Soldering is often the most effective way of connecting two metals to give good physical bonding and electrical contact. Solder bonds well to many metals, and particularly well to copper.

The amount of heat generated by a soldering iron is usually expressed in watts, with most irons used in modelling and electronics being in the range of 12 to 25 watts. It must be remembered that a 25 Watt iron will not run hotter than a 12 Watt iron, but it will have more power available to quickly replace heat drained from the iron during soldering. The larger the components being soldered, the more heat necessary and the higher the power (watts) required. As too much heat can damage the components being joined it is important, within reason, to match the size of the job with the size of the iron.

Soldering irons will last longer with proper care:
a) Before and during use wipe the bit on a damp sponge. Many bench stands incorporate a sponge for this purpose.
b) If the bit is new, apply multicore solder to it as it heats up, to coat (tin) the bit.
c) Always keep a hot iron in a bench stand, or suspended by the hook, when not in use.
d) Never file the bit clean, this will damage the plating and reduce the life of the bit.

We sell a range of bits/tips to suit different makes of irons and come in various sizes to suit a wide range of applications, from the more finer bits to solder electrical components to the larger bits where you require more heat transfer for those bigger jobs.