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MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
May 23, 2019

Tiny Soldering "gun"?

I am working on micro-size parts that challenge perspective perspectives when trying to describe to others. Imagine an EIGHT conductor plug that can fit perhaps 15 (or 20) pieces atop a postage stamp. Remember, each plug has eight pins. Jeez now to describe the pins :(

It's all loupe or six diopter reading glasses and tweezers work.

And sadly even a 15 watt adjustable (in the handle) soldering pencil type iron is like using the perspective of a male Chihuahua using a redwood tree. Overkill city. The fools should have chosen nylon instead of the plastic body plug housing. The connector is referred to as a HIROSE. A touch too much heat and the plastic warps and melts.

Any leads on where to browse mini soldering aids would be appreciated. I am using 25 gauge silicone wires to attach to the pins. (This is for a remote controls for a 150 amp Meanwell battery charger)
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    May 25, 2019
    wa8yxm wrote:
    Oh.. Not exactly the topic but related.. I needed an iron/gun that coudl handle 10-12-14 Ga Wires..

    Benz-o-matic.. NOT a propane torch with a soldering tip but a honest to electronics soldering iron. Designed specifically to solder not "Adapted"

    Does a fantastic job.. Eats butane. but man does it deliver the needed BTUs.


    Harbor Freight sells a knock-off of (what I assume to be) this little gizmo, for a quite reasonable price, and it also works a treat...and likewise eats butane. Having no power cord to deal with is at times a great advantage.

    I saw the other day that Ryobi introduced a little AC inverter unit (about 150 Watts, if memory serves) as part of their 18V cordless tool line. That would similarly be mighty handy at times for soldering in odd places, using a traditional iron. I haven't seen a similar gizmo for other cordless tool systems, though I can't say I've particularly been looking for one either since I only have Ryobi batteries and tools.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 25, 2019
    ktmrfs wrote:
    for close spacing soldering a "new" techinque was developed decades ago.


    Years ago I did a lot of soldering. both point to point wireing (IE: Tube Sockets) and PC board.

    On these modern surface mount.. With these late 60's eyes.. I too use a new if somewhat more expensive, technique.. I pay for someone else to do it.

    Some day I need to do the low-noise mod to a Kenwood TS-2000.. That is like 2 dozen surface mount diodes.. NO WAY am I even going to attempt.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 24, 2019
    Oh.. Not exactly the topic but related.. I needed an iron/gun that coudl handle 10-12-14 Ga Wires..

    Benz-o-matic.. NOT a propane torch with a soldering tip but a honest to electronics soldering iron. Designed specifically to solder not "Adapted"

    Does a fantastic job.. Eats butane. but man does it deliver the needed BTUs.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    May 24, 2019
    Excellent for when a controlled amount of solder is needed. Closeout item-when they are gone no more will be made. Pellets are approx .500 x .100 x .030 thick. Melting point is 300 degrees. This alloy contains 50% tin, 32% lead & 18% cadmium. For all your manufacturing needs please visit alcanjewelrysupply.com. Contact us for possible volume discounts..

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Solder-pellets-low-melt-approx-500-x-100-x-030-1-lb-bags/223372160340?hash=item340204ad54:g:FtUAAOSwualcWyS7



    DANGER! Poisonous to breathe smoke! A paper medical mask MUST BE WORN WHILE SOLDERING because of the CADMIUM CONTENT!!!

    That being said this stuff is near miraculous when soldering near plastic. 300F is what, almost 50F lower than 63/37 electronics solder.

    Melt a pellet onto the tip then transfer to the work.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    May 24, 2019
    for close spacing soldering a "new" techinque was developed decades ago. We used it in reworking IC's. We had deviced with leads on 10 mil centers. Use a hot air gun to remove the device. Dispense strip of solder paste using a sirenge, place the part reasonably accurate on the pads. Use the heat gun to melt the solder, the device will center itself, solder will wick up and not bridge any pads.

    Hot air soldering station systems are readily available for the kind of rework you are looking at. Much better than ever trying to solder individual leads.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    May 24, 2019
    After a few tens of millions of solder joins (15,000 alternators drag boats like the Kelley II, soldering is not unknown to me :). But finding a non clumsy heating tip is/was a challenge. If the 5vdc unit heats up fast enough I'll use a foot switch on the AC to 5 volt power supply.

    When they were wheeling me into the surgery ward for a pacemaker implant, I yelled "STOP!" at the doorway.

    Over the table was a monitor that must have measured 80" x 30" probably at 10x diopter. A cellphone is way too small of a display but a gooseneck camera and a 24" flat panel isn't. Now to find the parts...

    At surgery someone quipped "Anxiety Attack" and the next thing I knew I woke up 2 hours later. They had jabbed the IV with some unknown drug. Explaining it to the recovery RN was fruitless. She kept giving me knowing looks.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    May 24, 2019
    After a few tens of millions of solder joins (15,000 alternators drag boats like the Kelley II, soldering is not unknown to me :). But finding a non clumsy heating tip is/was a challenge. If the 5vdc unit heats up fast enough I'll use a foot switch on the AC to 5 volt power supply.

    When they were wheeling me into the surgery ward for a pacemaker implant, I yelled "STOP!" at the doorway.

    Over the table was a monitor that must have measured 80" x 30" probably at 10x diopter. A cellphone is way too small of a display but a gooseneck camera and a 24" flat panel isn't. Now to find the parts...

    At surgery someone quipped "Anxiety Attack" and the next thing I knew I woke up 2 hours later. They had jabbed the IV with some unknown drug. Explaining it to the recovery RN was fruitless. She kept giving me knowing looks.

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