On 1/24/2017 12:20 PM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 01/24/2017 12:03 PM, Todd George wrote:
Can't help you on the Tektronics scope, unfortunately.
For the solder thing, it's a bit of a religion if you ask me. There are lots and lots of discussions online about it. Here are my views. Use high quality, lead based, name brand solder. Kester is awesome. RadioShack's actually used to be good, but the most recent spools I've gotten from them (while still lead based) are complete garbage.
I think I have about 3 lbs of 60/40 Kester. One is fine, the other 2 medium thickness.
I usually hover between 300 C and 375 C on my Hakko station. Start on the low side, crank it up if you are having trouble getting a pad to heat properly (due to large ground planes, thicker traces, etc.) Keep your soldering tip clean, I highly recommend the soldering tip cleaners and the brass "brillo pad" style cleaners. Don't use a wet sponge, too much thermal shock and then delay while your iron recovers. And the brass cleaners do a REALLY nice job.
Not loving the brass, I don't like to scratch the tip ... but ... I still use the sponge and your point about the thermal shock is a good point. Thanks for the range that's part of what I need.
I'll +1 the brass cleaner, it has worked REALLY well for me for several years. Perhaps they are not good for precise and costly soldering equipment. But I have cheap Velleman VTSS5 irons, and use them for non precise (thru hole) work. I haven't noticed scratches on the tips and the longevity is better than when I used sponges. The brillo is ever ready, compared to remembering to wet the sponges before starring, and impregnated with rosin they clean really well with a couple of dabs into the material. (And nobody here would ever clean their tip on a dry sponge cause they forgot to wet it, right? :O )
will develop your own style. Practice makes perfect. :)
Some 40 years and it still ain't perfect (but I hope it's pretty good) ;-)