Soldering Iron wattage - how much?

[Uncle Thor's Hamer]

My 30W pencil just doesn't have the oomph to melt the grounding braid off of the back of the pots in my Newport. How much wattage should I buy?

Swapping pups on Thanksgiving morning and then finding I can't finish the job is frustrating!

[a.bandini]

I just upgraded to a Radio shack variable set-the temperature iron, which I think has either 60 or 70 watts, and it did a similar trick pretty nicely. It was a closeout model, allegedly for half price, very similar to this.

I recall a similar thread from a couple years ago, and I think the one I got was similar to what was recommended back then - variable watt, variable temp.

Others here know far more about it than I, so go with their advice.

[bubs_42]

I use a 25watt all the time. You just have to be sure its a clean tip, tin the tip even if your removing solder and make sure every things in working order.

[DaveH]

25W is fine for soldering a couple small wires together, or for pc board work... You need more than 25W for braids on pot housings though. Buy a lower-end soldering station and you can dial in for the job at hand. It's better to use higher heat to get in and get it done quickly, than it is to use a lower wattage and stay on it for an extended periods of time... That will actually cause more heat damage than using a higher heat setting.

[velorush]

This is the one Murkat recommended to me when I had the same question. I bought it and couldn't be happier. Incredible bargain on a really great iron. The extra wattage is fantastic when soldering ground wires to the back of pots. It can be turned down when the extra heat isn't required. Lots of different tips available and fully rebuildable, too!

[Bobby Marshall]

This is the one Murkat recommended to me when I had the same question. I bought it and couldn't be happier. Incredible bargain on a really great iron. The extra wattage is fantastic when soldering ground wires to the back of pots. It can be turned down when the extra heat isn't required. Lots of different tips available and fully rebuildable, too!

+1

I can even do this stuff now. Great tool.

[veatch]

If not a variable, I'd get a 40W. Though, for the price, I can't see why you wouldn't get that variable posted above...

[Thundernotes]

This is the one Murkat recommended to me when I had the same question. I bought it and couldn't be happier. Incredible bargain on a really great iron. The extra wattage is fantastic when soldering ground wires to the back of pots. It can be turned down when the extra heat isn't required. Lots of different tips available and fully rebuildable, too!

Wow, yes - that is a great deal on a soldering station. Other than that, using the right tip and keeping it clean helps a lot.

[Armitage]

That one looks great, you need a different wattage for the back of pots or the new solder.

[Uncle Thor's Hamer]

Well I need something today. My Newport is on the workbench with the electronics removed, and the new Lollars ready to go. The old soldering iron is probably just feeble from age, so I'll brave the Black Friday crowds today to see what I can find locally. Something like that station Velorush recommends looks like what I should get.

[aknapp]

I'm probably late to the soldering party, but a 30-watter WILL work, in a pinch. Let it get COMPLETELY hot - hot enough to tin, then wait another 10 minute.

It's not ideal, but it does work.

[Uncle Thor's Hamer]

I'm probably late to the soldering party, but a 30-watter WILL work, in a pinch. Let it get COMPLETELY hot - hot enough to tin, then wait another 10 minute.

It's not ideal, but it does work.

Mine just didn't get hot enough, even after a half hour. It is 20 years old so perhaps it was beyond its useful life.

I found a dual wattage 20/40 at Radio Shack which works really well. No problems at all soldering grounding braids to the back of pots.