to tin it the first time you heat it up and always maintain that layer of solder across the tip. By tinning the tip, you prevent the iron coating from oxidizing, which is a real problem when you have hot iron tips. Oxidation can corrode your tips forcing you to replace them more often, and the hotter your iron the faster they will oxidize. Tip tinning creates a layer of solder between the air and the iron, keeping oxygen at bay.

Tip tinning also makes soldering easier. By having a tinned tip, solder wire will melt and flow better over the components that you are joining.

Even when you are not using your soldering iron, you should keep a layer of solder on the tip. Before putting your iron in storage, apply a fresh layer of solder to the tip to prevent it from corroding.

When you tin your soldering iron tips, you should first heat your iron. Once it gets to the proper temperature for your particular job, wipe off old solder using either a sponge or a brass wire cleaning pad. Finally, apply solder to all sides of the tip. The tip should look smooth and shiny when you are finished.

Have any questions about tip tinning? Leave a comment below and we will answer any questions you have. Also, come back next week for more soldering iron maintenance tips!

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Lead-Free Soldering Tips and Tricks

by Andy on February 10, 2012

As the soldering industry grows and matures, more emphasis is being placed on green processes and technology. This emphasis is coming both from governmental regulations like RoHS and personal convictions to save the planet. However, it can be a struggle to find environmentally friendly alternatives to industry standards, such as leaded solder. Even when we do find a suitable replacement, the difference between the new and the old can’t be overlooked. Proper knowledge and training is needed to get past the challenges that new environmentally friendly technologies pose, and to ensure the new methods meet the standards of the old.

In the electronics industry many are finding problems with lead-free soldering. Many see lead-free solder as hard to use and think the quality is subpar when compared to leaded solder. There are many issues that may not be taken into account, and there are things you can do to increase the effectiveness of lead-free soldering. By following these tips, you can increase the quality of your soldering joints as well as the life of your soldering tips.

Make sure your soldering iron can handle the requirements of the lead-free solder

The melting point of lead-free solder is typically 70-110°F higher than leaded solder. The typical response is to increase your soldering iron temperature. However, a good soldering iron with accurate temperature control and good thermal recovery can solder lead-free solder and leaded solder without the need to increase the temperature. Using a higher temperature will burn through soldering tips faster and potentially damage your PCB’s. Using the same temperature demands a longer dwell time to heat the solder to its melting point which can also potentially damage your PCB’s.

Take your time and do not increase pressure to force solder to melt and flow

Lead-free soldering can take longer to flow due to its higher melting point, so it is important to be patient. If you try to move too fast can lead to a weak or insufficient solder joint that requires reworking. If you press your tip against a joint too hard then it can damage your soldering tip/iron and the PCB or the component/wires you are soldering. Also, increased pressure doesn’t decrease the dwell time.

Be prepared for lead-free solder joints to look different than leaded joints

When soldering with lead, the joints are typically shiny and smooth. However, lead-free solder joints can look dull in comparison. This is normal, so you do not necessarily need to rework your lead-free joints if they are dull.

Keep your solder tip clean and coated with solder

Due to the high temperature of lead-free soldering, tips will tend to wear out faster. Higher temperatures lead to faster rates of oxidation, which can eat through the iron coating of solder tips. By properly cleaning and preparing your soldering tips, you can ensure the longest tip life possible.

For more information you can check out the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Life-Cycle Assessment on lead-free soldering. There is also an interesting article about some of the challenges of lead-free solder on Hakko’s site.

Have you tried lead-free soldering? Tell us in the comments below why you like or dislike lead-free soldering and if you have any tips of your own to share with us!

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