[Heath] soldering stations & Alps switches

[Robert Groh]

IMHO a soldering station is nice but not necessary. A thermostatically 
controlled soldering iron is a very nice thing to have when working on modern PC 
boards where you need to be able to get in close and solder/unsolder delicate 
connections. 


For discrete wiring and the older pc boards with through hole components, any 
decent soldering iron will do the job.

In any case, keeping the iron tip in good shape is essential.

I have both an old Weller soldering station (actually bought at Heathkit back in 
the late 1970's) and a Weller soldering gun (which I've owned from the 1950s) 
and use both as is appropriate. You should have a sponge (with water) readily 
available to wipe the tip on, keep the tip well bathed in solder and use a good 
solder sucker when removing parts (I like the kind of solder solder that has a 
pressdown and latch type plunger).

If I was buying a 'solder system' to use, I would get:
*  a thermostatically controlled soldering iron or solder station with several 
tips of different sizes
*  a good old 100W soldering gun for those times you just need a lot of heat
*  a tip cleaner
*  a good solder sucker (plunger type with lock and trigger)

73
Bob Groh. WA2CKY







________________________________
From: BRIAN CONRAD <beij1 at msn.com>
To: heath at puck.nether.net
Sent: Sun, June 12, 2011 5:11:35 PM
Subject: [Heath] soldering stations & Alps switches

  I still need help, everyone.
Please let me know how You feel about full soldering stations  -  and which ones
You recommend.
Also, does anyone have a source for those long, slim circuit board design ALPS 
switches
heath used in it's Pro-Audio series equipment?
Please  
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