For small circuit boards, the 15 watt grounded iron from Radio Shack is hard to beat (next to a controlled solderign station - see the other thread in this section where we were talking about them - they don;t have to be expensive, but skip the Radio Shack one). Some small diameter solder is what you want, I have some .015. Since there's a small area to work in, the fine tip and small solder will help avoid shorting across multiple traces.
And as has been said in every soldering thread - keep the tip clean! The tip tinner sold at radio shack is good for this, plus get a COPPER scrubber at the grocery store, a wet sponge or wet towel is a poor second choice.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
also make sure to tin your iron before you do any worka clean tinned iron will work far better and will let you get in n out fast
Ok then. Thanks
I have a Radio Shack Cat No 64-2066A 30-35 watt soldering gun, an Oatey No.95 lead free tinning flux, a Radio Shack 64-009 E .032 dai 8oz 60/40 rosin core solder and a Radio Shack No.64-026 .062 dia .5oz lead free solder 96% tin 4% silver. I will be doing allot of soldering on the Digitrax DH165A0 decoders. I will usually find alternate means like connecting the wires to the holes as I fear that I might accidentally fry the board with one wrong move, but I will be soldering into the extra functions on the board itself. Do I need any form of heatsink?I will be replacing the tip of my soldering gun. What replacement size tip from Radio Shack would be recommended for my soldering gun? I will guess something allot smaller that I already have. Will the solders I mentioned above earlier be good for soldering on to the Digitrax DH165A0 decoders or would I need a different set if so which ones should I get? Will I need tinning flux for this project? I will appreciate any help with recommendations for this project.