Author:Elsa Chen

Soldering irons are great tools to make job easier. But few people know that soldering tools are also a great tools to keep around our life. Do you think soldering iron is expensive and untouchable? Today I will tell you some applications of soldering tools that can be usefull around our life:

Application for home use

1) Roofing Trades

Soldering tools are great for making repairs to a roof and for making a flashing roof. You can use soldering iron to fuse components of copper roofs and fuse galvanized metal for flashing. The moment the solder cools it will become waterproof, this can be especially helpful in the rainy season when repairs are highly needed to be made. Due to te windy nature of roof repairs, You'd batter to choose the one heat up quickly. 

2) Soldering Metal Gutters

If your home has metal gutters, you can held them together by soldering. The materials are similar to the ones roofers use for flashing roofs. Soldering can make the gutters leak proof permanently. Absolutely convenient on rainy days!

3) Artistic Decorations

For example, you can create stained glass windows or mosaics. First, preparing some beautiful patterns of different colors and a soldering iron more than 100-watt, Then, use your imagination to join the separate pieces of colored glass together. In tradition, artisans used lead-based solder in stained glass windows, which is unhealthy, but nowadays lead-free solders are more common for making stained glass windows and mosaic sculptures. In addition, soldering iron is a perfect tool for performing quick repairs of loose glass.

You can creat lamps of different shapes and colors

4) Auto Repair

Tthough, joining performed on automobiles need hard metal and need acetylene torches and more traditional welding methods, But soldering irons can be useful for smaller tasks, soldering metal is soft, can be used to smoothrough edges, tighten jointswhen and fill irregular cavities when doing auto body repair. And it can also be used in Bicycle repair, Motorcycle reparie, in Musical instrument repair

and in electrical repair, such as: TV, refrigerator, water dispenser, humidifier, dust collector, air conditioner, electric fan, Dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner, electric iron, Water heater, dehumidifier, hair dryer, shaver, massager, ventilation fan, Oven, microwave, rice cooker, soymilk maker, electric kettle, induction cooker etc.

5) Plumbing and Line

If you have a soldering iron in home. It can be convenient when you need to repair copper and other metal pipes. Using lead-free solder to join plumbing pipes is safty. lead is a kind of toxic materials, we must avoid ourselves to any lead. For pipes, small operating space, and no power plug nearby, then a Battery-use handle soldering iron is the best choice.

A soldering iron is also the best way to join wires and multiple pieces of metal, there are many other uses for a soldering iron around our home life. With your creative thinking, just come up with more uses of soldering iron for home projects, anything is possible.

Application for professional

1) Circuit Boards

Plastic circuit boards of electronics, is one of the most common uses of a soldering iron. Using soldering iron to join two wires to establish electrical continuity and fixed the wiring down to the circuit board. In this way, we need samrt soldering tools which are more accurate and including controller.

2) Electricians

Electricians ofen use soldering irons to splice wires in residential or commercial wiring, sometimes use to wire in electrical terminals inside electrical devices or in control panels.

3) Vacuum Tubes

Silver tin solder is placed on a pre-fab vacuum switch tube to form a corrugated ring with a cover that forms a tight vacuum on the circuitry board to which the tube is attached.This is important in electronics as the near-vacuum allows free passage for the electric current to go through.

4) Professional repairman

Soldering tools can be used in Precision maintenance situation. For example, electrical repair, digital repair, musical Instrument repair, watch repair etc.

5) Lab and engineer

Soldering iron can be used in electronics laboratory for engineers.

Application for DIY

1) Jewelry

Jewelry require higher precision, so jewelers will prepare different kinds of solder tips in working with jewelry. The solder has a high percentage of silver, so they also use accurate torches that burn propane or butane. Because of the oxides that form when you apply heat to metal, jewelers typically use borax flux to reduce the metal oxides that form when you apply heat to metal. Flux is an important component of any soldering job.

2. The temperature rises fast;

3. Heating / Cooling switch at will;

4. Automatic hibernation and automatic standby effectively prevent the soldering iron from wearing out after being used for a long time without power, thereby increasing the life of the soldering iron, and also preventing the safety hazard caused by forgetting to power off after using the soldering iron;

5. over temperature alarm;

6. Customize the exclusive logo on startup;

7. You can customize parameters such as startup temperature, sleep time and standby time;

8. Integrated internal heating type heating core, making the heat energy conversion rate more efficient and quick;

9. The real-time temperature of the OLED display is more clearly at heart;

10. Suitable for DC12-24V laptop power supply, car power supply and mobile power supply. The usage scenarios are not limited by power supply. Add XT60, T-plug, XT30 to DC5525 power cord and aircraft model battery perfectly: support 3S-6S.

Author：Elsa Chan

Date：March 12, 2020

Are you still using traditional soldering tools such as soldering station, which is bigger havey and ugly?

