Sunday, December 02, 2007

Some soldering Iron help? Please!!!!

Ok so I have been trying in vain to find out what kind of soldering iron is good for making the soldered glass pendants. There are several sites out there on how to make them but hardly any of them tells you what kind of soldering iron is a good one for this kind of work!!! I have read that you want one that keeps a constant temp but I am used to using a torch for soldering jewelry not a soldering iron.

SO I am totally clueless as to what I am looking for!!!! UGH!!!! I did read on one lady's site that she recommends the Temptrol by Inland, but I was hoping to see what kinds others like. I have seen LOTS of bad reviews but very few good. If there is anyone that can point me in the right direction I would be sooooo grateful!

4 comments:

Karen C said...

I'm pretty sure we have a Weller, but I'm hearing good things about the Inland ceramic ones.

Now, my experience is all in larger stained glass, where the important thing is 100W and a temperature control (I think ours is separate from the iron, which I don't think makes a difference). I don't know if you can get by with less power/smaller iron with the smaller pieces.

Really, the iron is a pretty darn simple thing: you run electricity through it, it gets hot, the end. As long as you keep it clean, and you can regulate the amount of electricity (and therefore the amount of heat), that's pretty much all there is to it. Use the right flux for your solder, and the right solder for your foil, and it's all good.

Rebecca said...

i won't be much help. sorry. no clue about this. but it so happens that i talked to one of my colleagues about soldering irons yesterday. she bought one at a local hardware store that is going out of business. she got one that is a cold heat? or something. so to the touch, it's cold, but when the tip meets solder it gets hot? she got that kind because she always burns herself dreadfully with her hot glue gun. good luck! i'll be interested to know which one you decide to get.

Chara Michele said...

I wish I could help, but I have no idea... I hope you find one that works though!

Charmingdesigns said...

did you ever get a soldering iron?? Im need to get a new one...Im leaning toward the inland temp control one...Let me know. Laurie