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Jerry Grimmonpre'

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 144
Location: Huntley, Illinois 60142

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject: Solder Station

Does anyone on the list know about SOLDER STATIONS?  I only know they exist 

but need to decide what to buy for medium use in a GA repair hangar.  It 

will be used for very light to heavy AWG wire size.  Any name brands, models 

or sizes to choose from out there?

Thanks ...

Jerry Grimmonpre'

Dan.Beadle(at)hq.inclines
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:52 pm Post subject: Solder Station

Most solder stations are designed for small wire - #22 and smaller, but

you can make-do for larger wires.  Weller is the oldest, probably best.

For heavy wire you probably want a higher wattage, with more thermal

mass.  These are usually un-regulated.  These are usually under $50.  



Try www.digikey.com and search for solder.  Good solder station is $250

or so.  



Radio Shack has a pretty good one for $79 - pre-set temps, etc.  But I

have had two of them fail on me.  



Dan

--

aadamson(at)highrf.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject: Solder Station

If ya want the best, and the fastest, use a Metcal... They use RF to heat

the tip, they are instant on, and are my favorite to use.  They are a little

pricy, but watch ebay for deals 



Alan 



--

mprather(at)spro.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject: Solder Station

I like to have access to at least 2 ways to melt solder.  The first is

with a fine, high quality pencil iron which will be used on small wire

being attached to small pins which may reside in close quarters.  Fine

point, adjustable temperature are the key features.   And then a big gun

for use on heavy wire.  It may raise the hackles of the purests, but I'd

consider not having the heavy gun in lew of a butane/propane torch which

would handle the heaviest of wires.



In soldering (at least), sophistication of technique can often make up for

lack of sophistication of equipment.

Matt-

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <jerry(at)mc.net>



 Does anyone on the list know about SOLDER STATIONS?  I only know they

 exist  but need to decide what to buy for medium use in a GA repair

 hangar.  It  will be used for very light to heavy AWG wire size.  Any

 name brands, models  or sizes to choose from out there?

 Thanks ...

 Jerry Grimmonpre'

ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:20 pm Post subject: Solder Station

see below....



Dan Beadle wrote:



[quote]



Most solder stations are designed for small wire - #22 and smaller, but

you can make-do for larger wires.  Weller is the oldest, probably best.

For heavy wire you probably want a higher wattage, with more thermal

mass.  These are usually un-regulated.  These are usually under $50.  



Try www.digikey.com and search for solder.  Good solder station is $250

or so.  



Radio Shack has a pretty good one for $79 - pre-set temps, etc.  But I

have had two of them fail on me.  



Dan

--

bnn(at)nethere.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: Solder Station

At 02:24 PM 1/12/2006, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Does anyone on the list know about SOLDER STATIONS?


	


..



 	  Quote: 	
		  Any name brands, models

or sizes to choose from out there?


	


The Metcal SP200 is a wonderful unit. It has replaceable tips so you can 

solder small and large, though I don't know how large. It heats fast and 

has a steady tip temp. See there web site for specifics. Best of all these 

appear quite regularly on Ebay. Not sure why. Be patient and you can pick 

them up at a serious discount.

Guy Buchanan

K-IV 1200 / 582 / 99.9% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.

Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: Solder Station

Try eBay "solder station". Weller is good but there are other name brands, "American Beauty", and others. When you buy offbrand you run the risk of not being able to get tips and parts easily. I have an ER-brand SD203 which is going to succumb to that fate soon.



For the big wattage requirements, either a gun type available anywhere or for production work, the baton-type "Big-Old-Iron" available at any flea market, or in the bottom of your oldest tool box.



My most valuable suggestion is to AVOID the wet sponge mess and use a stainless steel chore-boy stuffed into a heavy pipe to clean your tip. I wish I'd know about this years earlier.



Eric M. Jones

_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
emjones(at)charter.net

jschroeder(at)perigee.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject: Solder Station

The ones on EBay are most likely from an enterprising set of folks who buy  

them from the big electronics mfg's or repair stations and auction/sell  

them on eBay.



Do not archive.



John

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 16:45:25 -0800, Guy Buchanan <bnn(at)nethere.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Best of all these

 appear quite regularly on Ebay. Not sure why. Be patient and you can pick

 them up at a serious discount.


	


--

Mark Phillips in TN

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 431
Location: Columbia, TN

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject: Solder Station

In a message dated 01/12/2006 7:43:26 PM Central Standard Time, 

emjones(at)charter.net writes:

My most valuable suggestion is to AVOID the wet sponge mess and use a 

stainless steel chore-boy stuffed into a heavy pipe to clean your tip. I wish I'd 

know about this years earlier.

 	  Quote: 	
		  >>>


	


PLEASE elaborate, Eric!  Never heard of a "chore-boy" down here in the 3rd 

wirld...



Mark do not archive

_________________
From The PossumWorks...

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:18 am Post subject: Solder Station

Heck, I live in the US and I've never heard it called that. But I am

guessing he is talking about an abrasive pad made of stainless steel

turnings.



-- Craig 



--

harley(at)AgelessWings.co
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:39 am Post subject: Solder Station

Morning, Guys...



Chore Boy is a brand name.  They make scouring pads of copper or 

stainless steel mesh.  I've heard that it is also used in making crack 

cocaine!