The composition and characteristics of SQ-001 electric iron

Control terminal:

SQ-001 is based on 304 stainless steel nested ABS + PC housing, integrated dedicated power interface, safety circuit design, anti-static structure, built-in STM32 processor, dual temperature sensor and accelerometer, which makes SQ-001 realize Intelligent temperature control between 100–400 degrees, instant heating, automatic sleep, over-temperature alarm and other functions.

Heating end:

The integrated inner heating type heating core makes the heat energy conversion rate more efficient and rapid.

External independent power supply:

DC5525 power interface, suitable for DC12 -24V notebook power supply, car power supply and mobile power supply.

Micro USB interface:

You can set the heating curve through the parameter file, customize the startup logo.

Difference between SQ-001 electric soldering iron, soldering station and other electric soldering iron on the market:

SQ-001 Mini Soldering Iron is a built-in intelligent NC soldering iron, lightweight design, easy to install and use, easy to remove and store, easy to carry, comfortable control handle, high-efficiency heating end, simple control interface, intelligent temperature control , Instantaneous heating, automatic sleep, over-temperature alarm and other functions.

Soldering station is larger in size, which is inconvenient for disassembly and storage.

Other electric soldering iron on the market is small and easy to carry, but has the same problems as the soldering station:

1. Long temperature rise time;

2. No sleep function, resulting in short life of the electric soldering iron;

3. The thermal energy loss during the thermal energy conversion process of the soldering iron head is serious, and the screen display temperature is always higher than the actual temperature;

4. Soldering stations and electric soldering irons on the market require a fixed power supply (220V AC), and their use scenarios are limited.

SQ-001 electric soldering iron is suitable for DC12–24V laptop power supply, car power supply and mobile power supply.

XT60, T-plug, XT30 to DC5525 power cords are perfectly combined with aeromodelling batteries: support 3S-6S

If using 1300 millimeters Battery-powered, SQ-001 electric iron can work continuously more than a hour.

Under the temperature control state, SQ-001 is left standing for 180 seconds (the factory preset is 3 minutes, adjustable from 1–10 minutes), it will enter the sleep state, and the temperature will return to the preset sleep temperature of 200 ° C;

When SQ-001 moves, it will automatically enter the temperature control state; the temperature will return to the current set temperature (the factory preset temperature is 300 ℃)

In the sleep state, it will enter the standby state after a preset standby time. The standby time (the factory preset is 6 minutes), and the time can be customized.

Hibernation mode and standby mode can effectively prevent the soldering iron from wearing out after being used for a long time without power, thus increasing the service life of the soldering iron, and also preventing the safety hazard caused by forgetting to power off the soldering iron after use.

The SQ-001 electric soldering iron uses an integrated soldering iron head with a high thermal energy transfer rate, and the screen display temperature is basically the same as the actual temperature;

The soldering station and the electric iron on the market use a three-piece soldering iron head, which has a low thermal energy conversion rate and serious thermal energy loss, which causes the screen display temperature to always be higher than the actual temperature;

Summary of the advantages of SQ-001 electric soldering iron:

1. Small and exquisite, easy to disassemble and store, easy to carry;
2.  The temperature rises fast;

3. 3. Heating / Cooling switch at will;

   4. Automatic hibernation and automatic standby effectively prevent the soldering iron from wearing out after being used for a long time without power, thereby increasing the life of the soldering iron, and also preventing the safety hazard caused by forgetting to power off after using the soldering iron;

   5. over temperature alarm;

   6. Customize the exclusive logo on startup;

   7. You can customize parameters such as startup temperature, sleep time and standby time;

   8. Integrated internal heating type heating core, making the heat energy conversion rate more efficient and quick;

   9. The real-time temperature of the OLED display is more clearly at heart;

   10. Suitable for DC12–24V laptop power supply, car power supply and mobile power supply. The usage scenarios are not limited by power supply. Add XT60, T-plug, XT30 to DC5525 power cord and aircraft model battery perfectly: support 3S-6S.

    

Buying Guide

Soldering iron is one of the handiest electronics which help in working with metals. Soldering irons are also sometimes regarded as soldering pencils; and are used as a tool for soldering projects. Following is a guide to consider while buying soldering irons.

• The rating for the wattage should range from about 20-50 watts only. Wattage is not responsible for handling the temperature or heat of the soldering iron. It only works on how fast it can heat the iron and re-gain the normal temperature after plugging it out.

• Every time you solder, the tip of the soldering iron is lowered in terms of temperature as it transfers the heat forward to the wires of solder joints. The higher the wattage of the soldering iron, the more it can maintain a loner temperature and re-heat itself.

• Tips of the soldering irons should always be replaceable. This is because the tips can become damaged or oxidized and need to be changed after a while, so spending a few extra cents in replaceable tips will eventually save you from spending a lot in future.

• Purchasing a good, heat-proof stand is also important to get while purchasing a soldering iron. This is to rest the iron when it is not in use, so that no one is harmed by it.

