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What wattage Soldering Iron for Pots?

ALEX999

New member
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Sep 14, 2019
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9
Getting ready for some Push Pulls. I'm looking for a new soldering iron. any recommendations so I don't cook any parts?

My old 40w is being retired.

Thanks
 
Last edited:

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
I would suggest putting in some extra coin and going to a soldering station. I bought a Hakko FX888 and am really impressed. That way you are dialing in the temp (650-700 is great for pots) you need. They heat in seconds and cool very quickly. Most come with tips for various jobs. At around $100 I think they are a much better solution. I have several 30 and 40 watt stick types for under 50 but the tips most sell these days for them are total crap. You can certainly go higher in price and lower, but this may give you food for thought.
 

Don

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Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
I agree with renderit about paying a little more and buying a soldering station with temperature control. I use a Weller WES51 (60 watts). It revolutionized soldering for me.
I use a 1/8" wide screwdriver style tip to solder pots and grounds (and pretty much everything in guitars), a 1/32" tip on PCBs and 1/16" tip on eyelet boards in old Fender amps. I've generally got mine set at around 650F. Sometimes a little higher.

We use Wellers and Hakkos where I work. You can't go wrong with either. If I needed to replace my Weller, I'd probably save a few bucks and get the Hakko.
 

toxpert

Active member
Joined
Jul 2, 2005
Messages
3,068
Yes to the prior responses. For grounds and chassis soldering you need the largest and thickest tip you can get. I use a thick, heavy duty chisel blade tip that is 3/8” wide. This tip transfers a lot of heat quickly without being excessively hot. It’s the kind of tip you see used with stained glass and industrial soldering...this large tip takes a while to heat up...but once it’s hot, you can get on and off chassis and pot soldering points quickly and neatly.

Two things to avoid:
1 insufficient heat transfer (small tip and not hot enough)...you’ll cook the pots to death, chassis joins may not wok (cold join)
2 soldering gun...these operate with an induction field coil and can degauss, demagnetize magnets...compromise pickups.

Cheers,
Mac
 

ALEX999

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Joined
Sep 14, 2019
Messages
9
Great Info! Thanks!

I guess I wont be burning the table anymore with a station! :yah

Are you using Rosin in the solder and or do you need to brush Rosin onto the pots to make a best connection?
 

sonar

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Jan 10, 2003
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3,589
I assembled 2 amplifiers with sticks. It's doable, yet difficult when I soldered on the chassis and, you guessed it, the back of the pots when I was putting my ground scheme together.

For the money the Hakko looks really good. I bought a Weller WLC100 for around $50, rated at either 40 or 80 watts (can't remember) and have been able to do whatever I've needed to with a couple other builds. as mentioned, the right tip for the job is probably more important than wattage for 95% of guitar needs. A tip set was an extra $15-$20.
 

buckaroo

Formerly Tweedguy
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
938
I would suggest putting in some extra coin and going to a soldering station. I bought a Hakko FX888 and am really impressed. That way you are dialing in the temp (650-700 is great for pots) you need. They heat in seconds and cool very quickly. Most come with tips for various jobs. At around $100 I think they are a much better solution. I have several 30 and 40 watt stick types for under 50 but the tips most sell these days for them are total crap. You can certainly go higher in price and lower, but this may give you food for thought.

I have the same station Hakko FX888D. Works great for my rather basic needs. A big step up from a single soldering iron. The masterbuilders at Fender appear to have Weller stations on their benches. So if you "want or need" better than the Hakko you might look at Weller; it may be considered an industry standard for many electronics shops.

Buck
 

jtees4

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Joined
Feb 26, 2010
Messages
209
I recently got a 60 watt after having 30's and 40's for years. I found it much easier with the 60 watts, I was very worried about cooking things but really it made things so much quicker I think for me it's actually safer.
 

Triburst

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Feb 12, 2006
Messages
4,353
I have the same station Hakko FX888D. Works great for my rather basic needs. A big step up from a single soldering iron. The masterbuilders at Fender appear to have Weller stations on their benches. So if you "want or need" better than the Hakko you might look at Weller; it may be considered an industry standard for many electronics shops.

Buck

I have both (the Hakko was a gift), and they're really comparable as far as I can tell. Both give you a nice assortment of tips, quick temperature settings, and quality.
That said, if I had been sitting behind a Weller station for a long career, confidence being part of the art of soldering, that would probably have an edge.
 

ALEX999

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Sep 14, 2019
Messages
9
I picked up the Weller WLC100 5 - 40-Watt Soldering Station.

The iron doesn't fit in the holder. It stops at the set screw for the tip. I'll check it out later to see if I'll drill out the hole of return it for something else.

Oh well something else that needs to be fixed! :fc
 

sonar

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Jan 10, 2003
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3,589
I picked up the Weller WLC100 5 - 40-Watt Soldering Station.

The iron doesn't fit in the holder. It stops at the set screw for the tip. I'll check it out later to see if I'll drill out the hole of return it for something else.

Oh well something else that needs to be fixed! :fc

Got a pic?

Mine fits fine.
 

Dave P

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Oct 13, 2001
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976
Weller stations are nice before they crap out. Unfortunately, they tend to do that a lot. I know some electronics companies who got away from using Weller for that reason. Hakko seems like they are more reliable.
 

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Yes, my last stint at occupying my free time had many Wellers. (The number they use is WESD51 I think). None of which worked correctly. They went out of business shortly thereafter. The new one (though I do not do much soldering there) has the same Wellers which seem to be in working order.

I would suggest not buying a Weller station used.


That said, in my limited experience in this field I would state that businesses must buy them for a reason.

But at 3 times the
Haako FX888D price and for home I would not diss the Haako. I love mine.

I see Weller has some stations at 89 bucks. As I have not been impressed with Wellers lower priced offerings I would hesitate on them though. Their 39 dollar 40w stick has the worst tips I have ever seen. You throw away the tips every 15-30 minutes...
 

Don

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Dec 1, 2001
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5,732
Weller stations are nice before they crap out. Unfortunately, they tend to do that a lot. I know some electronics companies who got away from using Weller for that reason. Hakko seems like they are more reliable.

I had a Weller WES51 die several years ago. I replaced it with another WES51 that has been fine for years. We use them where I work (and the last place I worked) and they were fine. But, if this one dies, I'll probably buy a Hakko.
 
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