Soldering iron watts?

Sounds more like a 3 watt iron.

What you need is thermostatically controlled iron with variable temperature and interchangeable tips.

You're doing something wrong then !

Graham

In reasonably skilled hands it doesn't really matter. For years I used a cheapo Radio Shack 40W soldering iron, then later I bought a temp controlled soldering station. If a 30W iron was not hot enough, you weren't doing it right.

Maybe the tip has become FUBAR and you can't solder with them anymore.

I used a cheap iron for years, yeah the Edsyn I have now is nicer, but if the cheap iron is not doing the job then something is being done wrong. Basic soldering can be done successfully with virtually any soldering iron or gun.

Always keep your tip well tinned.

les...

There would be no point in a soldering iron that can't solder two thin wires so it must be faulty? A good 15 watt iron is more than adequate for most electronics.

Damage can be caused by the time taken to solder so the actual heat of the iron isn't the only cause. You should remove the iron as soon as the solder flows properly. Practice on scrap components.

Like all tools it's worth getting something decent as that should last a long time. And there are plenty of reasonably priced ones out there these days. A thermostatically controlled one is always a good idea. Then it will have enough power for larger jobs without getting too hot when left for a while.

I often have that problem with my soldering irons. It's always a loose or dirty tip. :-)

The only soldering iron I have ever owned I would say was defective in design was a Black and Decker cordless iron I bought around 1976. No matter what I was doing, it always ran out of "juice" with one joint left to solder. :-(

Geoff.

Perhaps its also technique. I bought a RS dual wattage iron for a remote project, worked fine for $11. I do like my 80 watt controlled iron as well as my 250 watt RS gun for the big jobs. Used to use the Ungar unregulated irons with about 45 watts, does most jobs. I've made dual heat irons using a diode, as well as using a lamp dimmer for control. You don't need expensive items.

greg

Thanks for the responses guys... sorry, I was too down with the stomach flu last week to get back here. I suspect the iron, but I'll devise to tests to see if it's fluky.

Dallas

Just spend a few bucks and get a new iron, last time I bought one a 40W from Radio Shack was under 10 bucks. If you plan on doing any serious work, pick up a temperature controlled soldering station with a wedge tip, it's what I used for most of my work.