Shopping List: Experiments 12 Through 15
96 Chapter 3
I am assuming that you already have some commonly used workshop basics,
such as an electric drill.
Essential: Pencil-type 15-watt soldering iron
Examples are RadioShack part 64-2051, McMaster-Carr catalog item
7016A34, or Xytronic model 252. See Figure 3-1. Soldering irons rated at
15 watts are less common than those that deliver 25 watts or more. Still,
the 15-watt size is desirable for the small-scale work you’ll be doing, and
greatly reduces the risk of damaging components by inflicting excess
heat.
When comparing prices, remember that a plated tip, which costs a little
more, will last longer, will be easier to keep clean, and will conduct heat
more reliably than a plain copper tip. If the manufacturer’s specification
doesn’t mention a plated tip, the soldering iron probably doesn’t have
one.
Essential: General-duty soldering iron, 30 to 40 watts
Although most of the projects in this book entail small, heat-sensitive
components and thin wire, at some point you’re likely to want to make a
solder joint with larger components and/or thicker wire. A 15-watt solder-
ing iron will be unable to deliver enough heat. You should consider having
a larger soldering iron in reserve, especially because they are relatively
inexpensive.
Personally, I like the Weller Therma-Boost, shown in Figure 3-2, because
it has an extra button that delivers more heat on demand. This is useful
when you want the iron to get hot quickly, or if you are trying to solder
very thick wire, which absorbs a lot of heat.
If you can’t find or don’t like the Weller, almost any 30-watt or 40-watt sol-
dering iron will do. Check eBay or your local hardware store.
Essential: Helping hand
The so-called “helping hand” (or “third hand”) has two alligator clips that
hold components or pieces of wire precisely in position while you join
them with solder. Some versions of the “helping hand” also feature a mag-
nifying lens, a wire spiral in which you can rest your soldering iron, and a
little sponge that you use to clean the tip of your iron when it becomes
dirty. These additional features are desirable. Helping hands are available
from all electronics hobby sources. Examples are the catalog item HH55
from Elenco or model 64-2991 from RadioShack. See Figure 3-3.
Essential: Magnifying lens
No matter how good your eyes are, a small, handheld, powerful magnify-
ing lens is essential when you are checking solder joints on perforated
board. The three-lens set in Figure 3-4 is designed to be held close to your
eye, and is more powerful than the large lens on a “helping hand.” The
folding lens in Figure 3-5 stands on your workbench for hands-free opera-
tion. Both are available from RadioShack and similar items are stocked by
art supply stores and hobby shops. Plastic lenses are quite acceptable if
you treat them carefully.Figure 3-1. The low wattage of this pencil-
style soldering iron enables you to use it
safely on sensitive components, and the
sharp tip helps to apply heat selectively.
Figure 3-2. This higher-wattage soldering
iron delivers the additional heat necessary
for thicker wire or larger components. The
discoloration quickly occurs as a result
of everyday use and has no effect on the
capability of the iron, as long as the tip of
it is clean.
Figure 3-3. The helping hand is fitted with
two alligator clips to hold your work. The
metal spiral is a safe place to holster a hot
soldering iron, and you use the sponge to
wipe its tip.