Soldering iron for fine work

Discussion in 'Research and Development' started by GregMcFadden, Aug 22, 2008.

  1. GregMcFadden

    GregMcFadden Facilitator RCWC Staff

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    Can anyone recommend an affordable soldering iron/station for fine work? Finest that I will be trying to do is the uMAX package with ~6-7mil leads. Most of the time it will be thru hole or sot-23 and larger.

    any suggestions folks?

    thanks
    Greg
     
    GregMcFadden, Aug 22, 2008
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  2. Tugboat

    Tugboat Facilitator RCWC Staff Admiral (Supporter)

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    I use a temperature-controlled soldering station ( http://www.web-tronics.com/autsolirstat.html ) that you can get several different tips for. The price is definately right, and I used this to construct my Elecraft K2 radio ( www.elecraft.com , click on products and K2 to see how complex :)

    It's not a SMT soldering station, but I have done surface-mount stuff with it in a pinch. But for $40 it's hard to beat.
     
    Tugboat, Aug 22, 2008
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  3. GregMcFadden

    GregMcFadden Facilitator RCWC Staff

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    Interesting. the SMT stuff is what I am working on (for the torps) and the uMAX package is unpleasantly small... ~7 mil width with ~15 mil spacing... kinda like hearding cats.
     
    GregMcFadden, Aug 22, 2008
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  4. Tugboat

    Tugboat Facilitator RCWC Staff Admiral (Supporter)

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    Yeah, I do SMT only when I have no option. I did try wrapping a thin copper wire around the ceramic tip to use as a superfine SMT tip. Works okay in small doses.
     
    Tugboat, Aug 22, 2008
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