Electric Soldering Iron

What is Soldering?

Soldering is a technique for joining metal parts together. It melts the soldering metal (also called solder) into the space between two metal components. After the solder cools and hardens, they form a permanent connection between the parts.

The opposite of soldering is desoldering, that is, removing the solder points of components for maintenance or modification.

What is an Electric Soldering Iron?

Soldering iron, as one of the common soldering machines, is a small soldering tool. Electric soldering iron is different from gas soldering iron (such as butane soldering iron). It is an electrical tool that is powered by alternating current or battery. Compared with the soldering gun or tweezer soldering iron, electric soldering iron structure is pen-shaped (pencil type), usually in mini size, and there are also large or heavy-duty electric soldering irons. In recent years, USB soldering irons have become more and more popular.

Electric soldering iron can be combined with hot air gun, soldering station, soldering rod, soldering stand, etc. to form a soldering kit, providing complete soldering equipment for beginners, professionals or DIY enthusiasts.

Application

Electric soldering iron is widely used for soldering, welding and brazing of micro electronics components, medium and large equipment or handicrafts. Specific applications include but are not limited to the following:

• Wire joining
• Circuit board soldering
• Stained glass soldering
• Jewelry/antique processing
• SMD and SMT
• Mobile phone parts processing

Tips for Using an Electric Soldering Iron

• Cleaning

Any contaminants or oxidation will affect the heating and heat conduction efficiency of the electric soldering iron, resulting in a decrease in the soldering quality. Before starting soldering, use a cleaning pad to clean the soldering iron bit. If the iron bit is severely oxidized, you may need to use an activator.

• Tinning

Tinning is one of the main methods for electric soldering iron maintenance, which can protect the soldering iron bit from oxidation and improve its thermal conductivity. Coating the soldering iron bit with a layer of solder. Before each soldering, electric soldering iron bit also needs to tinning.

Electric Soldering Iron Selection

1. Wattage
   Wattage is one of the most important factors of electric soldering iron. For electronic equipment product processing, most soldering irons have a power range of 20~60 watts. Higher wattage (60W~90W) soldering iron will be better. Low power electric soldering iron（20W-30W）will lose heat faster than it can re-heat itself, which will damage the solder joints.
2. Temperature control
   Electric soldering iron has constant temperature type and temperature controlled type. The constant temperature electric soldering iron realizes temperature control by controlling the power-on time. The temperature controlled electric soldering iron realizes temperature regulation by changing the input power of the power supply.
3. Shape of soldering bit
   Fine tipped soldering bit，knife tip soldering iron bit, oblique cylindrical soldering iron bit, flat tip soldering iron bit, etc.