Tiny Soldering "gun"?

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
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 :(

First, before solder each joint CLEAN THE TIP ! Use a damp sponge or a damp rag to wipe it clean. The tip should be shiny with solder before attempting a connection. You need an iron with some kind of heat control. Either feedback to a built in temperature controller or even the old fashioned irons that the Curie Point to control temp.

Second, use the "old fashion" tin/lead solder. Anything else is a pain in the butt ! Available on eBay for sure.

What most "makers" on YouTube use is a TS80 or a TS100. Not cheap. https://oscarliang.com/ts80-soldering-iron-ts100/

I don't now about irons (though you can use your dremel to modifiy the tip) but WEN used to have a model 45.. This was rater a different 0.45 amp Soldering gun. Shaped like a classic 6-shooter type 45 of course (they really played up that 45 part) What more can I say about it.. Not much.

But I suspect it would be too big. and I broke the tips far too easily.

There are some nice battery powered jobs might meet your needs Again Wen (and Weller) both make 'em.

Perhaps off-topic a bit, but...

The nicest soldering iron I ever used (for both teeny or not-so-teeny parts, depending on the tip installed) was a Metcal smartheat unit. There are some very tiny tips available for it--and, indeed, for many decent soldering stations. I will admit that it was most annoying that the stereo microscope magnified the soldering iron tip as well as the connectors and other parts, though.

These Metcal irons use a unique and clever system to heat. The heating element, if you want to call it that, is basically just a piece of some metal alloy that has a Curie point of the desired temperature, which is inductively heated using ultrasonic or RF frequencies via a coil wrapped around it. When the temperature rises to the Curie point, it ceases to be magnetically reactive and the heating stops, making the metal in the tip its own thermostat. It works really nicely in practice: fast heat-up, very good regulation, intrinsically correct temperature calibration, and quite good heating response under load. They were (and are) not particularly inexpensive, of course.

USB yet, you will be able to solder without powering the device down. :)

Ahhh shoot Mr. Wizard. When I saw that soldering / hot air re-work station at that price my few remaining hairs stood up on end.

Now I have to have one of those as well. The tips are too big for the Hirose soldering but I can think of a hundred other jobs...

What is used as a heat mask for hot air soldering?


Just think, if you live long enough, you too can get all excited over this stuff, unless of course your other car is a Rolls Royce Phantom Extended Chassis...and your address is on "THE WORLD" ship.

YES !!!!!


Just ordered one on AMAZON

Thank you very much!!!

Are these surface mount connectors

Maybe something like this would help

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Deal-Soldering-Station-862D/dp/B01CJM5E5C/ref=asc_df_B01CJM5E5C/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312125823820&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10402247696405372831&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031187&hvtargid=pla-599609127724&psc=1

There are a number of 8W 5V mini solder pens: Amazon. I have no idea if any would fit your application.