From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" <ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Butane soldering iron recommendations?
Hi All,
Long time since I've posted, but read most of your emails at least weekly,
if not daily.
Trying to solder up some wires out in the field here before contest season
and even during nice warm T-shirt weather, with any kind of a breeze my
cheapie $40 butane soldering iron sometimes won't get hot enough to patch
(solder) a stranded #12AWG wire back together. What do I need?
I've soldered with a small el-cheapo butane (raw) torch (not ideal)
I've soldered with a small butane powered soldering iron.works "OK" if it's
warm outside (5 months of the year) and there is no breeze. (almost never
here on the Ridge)
What are you guys using for your field repairs? Something by Weller? How
many Watt equivalent?
I don't want a $25 Amazon cheapie. Already been down that road. But also
probably don't need a $500 unit for those few times a year I am too far from
the house not to use a variety of my electric irons.
Thanks and keep on towertalkin'
Mike VE9Antenna Antenna
I use an..... 'american beauty' 100 watt iron with a 3/8" chisel tip.
Their 175 watt model also uses a 3/8" chisel tip, and is ideal for
soldering PL-259's etc. You can get em all the way up to 750 watts..and
massive 1 1/8" tips....( 1.125" diam). They are an industry standard.
The tips hold an enormous amount of heat.
Just series 2-3 100' extension cords. That would be a lot simpler vs
hauling an inverter and battery out into the field. With 120 vac out
there, you also have the option of a light, if after dark.
Crimped connections might be another option. Or crimped and also soldered.
What ever method you choose, then heat shrink the splice....done. The
shaft of the 3/8" tips will easily heat up the heat shrink tubing.
Jim VE7RF
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