Using Soldering Irons to Create Art

Soldering irons can be used to create art ranging from stained glass to sculpture. Choosing the right soldering tools for each project is essential, and variables include skill level, materials and desired results. Here we describe three of the most common ways to use soldering in art:

• Stained glass - Stained-glass artists use soldering irons to create everything from earrings to window-sized panels. This is a challenging skill to learn; it requires time and patience along with high-quality flux and at least a 100-watt soldering iron.
• Jewelry - Soldering irons can be used to shape jewelry and add stones, gems and detail work. The metals used in soldering jewelry require an open flame and temperatures of up to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit, so make sure your equipment is up to par before starting a jewelry project.
• Sculpture - Soldering is ideal for creating small wire or pipe sculptures and is useful for details on more heavy-duty metal pieces. A good eye for design is the most important element here, and creating a wire sculpture is possible with even the most basic soldering setup.

Soldering is easy to learn with some practice, and the range of art you can create is impressive. Different materials require different soldering tools, but a 100-watt iron can get you started on several fun projects.

Choosing the Right Soldering Irons for Music Instrument Repairs

Serious musicians need basic soldering skills. Learning simple soldering helps in countless situations—including building cables to suit your needs and changing pots and jacks. Soldering irons are especially useful in guitar repair, and they can save you a lot of money while extending the life of your instrument.

For basic guitar soldering and soldering on most other instruments, you’ll need a 30-watt iron and a smaller 15-watt iron. The 30-watt is good for inside an instrument’s body, and the 15-watt is tiny enough for detail work in stompboxes, PCBs and other tight spaces. A chisel tip is a good starting point and should serve you well for most work. As for flux, avoid the plumbing or paste flux you might have on hand already and invest in rosin-flux cored solder (60/40, lead/tin). This flux works like a charm on most instruments.

Once you’ve got the correct soldering irons and flux, consider getting some accessories to make your work easier. A soldering stand with an attached sponge will make cleaning and maintaining your iron and tip much simpler. Needle-nose pliers, a de-soldering pump, and a “third hand” is also invaluable for soldering jobs ranging from basic to expert. These parts aren’t necessary, though, and you can get started learning soldering for musical instruments with just a couple of irons and the right flux.

How Do Flux Remover Pens Work?

When soldering electronics and other metal components, applying flux can drastically improve the strength of the resulting joints. By absorbing impurities and stopping oxidization layers from separating bonding surfaces, fluxes serve crucial functions in electronics, stained glass and other projects.

Many fluxes and other acidic purifying agents have the undesirable drawback of being corrosive over long-term periods. The excess flux applied to a solder joint could potentially contribute to the degradation of a circuit board or component lead. Some inorganic fluxes even incorporate potentially harmful chemical compounds that may irritate skin or act as carcinogens upon inadvertent contact or ingestion.

While certain organically derived rosin fluxes are unlikely to cause too many problems, it's generally best to remove any excess flux from a board as soon as you're done soldering. To make the job easier, flux remover solutions contain special cleaners that neutralize the acids in flux without compromising a solder joint.

Larger PCB manufacturers often apply removers in big batches, but for the common hobbyist or individual professional, flux remover pens are usually the most economical option. Like many flux pens, these precision devices feature spongy tips that let users dispense appropriate quantities of flux remover by hand on a case by case basis. As a result, they're highly popular among those who work with SMD components, reflow ovens and rework stations.

Simple Soldering Projects for Beginners

If you want to become proficient at building computer boards, robots and other high-tech gadgets, you need to learn how to solder. Before moving ahead with anything else, invest in decent soldering supplies. Owning the right tools is just the tip of the iceberg, though. You must learn how to use those tools properly. If you don't have the time or means to get lessons, simple soldering projects are a great place to start.

In terms of convenience, the best way to get going in your soldering education is by investing in some ready-made kits. This eliminates the need to run around finding all the right components, and it gives you plenty of opportunities to practice soldering. Places like RadioShack sometimes carry such kits, but the best way to find a great selection for low prices is by going online. You can buy kits for all kinds of cool things, including robots and simple PCBs.

Another simple and affordable way to test old some soldering projects is by simply investing in an assortment of wires. You can then practice soldering them together in a number of ways to get a good feel for how the process works. The nice thing about this is that you can worry more about form than function. You'll want to move forward to more advanced projects later, though, to make sure your soldering produces effective results.

Heat Guns for Soldering Projects

Controlling heat is the most important part of performing soldering jobs properly, and if you don’t have the right soldering supplies, you won’t have control over the heat you need. Heat guns are essential for detail work on PCBs, and they ensure the longevity of larger wiring operations and allow you to apply heat shrink and other seals correctly. Choosing a quality heat gun is the first step in creating a high-performing soldering setup, and Steinel heat gun hardware will make your heat gun perform at its very best.

Steinel has broad range of heat gun accessories for you to choose from, such as nozzles specially designed for precision and uniformity when you need to redirect broad air flows. Working with a gun that allows you to limit the amount of heat you apply makes removing a surface mount component or singe IC from a closely packed nest of other devices much easier and can keep you safe from major mistakes.

If you need to replace a part for your heat gun, you’ll find the high-quality part you need within the range of Steinel soldering accessories. Steinel also manufactures reliable heating plates designed especially for PCB rework operations with digital temperature controls. These controls will help your solder flow smoother than ever by ensuring precise temperature control and even preheating. Your soldering equipment can determine the success or failure of every job, so invest in quality with Steinel accessories.

Soldering Tips for Resistance Soldering

Like your other hand tools and work equipment, you may want to do everything you can to make sure your soldering tips last as long as possible. Fortunately, soldering tips are built to last for years and typically require minimal maintenance to keep them in good condition. You may already tin your tips to keep them in good working condition. Tinning the tips after each use protects the plating and also prevents damage like chipping or cracking.

If you have never tinned your soldering tips, you may be unsure of how to carry out this protective measure adequately. Tinning simply calls for you to wipe off the tips with a damp sponge after every use and then flooding the tips with solder before you unplug your iron. It is vital that you know how to tin your tips well and that you do this preventative measure after every use. This measure will help keep your tips in good working order and also ensure that your future resistance soldering projects will be successful.

Like most tools, however, there may come a time when you must replace the tips entirely. Knowing when to take this step is important if you want to avoid spending money unnecessarily. You should replace your soldering tips if you see that the plating on them has been damaged like cracked or chipped.