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--- equipment:electronics:soldering-irons [2023/01/22 14:50] – created fraserh
+++ equipment:electronics:soldering-irons [2024/11/19 21:42] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 ===== Soldering Irons =====
+<callout title="Burn Hazard" type="warning" icon="true"> Don't touch the hot end of the stick.</callout>
+<callout title="Smoke Hazard" type="warning" icon="true"> This equipment produces toxic smoke. Use the extractor when soldering</callout>
 ==== Safety ====
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 Never "float an iron" by disconnecting the protective mains earth.
+*** The TS100 and similar irons are floated by default. TBH, it's basically become common practice to float the earth on 'smart' soldering irons, so I'd suggest changing this to: Never assume an iron isn't floated.**
 Is it really necessary to state that one end is dangerously hot, and that molten solder splashing onto skin will cause scarring?
-==== Precision Iron ====
+Soldering produces toxic smoke. Don't breath this in. How toxic the smoke is depends on what time of flux you're using, but it's never healthy. We have a solder fume extractor -- use it! (and make sure it's positioned so that it's actually extracting the smoke).
-The Precision Gold A55KJ iron has a small conical tip that is suitable for soldering fine-pitch surface mount devices (SMD) and //small// through-hole components on PCBs. It is //not// suitable where large amounts of heat have to be dumped into the solder/components, for example a BNC or SMA connector, particularly if there is also a ground plane.
+==== Temperature ====
+Some of our soldering irons have adjustable temperature. Remember that temperatures over 400 C can rapidly degrade the tip, so should only be used sparingly if at all.
+==== The Precision Gold A55KJ ====
+This iron has a small conical tip that is suitable for soldering fine-pitch surface mount devices (SMD) and //small// through-hole components on PCBs. It is //not// suitable where large amounts of heat have to be dumped into the solder/components, for example a BNC or SMA connector, particularly if there is also a ground plane.
 {{:equipment:electronics:soldering-irons:60w-mains-lcd-solder-station.jpg?100|}}
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 Location: shelves above soldering bench. The manual is in the "bankers box" also on those shelves.
-//There are now other precision irons that could usefully be documented//.
+==== Metcal ====
+{{:equipment:electronics:16748268473069092263202291723167.jpg?400|}}
+This iron uses magnets to set the temperature. It makes it very accurate and good at holding temp, BUT the temperature cannot be adjusted. The tip we have is a low temperature tip, so may not be suitable for use with higher-temperature solder (such as lead free).
+==== Antex XS25 ====
+This takes a while to get up to temperature, but has a lot of punch and is a great choice for beginners, especially with through-hole components.
 ==== Standard Irons ====