Soldering gun - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

vtwinsport · 02-28-2009, 02:32 PM

I am planning on doing some rewiring to my harness. Does anyone have experience with a particular soldering setup that they like? Where did you get it?
thanks.

1984 swb chevy · 02-28-2009, 06:39 PM

You can get a nice gun style with a trigger from sears. This will have replaceable tips. You can also buy the standard plug in type that is inexpensive. Weldon makes a nice one so does Craftsman.

ElGracho · 02-28-2009, 08:57 PM

The best all around setup for automotive wiring would be a weller soldering gun. The 100/140 watt gun is pretty much the standard and works well. You can buy new ones at Home Depot, Lowes or similar.

The old ones are much much better. Look for them on Ebay. The difference is the set screws that hold the tips on the new ones just don't seem to work as well as the nuts that threaded into the barrels on the old ones. I'm not sure why, but my new style gun has to be taken apart and the tip cleaned at the set screws pretty much every day its used. If you don't, it just doesn't heat up properly. The old style ones have never had to be taken apart for this problem.

This is the larger size gun (too big for this application) in the older style on ebay: 400033677213

vtwinsport · 02-28-2009, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the feedback. What size and shape of tip is needed? I've seen quite a few at the radio shack place I looked.

ElGracho · 02-28-2009, 11:53 PM

This is the standard weller soldering tip. It works just fine for automotive wire. Make sure all the connections are super clean like you would a fender you are about to paint. I prefer a 63/37 solder. It's a little harder to find, but better solder.

Pyrotechnic · 03-01-2009, 12:26 AM

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...02123+10401001

The Weller 100/140 works great for automotive wiring. I've used it on wire as thick as 8 gauge.

boxrodz · 03-01-2009, 02:55 AM

I prefer to use a soldering iron with a pencil tip. I have better control with it versus a soldering gun. I've had my Weller soldering pencil with only a 23 Watt Ungar heating element for quite a long time and bought it from a national electronic distributor back in the day (when the Internet was just ARPANET).

A good quality soldering pencil with 60/40 flux core soldering wire can handle the soldering of the truck's wiring. I also like to use some flux to clean and tin the pencil tip and the wiring before soldering.

I don't see how those pros use those butane guns with such control although I've never tried to use one.

dammitmitchell · 03-01-2009, 06:26 AM

i LOVE the butane guns... and portables.. etc etc..
but NEVER EVER EEEEVVVEEERRR buy the walmart cheapy 15watters that plug straight into the wall..
the soldering iron by "borodz"is exactly the one i reccomend...
but im not an avionics techinican or anything =-)
(maaabyy i am....)
good luck dude.. and remember to practice on crap you dont want until you feel good pretinning wire and all that good stuff..
and no flux sniffing..not a good thing for you
good luck

*78 Chevyrado* · 03-01-2009, 07:02 AM

I've got a few wellers.

I've got 2 or 3 of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/WELLER-TC202-SOL...3A1%7C294%3A50

And I've got an EC2002A. This one pictured is 25W but mine is 60-something watts
http://cgi.ebay.com/WELLER-TC202-SOL...3A1%7C294%3A50

vtwinsport · 03-01-2009, 06:09 PM

okay, I see the difference. soldering unit connnected to cord or unit seperate from heating element. The unit spec'd by boxrodz reminds me of the one I used in shop class. So these types heat the rod or pencil, then need to be reheated by placing it back in the heating element? Want to make sure I understand the difference.
Tinning- I assume that means tinning the wire portions needing to be soldered before joining them together for soldering?

71swb4x4 · 03-01-2009, 07:06 PM

Another tip - the wire should melt the solder, not the gun. The gun heats the wire, the wire melts the solder. The solder will be drawn to the heat, so I usually heat the opposite side of the wire and let the solder wick around.

85_prairieboy · 03-01-2009, 07:13 PM

The butane guns do take some practice but in a shop where you use them a lot they are so handy. I do quite a bit of wiring and wire repair and the technique is the same as described above. Heat the wire and let the solder flow into it. If you just melt the solder first it just sits on the copper wires and won't fuse them together. Only thing with butane is you have to be fast or you will burn the insulation

silvereagle07 · 03-01-2009, 10:13 PM

Butane is the way to go for tight spots. I use a Weller PSI100k all the time. It does take some time to get used to. They are versitile because they come with various tips to use and also a sheild for heat shrinking.

vtwinsport · 03-04-2009, 10:35 PM

thanks for the tips. I did buy the weller 100/140 unit from hells depot. I'll try that first and see how it goes.

02-28-2009, 02:32 PM	#1
vtwinsport Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: edmonton, alberta Posts: 293	Soldering gun I am planning on doing some rewiring to my harness. Does anyone have experience with a particular soldering setup that they like? Where did you get it? thanks. __________________ 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/

02-28-2009, 06:39 PM	#2
1984 swb chevy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 466	Re: Soldering gun You can get a nice gun style with a trigger from sears. This will have replaceable tips. You can also buy the standard plug in type that is inexpensive. Weldon makes a nice one so does Craftsman. __________________ 2010 Tahoe 1984 C10 2005 Harley FLH 1941 Willys Pickup (will never get it done) not for sale

02-28-2009, 08:57 PM	#3
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,553	Re: Soldering gun The best all around setup for automotive wiring would be a weller soldering gun. The 100/140 watt gun is pretty much the standard and works well. You can buy new ones at Home Depot, Lowes or similar. The old ones are much much better. Look for them on Ebay. The difference is the set screws that hold the tips on the new ones just don't seem to work as well as the nuts that threaded into the barrels on the old ones. I'm not sure why, but my new style gun has to be taken apart and the tip cleaned at the set screws pretty much every day its used. If you don't, it just doesn't heat up properly. The old style ones have never had to be taken apart for this problem. This is the larger size gun (too big for this application) in the older style on ebay: 400033677213 __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed Last edited by ElGracho; 02-28-2009 at 09:02 PM.