Here's what the box looks like (you can get them at many grocery and 

drug stores.):



www.instawares.com/Chore-Boy-Stainless-Steel-Scouring-Pads.41496RC.0.7.htm



or:



http://tinyurl.com/7or7z



Harley Dixon



Craig Payne wrote:



[quote]



Heck, I live in the US and I've never heard it called that. But I am

guessing he is talking about an abrasive pad made of stainless steel

turnings.



-- Craig 



--

BobsV35B(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:56 am Post subject: Solder Station

In a message dated 1/13/2006 4:20:01 A.M. Central Standard Time,  

craig(at)craigandjean.com writes:



Heck, I  live in the US and I've never heard it called that. But I am

guessing he is  talking about an abrasive pad made of stainless steel

turnings.



--  Craig 



'Chore Boy' is brand name.

 

Do Not Archive

 

Happy  Skies,



Old Bob

AKA

Bob Siegfried

Ancient Aviator

Stearman  N3977A

Brookeridge Air Park LL22

Downers Grove, IL 60516

630  985-8503

jschroeder(at)perigee.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:29 am Post subject: Solder Station

Mark -



It is an old time pot scrubber made from curls of metal - (kinda like  

shavings from drill or milling machines). Problem now is where to get  

them. Eric?? Know any sources?



Do not archive



John Schroeder

Lancair ES - Painting

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 23:18:06 EST, <Fiveonepw(at)aol.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   PLEASE elaborate, Eric!  Never heard of a "chore-boy" down here in the  

 3rd

 wirld...


	


--

Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Solder Station

Guys,



Anyone who has ever scrubbed a pot in the kitchen or made a crack pipe out of a glass tube knows what a Chore Boy is. Grocery stores now have to keep them under the counter because of use #2....



These are a universally-popular brand of knitted stainless or brass metal pot scrubbers. Google "Chore Boy" = 800,000 pages. Cheeeeze...



In technical circles thay are useful in the lab as prefilters and mufflers and a zillion other uses. Oh yes...and they make great soldering-tip cleaners, too.



Eric M. Jones

_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
emjones(at)charter.net

bakerocb(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:36 am Post subject: Solder Station

Responding to an AeroElectric-List message previously posted by: "Eric M. 

Jones" <emjones(at)charter.net>



<<......skip......My most valuable suggestion is to AVOID the wet sponge 

mess and use a stainless

steel chore-boy stuffed into a heavy pipe to clean your tip. I wish I'd know

about this years earlier. Eric M. Jones>>



1/13/2006



Hello Eric, A couple of centuries ago as a young lad on the farm I had to 

solder leaks in the milk pails. The preferred method of cleaning the 

soldering iron tip back then was to rub the heated tip on a small block of 

sal ammoniac.



Has that method fallen by the wayside? Thanks.



OC

N1deltawhiskey(at)comcast
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:06 am Post subject: Solder Station

OC,



Never heard of sal ammoniac! Googled it and came up with some interesting 

information, including a site that recommends it for cleanding soldering 

tips: www.glassmart.com.  Click on soldering Irons, block is at the bottom.



Doug Windhorn

---

Mark Phillips in TN

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 431
Location: Columbia, TN

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:50 am Post subject: Solder Station

In a message dated 1/13/06 8:35:32 AM Central Standard Time, 

emjones(at)charter.net writes:



 	  Quote: 	
		   These are a universally-popular brand of knitted stainless or brass metal 

 pot scrubbers. 


	


 	  Quote: 	
		  >>


	


OH-  You mean filler for air/oil separators- gotcha!  Waaaay down here in the 

south we just useta grab some sand offa da kitchen floor and hit the elbow 

grease when the bad pots come along...





Mark do not archive

_________________
From The PossumWorks...

Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: Solder Station

Re: Sal Ammoniac--



Yes it's around. I keep a roll of yellow "Caution: Hazardous Chemical Spill"  warning tape around for when we need to use it. When a hot iron hits Sal Ammoniac, it turns in to ammonia gas and hydrochloric acid vapor. Does a great job of cleaning. And when the workers get sick, we just call INS and have them set back across the border.



Re: Chore Boys. These are available everywhere from your local grocer to the hardware store. Yes "Chore Boy" is a trade name for....ah.....whatever they're called.



Eric M. Jones

_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
emjones(at)charter.net

Jerry Grimmonpre'

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 144
Location: Huntley, Illinois 60142

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: Solder Station

Many thanks to the aeroelectric-list ... and appreciation for the 

contributors to the "Solder Station" thread.

To sum up ... it went like this: "all we want to do is melt solder neatly, 

cost effectively and efficiently".  With this in mind the KISS method 

pointed to ... "get the soldering skills up high and the cost low".  That 

led to Radio Shack because they have low cost supplies.  Their Mini Butane 

Gas Powered Iron is my choice for the heavy stuff. It's Model: 64-2188  .... 

20 bucks.  For the small to medium size wires there are several watt sizes. 

Those from 40w down to 15w ... under 10 bucks.



For 30 bucks you're in the soldering business, now just practice ... oh! and 

don't forget the stainless steel scrubbers

This list is the greatest thing since sliced bread, thanks.

Regards ...

Jerry Grimmonpre'

nuckollsr(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject: Solder Station

 	  Quote: 	
		  

  My most valuable suggestion is to AVOID the wet sponge

  mess and use a stainless steel chore-boy stuffed into a

  heavy pipe to clean your tip. I wish I'd know about this

  years earlier.


	




    We use the sponges here but they MUST be cellulose.

    Real sponge and plastics are not suited to the task.

    Cleaning section of any grocery store has a 3-pak

    of cellulose sponges for $1 or so.



    Bob . . .

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