Soldering is the process via which two or more compact bodies are joined together with the use of a metal that has a lower melting point than the two metal bodies being connected. The filler metal is molten and soldered over, upon colling, the two compact bodies become one. It is needed while making connections in electrical circuits and other similar environments.
This is one of the most common but valuable activities in the electrical and electronics industry. It may sound like an easy concept, but it is quite tricky and can be risky for the health of the technicians if they do not have the right equipment needed for quality work. Read this article to understand more about soldering, its tools, and applications. To start with, you need a soldering iron and a soldering wire. However, you would still require a few additional instruments to make your job easier.
1. Soldering Iron
This is the most important tool you will ever require in your job. A soldering iron consists of 3 parts- a long rod with a flattened end, a handle, and a charging wire. The long rod is made of metal and can handle extremely high temperatures. When you apply a soldering wire to its one end, the wire melts almost immediately. The actual soldering work is done by this metal handle. The second part of the iron is the wooden handle.
You hold your soldering iron with the aid of this handle so that you stay away from the risks of an electric shock and extreme heat. While handling this equipment, ensure that your hands are dry, else you risk injury. The third part of your soldering iron is the charging cord which supplies current to the iron.
Normally, this chord can carry high voltage and current because converting current into heat needs high energy. Soldering irons come in various dimensions and you can pick your favourite device by comparing various websites. View website and get to know more about soldering irons.
2. Solder wire
You need some substance to connect things together and this is precisely why the solder wire is needed! This wire is made of aluminium, and in many cases, it comes coiled. To solder, apply one end of this wire to the flattened end of the iron. As soon as these two substances touch each other, the wire melts into a globule which you can apply to the required place. Solder wires are extremely light and can be packed easily in small boxes.
3. Soldering station
This is a space meant to keep your soldering iron at when it is not in use. A soldering station can withstand a lot of heat and can also accommodate several irons. The reason why you must have a soldering station is that you would not want to keep it in insecure and unsafe places.
4. Wire cutters
Sometimes you need to snip some wires during your soldering process. For this, you must have wire snippers or cutters in your kit. Most wire cutters come with long handles and teeth. To snip a piece of wire, simply put it between the teeth of the cutter, press it and pull the cutter away.
5. Desoldering tools
Often you may like to reverse your soldering process, this is called desoldering. to deconstruct a soldered metal, you need at least 2 tools. The first one is called Solder Sucker. If you need to remove your solder, simply heat it and apply the solder sucker to it. The sucker will literally suck away the loose solder and you can begin working again.
6. Eyeglasses
Even though soldering is not as hazardous as welding, you would still need a pair of goggles to protect your eyes. Sometimes sparks fly during soldering, and if you aren’t careful, they might damage your eyes. To sum up, you need at least 6 different types of soldering equipment. We hope this article has been successful in making your acquaintance with all these 6 essentials of a soldering procedure.