Model Railway Forum

I have the Maplins digital soldering iron, that I think Brian (FB) recommended on the old forum. I have not reset the temperature since soldering droppers when installing my bus. It was set at 400c - I have now reduced this to 300c. I have found the iron does not work well when just doing a quick touch joint - could this be due to it being to hot? Barry

Hi Barry
Mine is set to 380C and works very well with electrical lead content solder 60/40 or 38/40/2 types.
A higher temperature is needed for Lead free solder and then if I were to use that (I try to avoid it at all costs!) then 400C would probably be right.
Don't forget to keep the tip clean with a damp sponge and wipe it every time you go to solder. One of these is worth having too to give the tip a nice clean.
Typical example... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldering-Clea ... 188&sr=8-5

The other problem is if you have your iron too hot it will boil the flux from the solder, making soldering much more difficult and dry joints more problematic.

It also depends on the melting point of your chosen solder as not all solders are equal, especially the poor quality stuff eBay, Ali Express, Bang Good etc are flooded with as some of their 60/40 & 63/37 types are more like lead free than leaded as they need such a high temp to melt and give results that look more like lead free than leaded.

Paul

Paul-H wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 11:49 am The other problem is if you have your iron too hot it will boil the flux from the solder, making soldering much more difficult and dry joints more problematic.

I agree.

Richard

Yes, if it gets too hot the tinning will burn off, this happens more often on cheap steel tips.
As an apprentice I had to heat 4" square 6" long soldering irons in a gas flame heater 6 at a time, if they were left in too long they got red and all the tinning burn off, which got me a 2ft steel rule across my ass for allowing them to burn. It is hard work cleaning an iron that big and re tinning it while keeping two tradesmen supplied with irons at the right temperature!!!
Look after your iron's tip, keep it clean and well tinned, if you think it's getting too hot turn it off for 30sec your not on piece work!!

Wasn’t the donkeys fault.