One of the essential tools in the field of electronics is the soldering iron also known as handheld soldering iron or electric, and pen soldering iron. In reality, it is a very simple tool; its electrical system allows the passage of electrical energy to a copper wire which, when wrapped around a metal bar, generates heat, allowing the tin or solder to melt and electronic components to be joined.
Currently, there are more models than the pen soldering iron, and we can use the one that best suits the work to be done. In addition to the design, the power each one can deliver also varies. In Figure 1, we can see the two most common types of soldering irons.
As we mentioned above, in addition to the style, the power delivered by each soldering iron is different, and therefore also the temperature with which they heat the tin used for soldering. The most common presentations are 30, 45, and 60 W, but we can find higher power and even adjustable power models.
To solder properly, it is recommended to let the soldering iron heat up for a few moments before using it. The surface on which we solder, as well as the components, must be clean.
To begin, we must heat the board to be soldered for a few seconds; it is very important not to exceed 3-4 seconds (depending on the temperature of the soldering iron) or we could damage the board. The ideal is to place the component on the board and, with one hand, hold the tin and, with the other, the soldering iron; most of the time, the board does not have a flat surface, so if it is difficult to keep it steady, you can use a "third hand" like the one in Figure 2.
And, for greater precision when placing electronic components on the board, you can use probes or precision tweezers like those in Figure 3. At INCOM you can find these and more tools, as well as technical advice to choose the best one. We look forward to seeing you in the next blog post.
