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Re: Soldering Station Recommendations
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I've assembled, successfully, a QMX HB, a QDX LB, 2 QMX+ units, three 50W amps, numerous, small SWR/Power Meters, 2 QRPOmeters, an Elecraft dummy load and a slew of plugs, jacks, and RC aircraft connectors with a WEP 882D station. The hot air gun is very useful for shrink tubing.?
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I purchased an extra basic set of tips for the WEP and a set of long, 0.5mm conical tips for touchup of small IC pins. Almost all the work done with the 1mm conical tip and the 3mm screwdriver tip for really throwing heat quickly to large tabbed jacks and such.? 400 degrees C has worked fine for me with MAX for big tabbed stuff. ( Much less for the low temp SMD solder pastes if/when you practice or rework on the real units. See the recommendations in the instructions on the ChipQuik offerings. See below for more on that). I like Kester 63, leaded solder and have also used some Austor brand from Amazon. Those are the 0.8 mm size. I use 0.015 inch, Radio Shack solder with Silver for really fine work too. It's back and made in the USA again. Bit pricey but a little goes a long way. I use ChipQuik brand liquid flux and practiced SMD soldering and removal on several cheap practice boards I got off Amazon with their low and high temp solder pastes. I practiced with the hot air gun here? before using it on Q units. Was able to easily replace the PA control IC on the QMX HB when I glitched the PAs doing something stupid. What helped me the most to build confidence for SMD work was watching Mr. Solder Guy videos. The guy is skilled !? Harbor Freight has an inexpensive magnifying head band. A bit clunky but worked fine for checking component markings and general fine soldering and inspection work. For SMD work I also got an inexpensive USB microscope. Not a lot of work room under it, but doable.? Two thumbs up for 2.5mm and 1.5mm solder braids. Squirt some ChipQuik flux on it. Works much better. I also use an old Weller Stained glass soldering iron or a YiHua temp control soldering iron with a really broad tip for removing wire enamel for toroids and such. Google 'solder blob technique for removing wire enamel' and think about what you see on the videos and written explanations. You won't regret it. I did find that some of the larger wire in the kits needs a few quick scrapes with an XActo knife to give the solder blob some copper to bite on before the enamel will burn off.? I do solder outdoors in the garage now and have a simple small desk fan to blow away the magic flux smoke.? Take heed of the recommendations about needing to sink extra heat on component leads on the 6 layer boards in the Q series! Check connections with a simple DMM ohm meter as you go and be sure to probe on the pad areas and not the wire ends where applicable.? A cheap, simple PC board holder is like a miracle. Do use a grounded solder mat or simple aluminium foil covered board with a 1M ohm resistor to ground along with a proper grounding wrist strap!!!! A small purchase you won't regret.? Have fun. You'll be amazed at the capabilities of these fine kits. 73 GREG KI4NVX?
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