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[hdserv]

Has any body use a solder gun for soldering leads to motors or leads to plug are they any good or just a waste of money
Jim

[Martin (Admin)]

Yes! Always solder if possible.
Less resistance , therefore less heat in the wires and thus better current conduction and efficiency... and reliability!

Something like this should be good enough to get you started:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/40w-soldering-kit-includes-mains-powered-soldering-iron-and-stand-399593

Don't attempt to do your first solder job on the motor, get some old mains wire and practice
on that for half-an-hour first.

There are several good video on Utube about soldering, I'll find a couple this evening  and post here.

[goBulawayo]

Hi Jim, I assume you are asking about using a soldering gun versus a soldering iron? Personally I would go with an iron as model boat electrical joints are larger than general electronics like circuit boards etc where you would use a soldering gun.

Wayne

[pima]

you must have plenty of money martin?   if you go
to components shop site you can get started
for just over £10.
ken.
 

[grasshopper]

That is an expensive starter kit Martin.....I have a stock of those left and was only charging £15 inc delivery!


I would also agree that an iron is a better investment than a gun type, especially one of those instant heat jobbies, they heat up quick but also lose heat quick.
The best iron is the one with the biggest tip for the job in hand allows better heating with minimal loss

[Neil]

never had any success with a gun.
 
if you read the instructions on how they work.....the cycles of 45 seconds or less for soldering, the heat that they take to warm up and then generate......you are far better with a range of 3 solder irons say a 15 watt, a 60 watt and a 100 watt..........and then apart from thick brass and silver solder you can do a good range of jobs.
 
I tried one once cost me a packet and I found it a pain in the bum.
 
neil.

[Martin (Admin)]

 
Loaded me! 

[spearfish99]

Despite some of the above opinions, I have had and used for the last 25years  a Weller soldering gun (80W I think) and wouldn't be without it. Would only use a tiny iron for circuit board use. Just what you get used to I suppose

[portside II]

Same here Spearfish99, i have had a weller gun for about 30 years now , been through a dozen tips and been abused not just for soldering but cutting foam as well.
I use it for soldering leads to motors rather than the digital tem controlled iron as i can get up to temp instantly and the tip size and power of the gun means it holds the heat better than the iron.
I normally use the iron when doing board work, for the little jobs, but each to their own.
daz
Oh and the gun makes easy work when soldering railings, you dont need a heat shunt.

[irishcarguy]

I too use a Weller 100/140 watt gun most of the time . For very fine work I use either a 25 or 40 watt iron. I have a Butane iron but find it hard to use. Most of my work is done with the Weller gun. Mick B.

[hdserv]

Thenk you for all your replies after using  solding irons for many years i wondered what a solder gun would be like to use
Jim

[Martin (Admin)]

... in short, not as good as you'd hope for!