The Heart of Ham Radio DIY Projects is Hot, Very Hot!

 

The Heart of Ham Radio DIY Projects is Hot, Very Hot!

A Talk About Soldering Irons

Ham radio enthusiasts are known for building their own radios, tools and equipment, antennas and ground systems. Building your own radio can be an exciting and rewarding experience. 

It is important to have quality tools that don't break that bank. I mentioned earlier, I truly believe in second hand and AliExpress! My focus is on soldering irons and hot air SMD soldering.  

One other thing, I believe in having tons of other tools. Every time I get a project in the house I buy some extra tools, because I never know when I need them. My wife thinks I'm a hoarder, because I keep wire scraps, and parts, and screws and some more. The reality is, everybody involved in a hobby that requires DIY projects, all that "crap" stored over the years matters and sometimes are vital. I built a crystal radio with my youngest son using scrap parts. We had a blast!

Soldering tools are essential for ham radio enthusiasts. They are used to join two pieces of metal together by melting a filler metal (solder) into the joint. There are different types of soldering tools that can be used for different purposes.

Hot air soldering is one of the most popular methods used by ham radio enthusiasts. It is used to remove or replace surface mount components on a circuit board. A hot air soldering gun quickly melts the solder, enabling you to remove the required components from an old circuit board. It also allows you to solder on new ones. 

These come in different shapes and sizes. google first what you need. Here's a link from ALiExpress. 

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-hot-air-welding-gun.html?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20230710181657&SearchText=hot+air+welding+gun&spm=a2g0o.home.1000002.0

Mine looks like this one

Small wattage soldering irons are also commonly used by ham radio enthusiasts. They are ideal for small jobs such as soldering wires or small components. They are easy to use and can be purchased from a variety of places.

This is the one I have for about 5 years and it works like a champ.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804557310791.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.0.0.2e8biAFJiAFJQg&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40050.281175.0&scm_id=1007.40050.281175.0&scm-url=1007.40050.281175.0&pvid=4ed4170d-f1fc-47f3-b294-a685943b9b58&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40050.281175.0,pvid:4ed4170d-f1fc-47f3-b294-a685943b9b58,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238107%231934&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21USD%214.22%212.95%21%21%21%21%21%402101f04d16890426289006487eca41%2112000032859699087%21rec%21US%211911226421

High wattage soldering irons are used for larger jobs such as soldering large components or thick wires. They allow you to speed up your soldering projects and prevent damaging electronic components from excessive exposure to heat.

The one that I have is 100W and it was second hand from ebay for $20, and it's probably older than me. It works very well with large wires and connectors!

Here's a good one on AliExpress:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799957911619.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.13.7e652a34g40jsD&algo_pvid=c4537cd1-aeb8-466b-8c26-7fa9ba9991ad&algo_exp_id=c4537cd1-aeb8-466b-8c26-7fa9ba9991ad-6&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21USD%2115.73%2110.7%21%21%2115.73%21%21%40211be54b16890432483877516d0743%2110000000437875065%21sea%21US%211911226421&curPageLogUid=AZIw0ZOV1HZj

That's all for now, and thanks for reading!

Coz

N1COZ

Here are a bunch of other links so we don't need to reinvent the wheel:

How to Build a Ham Radio from Scratch: Everything You Need To Know. https://swinginwest.com/amateur/how-to-build-a-ham-radio/.

DIY Ham Radio Antenna: Easiest Way to Build a Ham Antenna - xRoadGPS. https://xroadgps.com/diy-ham-radio-antenna/.

Building Simple Antennas - ARRL. https://www.arrl.org/building-simple-antennas.

Homemade Ham Radio Antennas - Ham Radio Secrets. https://www.hamradiosecrets.com/homemade-ham-radio-antennas.html.

The Different Types of Ham Radio Antennas – Ham Radio Prep. https://hamradioprep.com/ham-radio-antennas/.

How to Make a Hot Air Soldering Iron - Hand Tools for Fun. https://handtoolsforfun.com/how-to-make-a-hot-air-soldering-iron/.

How to Solder : 8 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables. https://www.instructables.com/How-to-solder/.

11 Best Soldering Irons for Electronics Reviewed in 2023 - Galvin Power. https://www.galvinpower.org/best-soldering-irons-for-electronics/.

What type of solder is best suited for radio and electronic use?. https://ham.stackexchange.com/questions/769/what-type-of-solder-is-best-suited-for-radio-and-electronic-use.

Ham Radio 101: Soldering Tips - OnAllBands. https://www.onallbands.com/ham-radio-101-soldering-tips/.

Tools and Techniques for Hot Air Soldering Surface-Mount Components. https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/projects/tools-techniques-hot-air-soldering-surface-mount-components/.