SparkysWidgets posted this drag soldering video in the comments of yesterday’s flux-off solder flux trials. He solders an FT232 IC with a Weller NTGW tipped soldering iron. These GullWing tips have a dimple in the tip that suck up excess solder, making it very easy to drag solder. Similar tips are also available for Pace (mini-wave) and Hakko (CM and BCM) irons.
Inspired by both videos I decided to make a quick one using the Weller equivalent tip to the Hakko t18-c2 bevel. I dont mind the 2331 flux its easy to clean and works well for my style, but why not try some others too.
Via the comments.
You guys make it look so easy.
If you use the tip with “dimple” (GullWing/BCM/MicroWave) IT IS that easy :). The problem is those tips are not available for all soldering irons.
Wow, my vid is featured on DP how cool is that! Thanks DP!!
Its not too hard Zeta just takes a little bit of practice, nothing a little bit of solder wick and a hot air station cant fix if you mess up :) The tip really does most of the work.
After your flux video the related videos linked me to a well produced soldering lesson by Pace Worldwide. Its a bit outdated considering they are showing components I have never even seen at surplus stores but it was full of really good advice. If anyone has an hour or two to waste I would recommend you watch some of their two series on assembly or rework. http://www.youtube.com/user/paceworldwide?feature=watch
The videos cover the different types and tips, solders and flux in the most detail I have found anywhere.
smooth!
The training video from MN called that a “reservoir” tip. He also said that their not recommended for drag soldering. Clearly you made it work just fine. I think the main concern is that it holds more solder than you need. But if you load the tip with the correct amount it probably doesn’t matter. I hope the chips I solder tomorrow look 1/2 that good!
Actually the BCM ( or GW, and mini-wave tips) are recommended by Hakko for drag soldering, reason being it creates more surface tension and suck up the solder from the pads, thus leaving no solder bridges. But as with everything,, the precise amount of solder mus be applied, (and lots of flux).
I use that style tip for all my soldering. it makes it so much easier. They’re also know as bucket/well tips
I have a Hakko 888fx solder station and have been trying to get a well tip for it. Unfortunately they seem to NOT be available in the USA. Anyone willing to ship me one?
You have a part number for the tip? I see no mention of it on their site.
Hi Jay Wilkinson:
Just saw your reply…..the “welltip” is only available on Hakko’s Japanese language site here: http://www.hakko.com/japan/products/hakko_fx888_tips.html#productNav and the part number is: T18-C2 2C All of the welltips listed on the Japanese site are grayed out on the USA Hakko site. Know anyone in Japan that can mail out some of those 2/3mm welltips?
I might get some in a month or two…when they arive i’ll contact you, youst leave me some form of contact, you can PM it to me, I am arakis in the forum
T18 tips used by hakko 888 are a direct drop in replacement for the 900M tips used by all the clones out there, Hakko didn’t make any 3CM tips for the t18 line, but they did briefly produce 900m-t-3cm tips. these are very hard, to impossible to find original, there are some copies to be found in russia/ucraine but I think they only deal locally.
The whole point is that PACE is the onlu patent holder for these tips, and all the rest are just licenses…
yup PACE holds the patent in many regions (USA and EU for e.g.) and they sold rights to some manufacturers to sell that type of tips (for e.g. Weller) in some parts of the World.
You can find HAKKO tips with this reservoir/dimple in places where PACE don’t have patent (far east, CIS ..)
Here is link to the explanation of the BCM and CM tips. from Hakko
http://www.hakko.com/english/tip_selection/type_bcm_cm.html
extract
Prevents bridging from occurring when drag soldering;
Since the pulling force due to surface tension of this type is stronger than that of Shape BC, solder is not left in unnecessary areas during drag soldering.
also a video of it in action
http://www.hakko.com/english/tip_selection/flv/tip_movie.html?id=bcm-2
Ok. After reading above I found there a third party company that makes Hakko tip (and others) called Plato in Costa Rica. (PDF WARNING) http://pdf2.datasheet.su/metcal/ps-hc1.pdf See bottom.
So from that I searched the tip and found http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/search.shtml?searchQuery=HS-0530&op=search&Ntt=HS-0530&N=0&sst=subset And it’s in stock a few blocks away! Guess where I’ll be on Monday.
Anyone know of a similar tip for the Weller WES-51 ?
Thanks…