02-28-2009, 10:36 PM	#4
vtwinsport Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: edmonton, alberta Posts: 293	Re: Soldering gun Thanks for the feedback. What size and shape of tip is needed? I've seen quite a few at the radio shack place I looked. __________________ 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/

02-28-2009, 11:53 PM	#5
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,553	Re: Soldering gun This is the standard weller soldering tip. It works just fine for automotive wire. Make sure all the connections are super clean like you would a fender you are about to paint. I prefer a 63/37 solder. It's a little harder to find, but better solder. Attached Images __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

03-01-2009, 12:26 AM	#6
Pyrotechnic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,930	Re: Soldering gun http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...02123+10401001 The Weller 100/140 works great for automotive wiring. I've used it on wire as thick as 8 gauge. __________________ 1977 GMC Sierra Grande

03-01-2009, 02:55 AM	#7
boxrodz Until Seventy Times Seven Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rocky Mountain Front Range Posts: 1,301	Re: Soldering gun I prefer to use a soldering iron with a pencil tip. I have better control with it versus a soldering gun. I've had my Weller soldering pencil with only a 23 Watt Ungar heating element for quite a long time and bought it from a national electronic distributor back in the day (when the Internet was just ARPANET). A good quality soldering pencil with 60/40 flux core soldering wire can handle the soldering of the truck's wiring. I also like to use some flux to clean and tin the pencil tip and the wiring before soldering. I don't see how those pros use those butane guns with such control although I've never tried to use one. __________________ boxRODz 1983 C10 SWB Fleetside When two halves is gone, there's nuthin left. Two nothings is nuthin. That's mathematics son. You can argue with me but you can't argue with figures. Two half nothings is a whole nuthin...

03-01-2009, 06:26 AM	#8
dammitmitchell the pollock Join Date: May 2008 Location: abilene, texas Posts: 4,423	Re: Soldering gun i LOVE the butane guns... and portables.. etc etc.. but NEVER EVER EEEEVVVEEERRR buy the walmart cheapy 15watters that plug straight into the wall.. the soldering iron by "borodz"is exactly the one i reccomend... but im not an avionics techinican or anything =-) (maaabyy i am....) good luck dude.. and remember to practice on crap you dont want until you feel good pretinning wire and all that good stuff.. and no flux sniffing..not a good thing for you good luck __________________ Jack of ALL trades, Master of none.. (but one... procrastination) Army vet 02-08 RIP El Jay! Miss you brother! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=343538 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386042

03-01-2009, 07:02 AM	#9
78 Chevyrado Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville Posts: 2,079	Re: Soldering gun I've got a few wellers. I've got 2 or 3 of these http://cgi.ebay.com/WELLER-TC202-SOL...3A1%7C294%3A50 And I've got an EC2002A. This one pictured is 25W but mine is 60-something watts http://cgi.ebay.com/WELLER-TC202-SOL...3A1%7C294%3A50

03-01-2009, 06:09 PM	#10
vtwinsport Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: edmonton, alberta Posts: 293	Re: Soldering gun okay, I see the difference. soldering unit connnected to cord or unit seperate from heating element. The unit spec'd by boxrodz reminds me of the one I used in shop class. So these types heat the rod or pencil, then need to be reheated by placing it back in the heating element? Want to make sure I understand the difference. Tinning- I assume that means tinning the wire portions needing to be soldered before joining them together for soldering? __________________ 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/

03-01-2009, 07:06 PM	#11
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: Soldering gun Another tip - the wire should melt the solder, not the gun. The gun heats the wire, the wire melts the solder. The solder will be drawn to the heat, so I usually heat the opposite side of the wire and let the solder wick around. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

03-01-2009, 07:13 PM	#12
85_prairieboy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Glaslyn, Sask Posts: 131	Re: Soldering gun The butane guns do take some practice but in a shop where you use them a lot they are so handy. I do quite a bit of wiring and wire repair and the technique is the same as described above. Heat the wire and let the solder flow into it. If you just melt the solder first it just sits on the copper wires and won't fuse them together. Only thing with butane is you have to be fast or you will burn the insulation __________________ 85 GMC toy Lowered, newer box swap, 350 .060 over with AFR 195s, forged pistons, TCI TH350 1.83 60' 13.14 @ 100 on motor 1.49 60' 11.52 @ 116 w/150 shot 1952 Chevy truck project 1980 Z28 Camaro 1967 Camaro drag car 10.60@126

03-01-2009, 10:13 PM	#13
silvereagle07 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bailey, NC Posts: 2,462	Re: Soldering gun Butane is the way to go for tight spots. I use a Weller PSI100k all the time. It does take some time to get used to. They are versitile because they come with various tips to use and also a sheild for heat shrinking. __________________ Jeramy '84 GMC project truck '85 Chevy 4X4 SOLD '07 Chevy Trailblazer SS 5th Annual SHPHC Car/Truck Show Pics http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543605 UPDATED PICS! CHECK 'EM OUT

03-04-2009, 10:35 PM	#14
vtwinsport Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: edmonton, alberta Posts: 293	Re: Soldering gun thanks for the tips. I did buy the weller 100/140 unit from hells depot. I'll try that first and see how it goes. __________________ 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/ Last edited by vtwinsport; 03-04-2009 at 10:35 PM.



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