Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

[Charlie-III]

OK,

For those of us that use a soldering station (versus a soldering gun or pencil/iron), what temps to use?

For my typical 1/16" (~1.5mm) 60/40 (tin/lead) rosin core solder, ~360*F (~177*C) seems to work well (Wiki link shows 370*F or ~188*C for 60/40 solder).

I also have Castle Creations boards (ESC's & 10A BEC's) that are using lead free solder (from what I can tell) and my normal temps don't work worth a poop:roll:.

Based on this.... Solder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , it looks like I need something more like 412-428*F (~211-220*C). Sorta depends on what the actual alloy content is.

What temps have you guys used that seem good?
A "good temp" is one that dosen't cook parts/melt wire insulation but gets the joint done in a reasonable time.

PS, one online source for US/Metric conversions for any type of measurement... Metric Conversion charts and calculators 8)

Old thread I started... http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/electronics/399654-soldering-info-temps-tips.html
I had searched but did't find it before starting this one.... sigh...

 

[Charlie-III]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Reserved..... just in case.8)

 

[stankulas]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Good question I,m wondering myself now?

 

[OTHGbronco82]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

I just turn my station all the way up which is like 800* or something like that.

 

[SINister]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

I just turn my station all the way up which is like 800* or something like that.

Same. High heat and fast hands works best imo.

 

[Johnnysplits]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

My solder station I have set to 380*C

 

[Charlie-III]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Dang, some of you guys have some really high heat!:shock:

If it works for you, fine.

I'm looking for something a little lower though. Sorta helps keep tips alive over a longer time.;-)

 

[hpiguy]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

I too am a high heat guy (750-850F), been on the same tip for like three years now. I just tin it real good when I'm done working with it, and never had an issue. Or, maybe I'm just lucky, but previous experience says that's not the case. :mrgreen:

 

[Johnnysplits]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Dang, some of you guys have some really high heat!:shock:

Yeah so the parts you're soldering don't get too hot. Low temp soldering will allow more heat to start flowing where you don't want it to.

 

[Johnnysplits]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

I too am a high heat guy (750-850F), been on the same tip for like three years now. I just tin it real good when I'm done working with it, and never had an issue

Take care of the tip, and the tip will take care of you. Besides tinning when done, I also don't clean it during soldering jobs with sponges. I use this wire mesh thing from Hakko. Wet sponges do more harm than good.

 

[SINister]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Yeah so the parts you're soldering don't get too hot. Low temp soldering will allow more heat to start flowing where you don't want it to.

+1 Tips are a lot cheaper then electronics.

 

[shakemandril]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

If it's soldering on a board, I use 650-700. If wire is involved I usually go for 800.

 

[hpiguy]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Take care of the tip, and the tip will take care of you. Besides tinning when done, I also don't clean it during soldering jobs with sponges. I use this wire mesh thing from Hakko. Wet sponges do more harm than good.

Same here, ordered it on Amazon I think. "thumbsup"

 

[weck]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Take care of the tip, and the tip will take care of you. Besides tinning when done, I also don't clean it during soldering jobs with sponges. I use this wire mesh thing from Hakko. Wet sponges do more harm than good.

It only let me like this once...I also go for high heat..have had the same tip for a few years....."thumbsup"

 

[OTHGbronco82]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

Same. High heat and fast hands works best imo.

Well, I have high heat so I'm half way there. I've learned though, a third hand thingy and some metal pliers work pretty good.

 

[Manning]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

If you can find it, get 63/37 solder. It has the lowest possible melting point. It may also be labeled as "eutectic". Radio Shack sells it as "high performance" last time I bought some there.

Any lead free solder has a much higher melt point. Avoid it if you can.

**Tip size or mass has a much larger effect on soldering performance than the temperature. Trying to use a pencil tip on 12 gauge wire is futile, even if the controller claims it will do a gajillion degrees. Get a bigger tip that has more thermal mass. a 1/8" or wider chisel tip will transfer much more heat to the joint more quickly than a pencil tip, even when the controller is set to a lower temp. Pencil tips are for circuit boards. Use the right tip for the job.

 

[Johnnysplits]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

a 1/8" or wider chisel tip will transfer much more heat to the joint more quickly than a pencil tip

I totally agree...but not a fan of 63/37 solder. I've used that and silver solder, but I feel that radio shack 60/40 in .062 diameter is the shizz for r/c use.

 

[Awesome-Sauce RC]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

i use 63/37 solder wire for normal parts soldering or 60/40 solder paste if im doing surface mount with a fine tip but have to crank the temperature up to about 400 to get it to melt and fix the component to the pcb quick enough so as not to damage the smd parts, for non smd i normally have it set to about 320-350 with a bigger tip.

i tend to not use lead free as it would require too much heat for the smd parts wether im hand soldering or reflowing in the good ol' toaster oven or even if im soldering wires together and dont want to get it too hot and have the insulation start to melt/shrink back from the heat

 

[OTHGbronco82]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

I just use the Novak Silver solder stuff. Works pretty good. Plus, I don't do a lot of soldering so...

 

[ik632]

Re: Electronics Soldering temperatures... 60/40 vs. "lead free"... what to use?

I solder at 600F for most stuff with 60/40 RadioShack 0.060"