Soldering tools
Soldering iron, hot air gun, spot welder
Soldering iron
For those who are interested in electronics, a soldering iron is as important as a multimeter, but even for household needs it is no less important tool.
The soldering iron is used for:
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connecting two wires to increase the length (for example, if an electrical plug extender is not long enough, but buying a new plus extender, just because you need just one additional meter sounds unreasonable). About twisting such wires is out of the question, the current is large in the extender wire.
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soldering the wire to the contact without a clamp bolt. Of course, the wire can be twisted as a temporary solution and there will be contact for a while, but over time the connection will oxidize, and weaken, which means that a large current will flow over a smaller area of the wire at the contact point and will overheat it, which can lead to sad consequences.
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desoldering something (wire, components from circuit board). Soldering is a very reliable connection, it is impossible to release soldered parts in any other way than to heat them and disconnect them (except for the physical removal of the soldered connection).
I love my TS100/TS101 (I have both) soldering iron, this is a Mercedes among soldering irons. It is incredibly compact, and powerful the heating speed depends on the power supply and takes 24 Volts power supply, you also can connect to a USB Type-C powerful adapter over 140W which supports PD3.1 protocol (28V3.2A), and enjoy 90W of power in TS101. The soldering iron has a temperature adjustment function, and a motion sensor, which allows you to save energy during non-use and switch it off after some time.
In this video, you can see how to update the firmware of your TS100.
Here are the instructions on how to update firmware + most recent version of firmware code (IronOS).
There is the official firmware for TS100/TS101 from the manufacturer.
Accessories for TS100/TS101:
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Also, I have bought a special M-shaped soldering iron holder specifically designed for the TS100.
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One more useful thing for TS100: USB Type C to DC 20V 3A PD Emulator Trigger silicone cable 1.5m This flexible and heat-resistant USBC-DC5525 cable is specifically designed for the TS100. It connects to a USB-C adapter, requests 20V, and transfers it to a soldering iron equipped with a conventional DC input 5525. It is very convenient for the purpose of saving space on the desktop by getting rid of unnecessary power adapters.
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The case for soldering iron and accessories (charger, cable, solder, etc.)
Hot air gun
There are also compact battery versions of soldering irons, powered by 5 Volts (USB), and heated with propane-butane (gas for lighters). The last one I bought, but using it not like a soldering iron, but as a hot air gun (the nozzle comes in a set) for heating insulating heat-shrink tubes, as soon as I bought an electric hot air gun, I used it in only during car repair It is very easy to refuel it with gas for lighters.
Spot welder
In projects related to the creation of li-ion batteries from 18650 batteries, I needed a spot welding device, because soldering batteries is not very convenient and potentially dangerous because they can be overheated. I liked the device, with it the battery assembly is 5 times faster than with soldering, and the result is neater.
Solder and its removal
Solder and flux
You can't do soldering without solder.
The recommended Chinese CF-10 solder, it's just perfect, it already contains flux, which greatly facilitates soldering. I have a solder without flux and separate rosin and have compared. The comfort of working with Chinese solder is so high that you will forget about any other.
Solder is offered in the form of wires of different wire diameters, usually from 0.5mm to 2mm. My choice is 0.8mm, it is convenient to dose the exact volume of solder.
You may need a flux (rosin) separately, for example, in order to prepare a soldered place and ensure good soldering because flux removes oxides from metals and improves the adhesion of solder.
Fluxes usually have next forms: solid (in pieces), liquid based on acids (requiring careful handling and removal after soldering), and rosin dissolved in an alcohol. I recommend the last option because It does not require cleaning after use and is safe for board components.
How to remove solder?
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The easiest way to do desoldering is to use desoldering pen or electric vacuum sucker
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Another technique is to use braid copper tape which works like a sponge, it is applied to a soldered place and heated with a soldering iron it, after which the tin is absorbed by the tape.
Soldering iron tip cleaning
In the process of soldering, the soldering iron tip is covered with soot, and excess solder can accumulate on it. It is better to clean the iron tip before starting work with the next soldering object or after finishing the soldering.
There are accessories to clean the tip, the most popular way is using a metal mesh and a sponge.
The metal mesh should be in a special cup - a box so that it is fixed and does not roll on the table when you clean the iron tip about it. You can use an ordinary metallic kitchen mesh for that purpose.
Sponge, in my opinion, is a more convenient and elegant solution. The sponge comes in the form of dry and thin plates that are soaked before use and they swell. The iron tip cleans perfectly on such a slightly wet sponge. Sponges themselves are cheap and reusable.
The third hand
This name has a special accessory that with the help of clips - crocodiles (alligators) can hold wires, circuit boards, and other accessories during soldering work. In principle, it can also be convenient for other works, but of course, it brings special benefits to those who are involved in soldering.
For example, it is convenient to fix two wires in parallel, thereby freeing their hands to hold the soldering iron and supply the wire with solder to the soldering point.
It is also very handy to fix the board with the components placed before soldering,
A magnifying glass could be useful when you need to carefully examine the quality of soldering or labeling on electronic components.
If you regularly do soldering, take a look at it, it's very convenient.
There are a lot of options for the accessory, I showed for completeness a relatively simple one (there is also a version without a magnifying glass), as well as more advanced options with different magnifying glasses, built-in and separate illumination, as well as an exhaust fan that is needed to remove from your face a flux vapes as breathing them, is not very healthy.
I use the third option, very universal with flexible joints, a magnifying glass with built-in lighting, and a fan.
Organization of a workplace and additional accessories
When working with a soldering iron, cases of molten solder falling onto the desktop are not uncommon, therefore it is necessary to protect the working surface of the table. This can be done by putting a sheet of plywood on the table or, much more conveniently, putting a special working mat that tolerates a high temperature coming from a hot soldering iron, and drops of solder do not stick and leave no residue. Large versions of such mats have magnetic areas that are convenient for disassembling something such as a computer and storing unscrewed bolts there. In general, the mat is a universal thing, very comfortable, easily folds into a straw, and retracts. With such a mat, you can safely solder even on the kitchen table without fear of spoiling the furniture.
I also want to draw your attention to the supports for the soldering iron with a place for the sponge to clean the iron tip. This is a convenient and necessary thing, because the hot soldering iron tip can easily touch and scorch the work surface, to avoid this a stand is used. Some third-hand configurations also include a soldering iron and sponge holder.
Another very important accessory is an insulation shrink tube. They are very convenient for insulating wires and electrical contacts. They are much better and more convenient than electrical tape. It does not unwind, such insulation looks professional and accurate.
The tubes come in different diameters, and the degree of their compression (shrinkage) under heating is usually 2:1. Remember that the tube is also compressed in length, by 15-20 percent.
For heating the tube I do not recommend using matches or a lighter, as it’s not convenient. Matches quickly burn out and burn your fingers, and the lighter heats up, but most importantly they smoke the surface of the tube, making the finished product ugly. The best option is to use a hot air gun, either as part of a soldering station or as a separate device. For these infrequent needs, I purchased a very compact gas burner, which I mentioned above, in the section on soldering irons.
In order to keep your toolbox in order, I recommend buying tubes in a plastic case.