• The most expensive soldering irons have built-in temperature controls. If money is not a problem for you, getting temperature control feature is just an additional and useful edge to your soldering iron which will make the job easier.

Best Soldering Iron Reviews 2020

 Mini SQ-001 Soldering Iron 

The SQ-001 soldering iron is also a compact iron which is not only intelligent but has automatic control on internal heating system. It is very light in weight and convenient to assemble or disassemble. This soldering iron has micro usb interface as well as control key for temperature adjustment on the handle so you can control it just by using one finger. It also comes with a sleep mode option to prevent drying out of the soldering iron and prolong the life of the joints.

When you are selecting a tip for soldering, chances are that the tip shape has been determined. However, you may face hindrance in adjusting the diameter of the tip for which you need to know what tip size suits best. Choosing the right tip size is important for soldering as it enables you to get enhanced performance and better results. Some of the characteristics that you need to consider while choosing the right tip size for soldering iron are mentioned below.

• Remember the property of heat. It will run through your workpiece easily and will be offered easy wetting by the electric solder.
• If you notice that the wetting process of the solder is too easy, note to adjust the setting temperature to a low number.
• The lower the degree of the temperature, the less the oxidation of the tip.
• Saving the tip from oxidation can maximize the life of your tip and save you money; which makes choosing the right tip cost-efficient for you.

While you are working to select the perfect tip for electric soldering iron, consider your options well through research. One of the best suppliers for guiding you to the right tip size are Squre Shop; which can help you in choosing the suitable size.

Why Does Size of the Tip Matter for Workpiece?

When you are choosing the size of the tip, remember that it changes the contact are of your workpiece as well. The contact area is responsible for transferring the heat into the workpiece. For this purpose, you need to pick the ones which transfer the most amount of heat. Normally, it is recommended to use the dropped temperatures and select the tip of a larger size. This choice makes you spend lesser time, as well as less oxidized in favor of the tip.

Besides selecting the larger tip size, it is even better if you go for the appropriately sized tip. This is because, when you are soldering iron with dropping temperature and workpiece temperature, it will be just convenient enough not to lose any heat in the process. It has also been observed to transfer the most heat into the workpiece.

Choose Tip with Appropriate Size for Workpiece

Importance of choosing appropriate tip size is considerably large in terms of the results we get. This is because, when we use smaller tip size, heat is not transferred so the working time is increased. Contrary to this, if the tip is big in size, it might cause damage to the P.W.B. In case it is not possible for you to work up and use an appropriately sized tip for your workpiece, you can reduce the tip size to the minimum amount and then solder the iron. It is also important to note that if appropriate size of tip is chosen with respect to the workpiece, enough heat will allow the solder to be wetted and heat will be transferred easily, however, the drop-in temperature may increase.

Soldering irons are tools which we use for soldering. This is a handy tool that are easily available in the market and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Choosing the right size for a soldering iron can be tricky, but it all depends on how you need to use it, and what projects do you require it for. Some important factors that may affect your soldering iron purchase decisions include Wattage, the types of soldering irons available, controlling of temperature, as well as the shape of the tip and its size.

Different Types of Soldering Iron

Soldering irons comes in about four different sizes and varieties. These are:

1. Soldering Pencil

Soldering pencils are quite simple among the soldering tools and are very cost efficient as well. These soldering pencils can be used easily for DIY projects. Usually, the price range of soldering pencils stretches form $10-$30. Although the name might confuse you to choose this for your project, fine soldering projects should never be done by this as it does not allow you to keep control over the temperature of the tip. Having applied too much heat while soldering can result in damage of the components and the circuit board as well.

2. Soldering Station

Soldering Stations are made of soldering pencils which are supported by a power station. The power station is responsible for controlling all the desired settings for temperature with reference to the tip of the soldering iron. Some soldering stations come with the feature of controlling temperature electronically, enabling you to maintain the temperature of the iron on a set temperature. The power station attached to the pencil works to keep the temperature of the tip adjusted. The prices for these range from about $40-$150. Soldering stations are widely used to cover most of the projects through using hole components and fine surface mount components. One of the best sellers for soldering stations is the Squre Shop which provides not only quality for the product, but also value for money.

3. Soldering Systems

The soldering systems are also known as repair or rework systems. This is due to their complexity in working process and their demand and use in high-volume manufacturing. Soldering systems involve several hand pieces that include the soldering iron, the de-soldering gun, thermo-tweezers besides other equipment. These systems are used at an industrial scale and cost about $300-$3000.

4. Soldering guns

Soldering guns consist of a transformer which is responsible for lowering the voltage. The transformer in soldering guns usually have only one turn which enables them to produce very low levels of voltage. Soldering guns are usually used in soldering systems for industrial use which involves the high use of voltage, and simultaneously the need to lower the voltage.

Conclusion

For choosing the best soldering iron, you need to be aware of the type of workpiece you require it for. If you need it at industrial level, go for the soldering systems, if at smaller levels, soldering pencils are handy as well.