There are many types of electric soldering tools.
Soldering refers to the process of melting metallic items together to join them. Typically, the only tools required for the job are the soldering iron and the solder itself. However, several soldering accessories are available that can help you execute specialty soldering tasks, such as working on a circuit board or copper jewelry which requires an iron with finer tip, or working on audio connectors which requires a wider tip. Other accessories are also available to make your soldering job easier or neater.
Soldering Iron
A soldering iron is the main tool used for heating and melting metallic objects to join them together. Miniature soldering irons are used for performing most electronic tasks. They come with different power ratings, ranging from 15 Watts to over 100 Watts. If you get a high-wattage soldering iron, the advantage is that the heat flows quickly into the join, helping you accomplish the task quickly. Smaller irons take longer to heat the metal to the correct temperature. Miniature soldering irons are best suited for joining small components that are at risk of damage due to excess heat.
Soldering Iron Tips
Circuit boards and small wires need very fine iron soldering tips, but if you have to solder a microphone cable on an XLR electrical connector, you will need a larger tip. The most commonly used iron tips are flat tipped (sometimes called pointed tips or spade tips).
Solder
Solder, which is the material used to create the join, is a fusible metal alloy with a melting temperature that ranges from 190°F to 840°F. The most commonly used alloys have a melting range of 360°F to 370 °F.
Clamps
When you are in the middle of a soldering project, you don't have enough hands to handle a soldering iron, the solder, the wire and the connector itself. To manage everything properly without creating a mess or damaging delicate components, you need adjustable clamps that you can manipulate to hold the connector as well as the wire. Using clamps, your hands will be free and you will be able to focus on the solder.
Solder Wick
Solder wick is a mesh that you use for drawing out solder from a joint. When the wick heats up, it starts to melt the solder that you want to remove. Wick is mostly used to clean solder from circuit board tracks. First lay the solder wick on the solder; then heat it using a soldering iron. When the wick heats up, the solder melts and flows away from the joint into the mesh.
Solder Sucker
Solder sucker, as the name suggests, is a spring-loaded tool used for sucking molten solder from joints. You have to be quick when using the solder sucker. First, you have to melt the solder, and then quickly place the solder sucker on top of the molten solder, while at the same time, releasing the spring in order to suck up the solder. Solder sucker is an alternative to solder wick as both do essentially the same job.
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