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| You alone demand the ane inwards the middle |
If you lot tin acquire to solder, you lot tin breathe novel life into that basket-case 15-91 or 201-2 you’ve got amongst the rotted wiring insulation. If you’ve mastered the wire braiding nosotros went over inwards Part 1, straight off you’re ready to endeavour soldering. But earlier nosotros acquire to that, I’ll push clitoris the proper tools required, because I don’t desire you lot to overeagerly purchase the incorrect items commencement similar I did. Read this earlier you lot pass whatsoever money.
Also consider this: The soldering procedure requires asset the tip of a soldering Fe against your wire articulation to estrus it, thence adding solder. It requires a fairly steady hand--you may take away maintain to concur the Fe steady for thirty seconds or longer amongst some precision--so if you lot take away maintain suitcase issues or arthritis, you lot may discovery this challenging; delight read the “arthritis” paragraph at the bottom.
Tools together with materials you’ll need:
Must-have:
- Soldering iron
- Solder, 63-37
- “Helping Hands”
- Old sponge
- Eye protection
Optional:
- Soldering Fe stand
- Respirator
Soldering Iron
Soldering irons come upwards inwards 2 dissimilar forms, “pencil-” together with “gun-” shaped. They also come upwards inwards dissimilar wattages.
After trying out three, I recommend the 40-Watt pencil-style soldering iron. The pencil cast element is tardily for me to concur steady, together with the wattage is adequate for the task. Radio Shack sells ane for $10.99.
The 25-watt pencil soldering Fe I bought commencement is besides underpowered. It takes upwards to 2 minutes to acquire the wire hot plenty to bring solder.
The 150-watt gun soldering Fe I bought 2d is overkill. It gets really hot really quickly, but is a fleck on the heavy side together with hard for me to maneuver, especially when working simply about the motor leads.
Solder
Solder comes inwards a bewildering variety--lead-free, rosin-core, 60/40, 50/50, together with inwards dissimilar diameters. What you lot demand is 63-37 Rosin-Core Solder inwards 0.50” diameter. Radio Shack sells a 1.5 oz spool, which is plenty, for $6.99. (As far equally I’ve seen inwards their stores, that’s the smallest sum they sell.)
“63-37” agency it’s 63% tin together with 37% lead. This specific per centum is what Singer 221 guru Graham Forsdyke’s motor specialist uses, together with he used to function inwards the Singer manufactory inwards Kilbowie, thence I’m certain he knows his stuff.
Lead-free solder requires extremely high temperatures to melt, which is why I don’t role it. The other type, rosin-core, melts faster, which is what nosotros want.
“Helping Hands”
You volition discovery this tool invaluable. It’s simply 2 moveable alligator clips attached to a minor Fe base of operations thence it doesn’t movement around. When you lot solder you’ll take away maintain the soldering Fe inwards ane mitt together with the solder inwards the other, thence you’ll demand something to concur the wires steady, especially when nosotros acquire into the actual motor.
I did read most ane adult woman using stacked tunafish cans to sandwich the wires inwards house patch she soldered. I can’t recommend or naysay this method because I’ve never tried it, I’m simply throwing it out there.
You should endure able to discovery Helping Hands at your local hardware store or at an fine art provide store. I bought mine inwards a local jeweler’s store inwards NYC for most $10. There is also a multifariousness for sale on Amazon
at cheaper prices, but endure certain to read the reviews to avoid the crappy ones that tip over.
Old Sponge
You’ll demand an one-time sponge to periodically wipe the soldering Fe tip on patch you lot solder. You’ll also demand something to weigh ane terminate of the sponge down, similar a brick or a drinking glass bottle filled amongst H2O or something. This volition all choke to a greater extent than clear inwards the adjacent entry, when nosotros genuinely acquire into soldering.
Chances are slim that something hot volition wing upwards into your oculus when you’re soldering, but similar most of you, I earn my living amongst my eyes. If there’s a 0.00001% take away chances something is going to wing into my eye, I brand certain they’re protected. If you lot don’t already wearable glasses, security spectacles are a twosome of bucks at a hardware store.
Soldering Iron Stand
I nation this is optional because most soldering irons come upwards amongst a picayune dinky stand upwards (below) that you lot tin prop the tip on, similar a chopsticks rest, to proceed from burning your tabletop.
If you’re on a tight budget you lot tin brand produce without the soldering Fe stand upwards together with simply role the dinky one. But I similar using the stand upwards because it’s convenient together with has a picayune house to concur a sponge. I got it at Radio Shack for $8.99. There are also a bunch of these on Amazon
.
Respirator
Solder fumes are toxic--it’s gaseous lead--and patch a whiff or 2 belike won’t kill you, breathing it inwards all the fourth dimension belike will. If you’re going to solder a lot (as nosotros volition for practice), together with if you lot take away maintain to produce this indoors together with you lot alive inwards a windowless storey similar I do, consider getting a respirator. Otherwise produce it adjacent to an opened upwards window or if you lot alive inwards a nicer climate than I do, outdoors.
I bought a respirator years agone because I needed it for diverse woodworking, sanding together with icon projects. I loathe wearing it, but I forcefulness myself to since I don’t take away maintain wellness insurance. Mine is a model 7501 made past times 3M, which comes inwards dissimilar sizes, thence I could discovery ane to stand upwards for my minor face. If you lot determine you lot demand one, your local hardware store volition sure take away maintain it. If not, here you lot go.
For Those amongst Arthritis
If you lot take away maintain arthritis or suitcase issues together with desire to justice if you’ll endure able to solder without wasting whatsoever coin on a soldering Fe first, endeavour this. Take the heaviest pair of pair of scissors you lot own, similar a pair of Ginghers or similar. Hold them similar a pencil inwards your principal hand, most midway upwards the scissors. With your other hand, catch a ballpoint pen together with concur it similar a pen, but upwards high on the pen. Then acquit upon the tips together, together with run into if you lot tin proceed them touching for most thirty seconds.
It doesn’t take away maintain to endure precisely point-to-point, but run into if you lot tin proceed the tips inwards full general contact amongst each other. This volition give you lot an thought of the manual challenge that soldering demands, together with volition hopefully aid you lot determine if you’re upwards to trying it.
Ready?
Thanks for your patience, equally I’m certain many of you lot are eager to trammel correct into soldering. But if I relieve fifty-fifty a few of you lot from wasting coin on the incorrect soldering Fe or incorrect type of solder, thence I won’t experience similar such a dope for blowing my cash on those things.
Next we’ll acquire to the actual soldering.
Go on to Part 3: Learning to Solder
