Picking up a Capt Fantastic project Pin this weekend and I'm sure there will be some soldering required as I resurrect this machine. I was out searching the forum and while there is a lot of information and opinions they seem to focus on soldering stations and circuit board repair.

Not sure if a soldering station with a short cord is the ideal tool for E-M repair. I have an old Millers Falls soldering gun that says 100/140 Watt and a Radio Shack soldering iron that says 35 Watt. I'm thinking this is all I really need other than some 60/40 w/ Rosin Flux Core solder.

Your thoughts?

Dennis

Soldering gun (resized).jpg

#2 2 years ago

MVP

Grizlyrig

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 111K 3,370 1

OP
Quoted from F-14Pin:
Radio Shack soldering iron that says 35 Watt

This is all you need in my opinion, that 100 watt gun is overkill.
-Mike

#3 2 years ago

JJB

jbovenzi

Pinside+ Addict

Sparks, NV

9y 112K 1,385 34

I use a bigger gun like the Millers Falls for getting the sockets replaced. Sometime that old solder needs a bit more wattage to loosen them up.

But I agree, the smaller soldering iron should do most everything for you.

#4 2 years ago

???

F-14Pin

Pinside member

Madison, AL

10y 24,650 68 2

Thanks, I like KISS (keep it simple stupid).

#5 2 years ago

MBW

mbwalker

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7y 135K 5,325 9

OP
Quoted from F-14Pin:
...'m thinking this is all I really need other than some 60/40 w/ Rosin Flux Core solder...
Dennis[quoted image]

Glad you mentioned the 60/40 w/rosin. I've been soldering for maybe 50 years and bought some leadfree stuff a couple of years ago in a pinch, yuck. Higher melting temp, and just doesn't flow like some good 60/40. Some solderwick is good to have to get rid of old solder.

A 40-60W iron is probably all you need. As Griz mentioned, the 100W is likely an overkill, but keep it around just in case.

#6 2 years ago

CCS

Mad_Dog_Coin_Op

Mad Dog Coin Op

Redondo Beach, CA

6y 118K 2,832 14 14 1

The big one is over kill and the little one kind of sucks. Get something in the 50 to 60 watt range with a good tip and it will do everything you ask of it pinball wise. Weller is a good brand. Spend the extra few bucks to get temperature controlled and use it on your solid state pin also.

#7 2 years ago

MBW

mbwalker

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7y 135K 5,325 9

Quoted from Mad_Dog_Coin_Op:
...Spend the extra few bucks to get temperature controlled and use it on your solid state pin also.

Temp controlled: Good point Mad Dog.

#8 2 years ago

???

F-14Pin

Pinside member

Madison, AL

10y 24,650 68 2

Quoted from Mad_Dog_Coin_Op:
The big one is over kill and the little one kind of sucks. Get something in the 50 to 60 watt range with a good tip and it will do everything you ask of it pinball wise. Weller is a good brand. Spend the extra few bucks to get temperature controlled and use it on your solid state pin also.

Funny you should say that, I seem to remember the last tine I used the little one it took forever to heat up.

#9 2 years ago

MBW

mbwalker

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7y 135K 5,325 9

OP
Quoted from F-14Pin:
Funny you should say that, I seem to remember the last tine I used the little one it took forever to heat up.

Know how many watts it is? Looks like the tip is pretty long.

#10 2 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,076 19 30 1

Weller 40watt

https://www.amazon.com/Weller-SP40NUS-40-Watt-Soldering-Iron/dp/B00B3SG6UQ/ref=asc_df_B00B3SG6UQ/

#11 2 years ago

AAP

AndrewP

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Andover, MA

3y 51,550 285 6

I use a 30-watt Radio Shack. It’s fine I guess. I did splurge for a new chisel tip.

#12 2 years ago

MBW

mbwalker

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 135K 5,325 9

Quoted from AndrewP:
I use a 30-watt Radio Shack. It’s fine I guess. I did splurge for a new chisel tip.

I think one of the biggest problems with people not being able to solder correctly is they use the wrong tip (i.e. use a pencil tip to try to heat up a big area or they use a huge tip on a PCB repair). That and the tip isn't cleaned prior to soldering.

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