So I bought the cheap-ass Argos Soldering Kit

ElCapitan · Post by **ElCapitan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:44 pm

Well, I suppose you get quite a lot for ?10. I can't work out how you're supposed to use the soldering iron rest, as I really don't want to burn a hole in my carpet.
It also comes with "soldering paste", is this flux? It's brown. All the soldering guides I've looked at seem to talk about flux core solder.
The Shiznit:

The Shitty Soldering Iron Rest:

The Weird Brown Stuff:

And yes I am completely new to soldering...

Post by **Mike** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:51 pm

I don't use the paste.

Flip the wire up and rest the soldering iron against it.

ElCapitan · Post by **ElCapitan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:52 pm

Ok, what is the paste supposedly for?

Post by **Mike** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:56 pm

Are you allergic to google or something?

ElCapitan · Post by **ElCapitan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:09 pm

Ok, so its an alternative to using the iron.
I was looking up "tinning" but I don't understand it, I have to melt solder onto the tip of the iron before i can use it?

Post by **Doog** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:18 pm

Tinning is coating the wire in solder before you actually solder it onto something.

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:43 pm

But you should also tin the iron really before doing any soldering. A damp sponge helps to wipe off/clean the tip before soldering.

Post by **Doog** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:45 pm

I didn't know that.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:55 pm

One, that is a pretty nice starter kit. That multimeter appears to have a hFE measurement. it looks like the one I use.

Two, WTF IS WITH THE MASSIVE PLUG?!

Three, the paste is for...I think it cleans dirt and oxidation from the site to be soldered. I never use it, that is all in my solder. OTOH I would like to get a jar of this to ease tinning wires and cleaning the iron, I have a sponge but it doesn't get it all.

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:59 pm

Three pronged UK plug. Pins are live/neutral/ground.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:08 pm

All of your plugs are like that?! Fack we only put those massive plugs on things like LAUNDRY DRYERS! We have three prong plugs that are far smaller than that, and most smaller items use a polarized two-prong plug with a GFI outlet.

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:10 pm

That is the standard size for all plugs here, yep.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:15 pm

Looks okay for the monies. What i found with cheap kits was you cannot find replacement tips when they inevitably lose there shape.

I currently have a weller butane soldering iron, fuck your 240v plug!

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:02 pm

I bought mesel' one of them cheap homebase efforts earlier in the week. Supremely useful weapon, the soldering iron, particularly for electronics an' that.

ElCapitan · Post by **ElCapitan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:11 pm

euan wrote:But you should also tin the iron really before doing any soldering. A damp sponge helps to wipe off/clean the tip before soldering.

What, so I should wipe the tip and then melt some solder on to the tip before I start soldering? Why? I understand the first part about cleaning it, but why should I "tin"?

kim · Post by **kim** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:14 pm

hm... do i smell a 'how to' soldering tutorial ....meh..i guess you got google for that..but still,..a sticky in the fx section for the soldering noobs ...

seriously... i should learn this shit too, would save me a lot of money..i once had a class back in high school where you learned that..but it's al vague

luke · Post by **luke** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:27 pm

When the hot thing touches the solder, the solder turns into a liquid. It's pretty simple. Best way to learn is to get some solder, an iron and some bits of wire and practice putting the wires together. A good idea is to try and make a cube out of 12 equal sized pieces of wire, that's how my dad taught me. It's a piece of cake after trying to do that.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:34 pm

PenPen wrote:All of your plugs are like that?! Fack we only put those massive plugs on things like LAUNDRY DRYERS!

no way dude, you're seeing it as much bigger than it is.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:39 pm

d00dz.

if i can find it, i will post the most badass soldering video ever created.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:40 pm

paul_ wrote:
PenPen wrote:All of your plugs are like that?! Fack we only put those massive plugs on things like LAUNDRY DRYERS!
no way dude, you're seeing it as much bigger than it is.

If you compare the relative size of the plug in that pic to the standard sizes for soldering irons, pliers, multimeter, or anything in that box, that plug is the size of a...well...220V plug we use here, like on dryers and such. I thought their 220V plugs were normal sized like our 110V plugs.