There is no particular need to have this device available as a tool at home today. If there is a breakdown of household appliances, cell phones, radio equipment, you can always contact specialists, take the broken thing to the service, and even complex electronics is far from being versed each. The work requires skills, painstaking work when soldering small parts.
Soldering, of course, is a necessary and interesting activity, if you want to learn how to use the device correctly, you should get acquainted with the soldering iron closer by reading detailed instructions on the types, the principle of operation of the device, its purpose in everyday life and use in different spheres of life person.
Content:
- Soldering iron - what is ↓
- Description of the device ↓
- Principle of operation ↓
- Areas of use ↓
- Views ↓
- Purpose ↓
- Criterias of choice ↓
- Tips and tricks for choosing a soldering iron ↓
Soldering iron - what is
An electric soldering iron is a hand-held device designed for fastening metal components together by soldering. Solder for joining metals is tin, copper, lead, nickel. When heated, alloys turn into a liquid state and fill small voids, gaps, firmly soldering the parts together.
Description of the device
The electrical appliance consists of:
- rod;
- heater;
- stings;
- holder;
- an electric cord with a plug for connection to the network.
The soldering iron operates on a 220 W. for domestic or industrial purposes and is designed to connect various metal elements to each other, is widely used in electronics, radio engineering.
An electric heating element in the form of a nichrome spiral in a mica and ceramic sheath is built into the device. From above, the element is protected from a metal casing so that the worker does not accidentally get an electric shock.
Principle of operation
The principle of operation is simple:
- The soldering iron is connected to the network.
- When the device is turned on, the red copper rod heats up to the temperature at which the solder begins to melt.
- Then the heat is transferred to the tip of the device. Copper sting, in contact with the solder, melts it, the parts are heated and soldered together.
Areas of use
The soldering iron is widely used in industry, for soldering microcircuits in telephones, radios, televisions, copper pipes, wire. Homes for fixing copper utensils, small parts.
Views
Soldering irons are:
- Electric, with a durable and practical coil-shaped heater. With the help of an electric station, soldering can be done quickly and efficiently, but a beginner cannot manage it, experience in work, a number of practical skills is required.
- Ceramic, with a more powerful heater in the device.
- Induction, which is heated by the inductor coil. The coil creates a magnetic field for the tip, as a result of which the cores heats up and you can start soldering. Loss of magnetic properties will lead to the cessation of heating. These soldering irons are much expensive, unreliable and far from practical.
- Autonomous, gas serves as a solder for the device.
- Rechargeableoperating at low power up to only 15 watts.
- Impulse, in the form of a pistol. Pull the trigger, hold it to a certain temperature of heating the tip. When the trigger is pulled, the device stops heating and begins to cool slowly.
Purpose
- for pipes of sewage systems, water supply systems in the event of cracks, cracks, contributing to the leakage of water;
- for home, you can solder leaky dishes, small metal utensils, welding cables;
- for microcircuits, small chips in electronics, television and radio devices, car wires, connectors.
Criterias of choice
When choosing a device, consider the following characteristics:
- Heater type.
- Power. The traditional power of the device for soldering, desoldering microcircuits is from 3 to 12 W, for soldering household appliances - from 20 to 40 W, for soldering with wire in a large section - from 60 to 100 W, for soldering dishes, a radiator in the car, large metal products - from 100 to 150 Tue If the device is needed for use at home, in everyday life, then it is better to purchase two at once, with different power. Depending on the breakdown, for a successful and strong soldering, a device with a low power up to 40 W may be required, for large works the device will need more power - up to 100 W.
- The supply voltage is usually standard - 220 W. Many models are designed for this voltage. For uninformed users, all this and this is a lot, it is safer to small appliances for household needs with a voltage not higher than 36 - 40 W. If there is no outlet, or you need to solder in a hard-to-reach place, it is better to choose a device with 12.18.24 power supply, or purchase a gas model.
- The shape and heat resistance of the tip are very important when choosing this device. On sale, a sting can be found in any shape in the form of a spatula, a cone, a needle. The spatula is much easier and more convenient to use. Purchase a set of tips, it is better to solder chips with a flat wide tip, flat thin conical tips will also find their use over time.
When choosing a soldering iron, it is important to take into account the heat resistance of the tip, which is resistant to sudden heating, to sudden temperature changes. Choose heat-resistant tips, the soldering iron will last longer.
When choosing, pay attention to the handle, it must be thermally insulated from the main heating part, and the handle must also adjust the length of the tip itself.
The electric soldering iron is capable of heating up to 300 degrees, do not put it hot on the table surface. It is good if, in addition to the device when purchasing, you purchase a special stand, there will be no damage to property, possible ignition of the structure.
Tips and tricks for choosing a soldering iron
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You are familiar with the device and have certain skills, then immediately purchase a soldering station. Unlike a simple electric model, the station can:
- control the heating range, you will not be able to burn the elements when soldering;
- keep the temperature of the tip normal to avoid overheating;
- do not purchase the necessary small items separately, the station is equipped with everything you need: a stand for a soldering iron, a bath for cleaning a sponge.
- If you are a beginner and need a soldering iron for home use, choose a model with a power not exceeding 40 W, as well as a temperature control function.
- Do not buy the first device with many different functions, first learn the basics when working with the device. For home use, a simple and inexpensive device is quite suitable.
- When buying, pay attention to the voltage of the soldering iron, models from 12 to 24 W. are safer.
- A good choice in the absence of certain skills is gas models. After reading the attached instructions, you will quickly learn how to use it.
- Purchase the stingers in the set. It is always convenient to have stings of different shapes at hand, they will come in handy on the farm, you never know what will have to be soldered in the future.
- When heating the appliance, hold only the insulated handle, otherwise you may burn your hands.
- Store the tool on a shelf, in the closet, or in a square ceramic pot, small parts will not get confused, they will always be assembled.
- It is better to throw out the resulting waste during the soldering immediately, do not scatter it on the floor, you can slip.
-
In addition to the soldering iron, it is better to immediately purchase an additional auxiliary tool in the form of:
- wire cutter for removing insulation, cutting wire, parts at the output;
- tweezers for moving small parts to the place of soldering, especially when working with a microcircuit;
- medical scalpel;
- office knife;
- thin awl;
- needles from a syringe.
- Only by choosing the right tool, you can perform work efficiently, solder parts reliably and durably. The design and power of the device are different. Consider the basic criteria when choosing, read the instructions when buying, with accessories for the device.
- Powerful soldering irons are mainly designed for industrial purposes. At home, it will be enough for you to have a device with a power of no more than 100 watts.
- Store the tool out of the reach of children. Avoid getting wet, as well as leaving the device unnecessarily when turned on.
- Modern models today are equipped with a whole list of additional attachments, bells and whistles, sometimes completely unnecessary in everyday life. When choosing, indicate the purpose of this acquisition. It is absolutely useless to store bulky soldering stations in the apartment, although in the country, in the garage, this unit may become a constant assistant for you. The arsenal for the soldering iron on the market is constantly being modified and replenished, so in some cases it will be easier to buy the necessary parts later, as needed.
