100 watt soldering iron

[Ashley Burton]

I have a Nimrod (Iroda) SolderPro 120k - paid £75 for it and I hate it...

What issues are you having with it?

My Portasol was £37, Apparently they're the same as the Snap On rebranded one!

 

[Mart63]

I have just ordered some solder sleeves https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterpro...hash=item444f793fd3:m:m_bDYc5ozUEYtpkREtkDgaQ to use with my rework station https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/858D-220...224394?hash=item3d9402eb8a:g:V-kAAOSwoLRdifRz . Will post a review if they are any good. Also I bought leaded solder from ebay recently which is very good https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-E...187221&hash=item3f7b77b9c0:g:CHEAAOSwcgNZCGdx

 

[Morrisman]

I have just ordered some solder sleeves https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterpro...hash=item444f793fd3:m:m_bDYc5ozUEYtpkREtkDgaQ to use with my rework station https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/858D-220...224394?hash=item3d9402eb8a:g:V-kAAOSwoLRdifRz . Will post a review if they are any good. Also I bought leaded solder from ebay recently which is very good https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-E...187221&hash=item3f7b77b9c0:g:CHEAAOSwcgNZCGdx

I looked at those on a car web site last night, they seem to do the job well, but they were a fiver for five pieces.

I have about about two dozen butt splices or more to do.

 

[Mart63]

I looked at those on a car web site last night, they seem to do the job well, but they were a fiver for five pieces.

I have about about two dozen butt splices or more to do.

I ordered these as you got loads for not a lot of money https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100Pc-So...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've got a massive chisel tip. Ex electricity board. Solders battery sized cable with ease.
What about the old fashioned copper type you heated with blowlamp ?
https://anvils.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/s202.jpg

 

[jordan1]

I've had three Wellers for years small/med/lge, have never let me down yet.

 

[premmington]

What issues are you having with it?

My Portasol was £37, Apparently they're the same as the Snap On rebranded one!

Takes ages to heat up - leaks gas - spits when ignited.

Only real use is for heatshrink - I did order the extra "hot knife" for it - it is OK for cutting into plastic enclosures.

It is not very controlable - temp wise.

Think maybe I am used adjustable temp solder station - or a life times collection of soldering irons from 8watt to 150watt - in ten watt increments - I have hundreds of electic soldering irons - bent tips - chisel tips - needle tips - pencil tips - I have them all - as I use them...

 

[Mart63]

Bought one of these a while back for the workshop and I love it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YiHua-93...692057&hash=item1a3aaf7966:g:ZLQAAOSwqT9crGXI

 

[Morrisman]

I ordered these as you got loads for not a lot of money https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100Pc-Solder-Sleeve-Seal-Heat-Shrink-Electrical-Butt-Wire-Terminal-Connector-Kit/401971600698?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

They look like a good deal. I wonder how they differ to the millionaires version I saw?

 

[fizzy]

I have a large collection of soldering irons. None of them worked properly. The gas ones would only work when held vertical. Tip them down to solder and the liquid butane cools the tip too much.
I also have some mains soldering irons rated up to 100W - again no good.
Then I remembered Antex. The tips fit so much better that a 25W iron will out perform many 100W ones.
Get an Antex - cheaper in the long run!

 

[Mart63]

They look like a good deal. I wonder how they differ to the millionaires version I saw?

I bet they are all made in the same factory. Ordered them a couple of weeks ago so I'm hoping the slow boat from China will be arriving soon.

 

[Morrisman]

I bet they are all made in the same factory. Ordered them a couple of weeks ago so I'm hoping the slow boat from China will be arriving soon.

I’ve just ordered a box, well worth a try at that price.

 

[Parm]

The above made an old man laugh - LOL



Back to the subject:

I am a Auto Electrician - I do allot of soldering in awkward positions. Its OK with copper wires and older type solder - but new ALU strand wire and solder - you need plenty of heat/flux. You also need to get the connections you are soldering in the right "plane" - as ALU drips/runs.

Someone metioned above ALU does not have a "tinning effect" - it does - but it is harder to achieve (or impossible sometimes). Mild acid cleaning helps - (the mild acid in question is strong wheel cleaning acid to me and you). I have this acid in a small tub and apply in with a artists paintbrush - dry off with an airline - five litre can of wheel cleaning acid will last me ten+ lifetimes - one drip at a time.

ALU wires and components oxidise over time - it is this oxide that is the problem.

There is a lot on the internet - mostly from the USA - about ALU metal content repair soldering.

Didn't even know they had ALU wires in cars. Whats the reason ?

 

[Parm]

A few months I bought a little gadget with arms like a robot, that hold the two wires where you want them. It was for soldering some wires on my bike, where I needed at least three hands to hold the wires and gun. Works quite well. Those wires were smaller than the ones I’m playing with now though.

View attachment 208901

Absolute life saver one of them !!

 

[MoreWellie]

so rather than buy a dozen extra rolls I shall splice/solder/heat shrink some black in underneath the floor, where they will never be seen again

Right up to the point where you get some random problem that you spend ages tracking down

given all the money you have probably spent on the rod I would get more cable and avoid unnecessary joints

 

[MoreWellie]

And you hold the iron and solder with you other two hands I guess

serious answer: your roll of solder sits on the bench with one end in mid air, you move the joint (in one hand) and the soldering iron (in your other hand) to the end of the solder

 

[Morrisman]

Right up to the point where you get some random problem that you spend ages tracking down

given all the money you have probably spent on the rod I would get more cable and avoid unnecessary joints

I may well go that route, depending on how many need extending. And if I can find the actual colour. Halfords don’t stock pink or grey, found that out yesterday.

I’ve done cars in all black wiring before now.....

 

[premmington]

Didn't even know they had ALU wires in cars. Whats the reason ?

Quote ex Google: "Thus, the most used conductors are aluminium cables and copper cables. Copper has a higher conductivity than aluminium. It is more flexible, has a higher tensile strength and can be easily soldered. However, copper is more expensive and heavier than aluminium."


Cost... Your latest £40k+ German car is built on a budget - from the cabling onwards. The manufacturers state it is for wieght saving.

ALU cables do have place in real thick high voltage applications - but not in cars!

ALU automotive broken and fractured cables are gonna keep me in work up to my retirement - we are seeing them fracture and fail on three to four year old cars. Ker-ching (cash register sound affect).

Most not all car manufacturers have aborted the use of Fibre or "dark Fibre" cables due to premature failure.

 

[MoreWellie]

And if I can find the actual colour

I buy from https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk/

Edit: Grey is "Slate"

 

[premmington]

I buy from https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk/

Edit: Grey is "Slate"

I have dealt with the above company for years - they sell lots of things we use daily.

Cannot recomend these people enuf - A1 100% OK feedback from me.