Solder Kit

[Miknow]

I need advice on which one to get I have a dead video card, gonna start practicing on it. I went to Home Depot but it looked like they only had like 2 but I didnt know whether if they are good on not. I plan on spending 50-75 and using this just for electronics such as video cards mods, motherboards.

[wannaoc]

I picked mine up at Radio Shack for $20.00. Its a switching 15W - 30W iron with a nice small tip which is crucial imo. I only use the 30W to warm it up faster then switch to 15W for the work, its done many a voltmods perfect.

[fletch]

I have the same one ^ he does. It's worked great for me so far.

[Malpine Walis]

Well $75 is quite a bit for soldering gear. You could set up quite a decent station for that much bling. I would recommend that you keep the soldering station under $20 and spend the rest on a good multimeter or two. If you can swing it get both analog and digital meters as they have different uses.

[eab]

If I was you I would most likly get one of the small tip ones from radio shack. The ones from home deopt probaly have to big of a tip. No need to spend $75 on a solder iron. I got one like they have at home depot for like $12 and it does all I need though the tip is a little big at times. If you got the money to spend I would also pick up a mulitmeter VERY usefull.

[CPFitz14]

What would you recommend for something that could handle car audio applications in addition?

-CPFitz-

[AMD Phreak]

http://www.masterappliance.com/selfign.html

I use one everyday at work. Might be a bit spendy, costing around 100$ or so, you can change tips out, and adjust the temperature down and it is useable for small work. A different option would be a soldering gun, since they typically have higher heat output (read: wattage) and therefore can solder larger wires. If you are just soldering 14-18 AWG, in such applications like deck install, or patching wires, then your iron that you are looking for should do the trick.

[eab]

Like speaker wire? The one from radio shack or home depot will handle those fine.

[FireMogle]

My old one just died and I picked up a 30w from the student book store for ~6 dollars. I would say it would work fine for car aplications.

[Breadfan]

I have a few that I've collected over time, I think maybe one is a 15w, one a 25w, and one a 30w. I tend to use the 25w one, becuase it has a good tip, and gets hotter faster.

Just be carefuly with hot irons, you can damage parts if you heat them too much. Take LED's for instance, most LED datasheets will have the maxium temperature they can withstand for a given time. That's basically your window to solder. :)

For wiring and car stuff I swear by my Weller solder gun. It's the bigger one they sell at home depot, and goes from cold to melting solder in about 5 seconds. I LOVE it, and it makes wiring so much easier, but I wouldn't dare voltmod with it.

So, I'd say if you can afford it, get a basic iron with a good tip for smaller stuff. Get a switching one if you can, but it's not really necessary. (You know, a switch for 15w or 30w.) Then get a solder gun for wires, LEDs, and the such. Solder guns rock! And if you are careful with them and get used to them, you'll find you can safely use it places you'd previously only use an iron.

[zip22]

so for computer related soldering (ie wiring up switches and leds) what wattage would be best? on radioshack.com, there are a dual 15/30W, a 40W, a 15W, a 30W, a 25W all for pretty much the same price. would you reccomend the "station" with the 20/40W?

[Breadfan]

Yeah the 20/40 would offer a good bit of lower power for volt mods and higher power for soldering less heat sensitive stuff.

You'll still need to be careful with the 20w on delicate stuff, a bit more so than 15w, but you should be ok.

[craig588]

My soldering station: http://www.afrotechmods.com/cheap/iron/iron.htm

I used that guide and it works fine for my 45 watt iron. Though, to be honest, I am always using it at 45 watts and I havn't killed a board or card yet.

[zip22]

alright, i think for now i'll get the 40W, since ill only be using it for wiring. if i need it, i can pick up the 15w one. they are both like $8