Anyone know anything about soldering irons?

[Hoagie_one]

I need to get a soldering iron that will get to around 750 degrees and every place i go looking for irons just talks about the iron's wattage, usually anywhere from 15 - 40 watts.

any idea what wattage i need to reach the temps i need?

Thanks

[rampy]

why?

what are you doing that requires a set temperature that high?

That seems excessively hot... like blow torch hot, but what do i know?

rampy

[Hoagie_one]

Not for me.  Gift For a friend.

[rampy]

it doesn't matter WHO it's for... it's what use is it being used for?

but i might be talking out my butt, but seems weird you have a temperature range to start with.. and that range being so high.

rampy

EDIT well here's one via first search in google... i guess they do go from 500 - 800degrees

Solder melts at around 190 degrees Centigrade, and the bit reaches a temperature of over 250 degrees Centigrade...

[Hoagie_one]

that iron would be fine but still doesnt answer my original question.  Dos the wattage have anything to do with the temp ranges?

Oh, and he uses for industrial stuff, practically welds with it, lol

[anthony691]

I got a 175 Watt Weller Soldering Gun. It is really nice and was only 50$ at Home Depot.

[Hoagie_one]

what are the temp ranges on it?

[BobA]

To answer the question " what does wattage have to do with temperature ranges".

Most soldering irons are meant to be used with solder.   As Rampy pointed out solder melts at about 190 Deg C or 400 Deg F.   To attain this temperature the heat has to flow from the soldering iron to the work piece.   Thus the temp of the iron has to be above the melting point of the solder.  The wattage of the iron determines the amount of energy available for this transfer.  Thus a small wattage iron 25-35 watts is good for traces and components on a PCB but a 150- 200W gun is more suited for soldering Heavy Duty items like copper cable for ham radio antennas that have alot of mass.  A Gen Purpose iron at about 80 to 100 W can be used for things like stained glass leading.

This is why Rampy was asking what is the person going to be using the iron for.

There are also butane powered portable irons and rechargable battery powered irons.   You cannot answer the question of what type of iron and what wattage without knowing what it will be used for.

BobA

[Hoagie_one]

dunno exactly.  He just asked for a 750 degree iron.

[BobA]

Then you might want to ask so you can obtain the right iron.  He might not even be soldering lead/tin.  There is also silver,gold solder and others.

Solder Temps

BobA

[Hoagie_one]

good info, thanks

[grafixmonkey]

I've seen expensive soldering stations that let you set a temperature and the iron maintains the temp. you set.  Maybe he means one of those.

[grafixmonkey]

Here.
http://www.newark.com/NewarkWebCommerce/newark/en_US/support/search/searchResults.jsp?action=0&First=0&QText=soldering+station

http://www.newark.com/NewarkWebCommerce/newark/en_US/support/catalog/productDetail.jsp?id=35F3309

Or from Happ:
http://www.happcontrols.com/tools/92121900.htm

http://www.happcontrols.com/tools/hakko.htm

http://www.happcontrols.com/tools/weller.htm


Or you can shop on any of
allied electronics:   http://www.alliedelec.com/
newark    http://www.newark.com/
Digi-Key    http://www.digikey.com/
Klaus Radio  if you have one local (I've bought from them local, and this is a smaller town)
MCM Electronics   http://www.mcmelectronics.com/
Grainger    http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml