I have earlier posted about soldering irons. Here is a continuation to it with a set of interesting soldering iron tear-down and DIY videos from YouTube.
Inside the cheapest soldering iron on ebay.
How To Make a MINI USB Power Soldering Iron
Hot! Hot! Hot! Weller ROBUST Soldering Gun, BEB #21
Homemade Soldering Gun
How To make Powerful Soldering Gun
81 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/new-diy-metcal-compatible-soldering-station/
Tomi Engdahl says:
This is not a Vintage, but many people who buy no brand soldering Irons from AliExpress, they actually buy a fake product. Good to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZqb2vXaUTA
Tomi Engdahl says:
Too Cheap!!! $1 DIY 1000°C Soldering Iron By Spark Plug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdDu0lmFdoA
Hi guys ! Today I’m going to make a $1 soldering iron out of a Pen Case and truck’s spark plugs!
That is not a spark plug it is a glow plug but then you would not get any comments LOL – Also use – - 24 Volt.- Glow plugs are around 150 Watt. So 150 / 12 = 12.5 Amp – Most trucks are 24 Volt So 150 / 24 = 6.25 Amps.
How to make soldering iron using glow plug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qKws4rM4i4
How to make 1000°C soldering iron using glow plug
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ultrasonic soldering bonds glass, titanium, stainless steel, ceramics, tungsten, nichrome…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuYdsStS1MQ
Technical details and how to build an ultrasonic soldering iron. This technique can bond difficult-to-solder metals such as titanium as well as glass and ceramics.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/4b957h/if_it_smells_like_chicken_youre_holding_it_wrong/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dangerous Prototypes flux-off solder flux test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJNjNOAxvqY
We test four types of flux we had around the workshop: syringe, liquid, marker, and paste. Which is easiest?
Flux-off part 2: another solder flux comparison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTV8gtSX6tg
Dangerous Prototypes compares three types of syringe flux with a solid block of rosin while soldering a TQFP chip. Find out which worked the best.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Are Soldering Fumes Dangerous?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGdlM48eDbA
Can you get lead poisoning from soldering? This video will explain if there are toxic fumes in solder smoke and describe some simple and economical ways to reduce the risk.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The fumeFan soldering fumes extractor put to the test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WrTffsChos
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hot, hot, hot!! Too close for comfort! Needs a glove!
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/WFWzxt50_qI?feature=share
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Recipe to Make Your Own Natural Rosin Soldering Flux
To provide a safer alternative to the chemical-laden stuff, catsndogs came up with a recipe for rosin flux that uses natural ingredients.
https://www.hackster.io/news/a-recipe-to-make-your-own-natural-rosin-soldering-flux-7927667b6fe0
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-soldering-irons
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/miniware-ts101-smart-soldering-iron-review-lots-of-options
Tomi Engdahl says:
Solder’s Days Should Be Numbered—There Is a Better Way
Opinion
https://www.eetimes.com/solders-days-should-be-numbered-there-is-a-better-way/
It seems that just about every year, the PCB assemblers encounter a new solder challenge as it moves to smaller, much more capable products with increased performance requirements. Ever smaller components, finer pitches, smaller pads, finer traces, and spaces on the PCB continue to challenge those companies tasked with building complex products with high yields and solid reliability. Although doable to a degree, we’re reaching the limit of what can be done efficiently and economically. An objective observer would quickly conclude that the industry cannot, and should not, continue down this path.
It seems that just about every year, the PCB assemblers encounter a new solder challenge as it moves to smaller, much more capable products with increased performance requirements. Ever smaller components, finer pitches, smaller pads, finer traces, and spaces on the PCB continue to challenge those companies tasked with building complex products with high yields and solid reliability. Although doable to a degree, we’re reaching the limit of what can be done efficiently and economically. An objective observer would quickly conclude that the industry cannot, and should not, continue down this path.
When we look at some of the most common causes of failure in an electronic product, solder is at the core.
Although solder defects are well known and fairly well managed, solder’s constraints on the industry have not been well understood.
With all of solder’s constraints and limitations—which limit industry progress—it is time to ask: What would a world without solder be like?
At Occam, we have developed a process that supplants solder—and PCBs—with a new methodology for component assembly. We sometimes describe it as reverse order processing.
Our vision is to first attach components to a “component board” and test that assembly before encapsulation and circuitization. This ensures that all assemblies are known to be good at the outset. There are several methods for adding component connections, including traditional plating techniques and additive printed circuits (printed electronics).
By removing solder, thermal excursions are greatly diminished.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/17/kirby-sucks-literally/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The contention point would be the presence of lead. Solder with lead is significantly easier to use, especially on a hobbyist basis, but used on an industrial scale on devices that end up in the waste stream, it becomes an environmental poison of some concern. Use of lead-containing solder in commercially manufactured devices is somewhere between “discouraged” and “illegal.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
NC presumably means No-Clean (not acid/aqueous) flux.
Fine for general purpose electronic work, as long as you’re not doing IPC production rework on a lead-free build.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Build a One-Handed Soldering Tool | Effortless Soldering
Build a neat project that allows you to effortlessly bond wires while only utilizing one hand for both the solder and soldering iron.
https://www.hackster.io/RoboticWorx/build-a-one-handed-soldering-tool-effortless-soldering-b69d2e
Tomi Engdahl says:
HACKADAY PRIZE 2023: ONE-HANDED SOLDERING WITH THE SOLDER SUSTAINER
https://hackaday.com/2023/08/04/hackaday-prize-2023-one-handed-soldering-with-the-solder-sustainer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2023/08/02/open-source-firmware-for-soldering-irons/
Tomi Engdahl says:
NEWACALOX 30W Soldering Smoke Absorber Fume Extractor Fan Carbon Filter Sponge Soldering Station Smoke/Dust Filter Welding Tool
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001511074183.html?src=criteo&albch=criteo_New&acnt=criteo-LF&albcp=157651&device=pc&clickid=6500615729804eb8d46b3539166cdf45_1694523735_1005001511074183&aff_fcid=90cd21659d2f4b75a9b776ae813319e3-1694523742958-05180-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=90cd21659d2f4b75a9b776ae813319e3-1694523742958-05180-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=a84dd682a66047c694dfe5628f2eb974&afSmartRedirect=y
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.oem.fi/info/tuki/juoksutetyypit-ja-niiden-eroavaisuudet
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://toolsdoctor.com/fi/what-types-of-flux-is-used-in-electronics-soldering/#google_vignette
Tomi Engdahl says:
What Are the Different Types of Solder?
https://www.oatey.com/faqs-blog-videos-case-studies/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-solder
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to make Cheap Soldering Iron Tips (including SMD version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gNP1e1wDug
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/04/20/let-the-solder-scroll-take-care-of-your-feed-needs/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2024/09/12/review-ifixits-fixhub-may-be-the-last-soldering-iron-you-ever-buy/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://eur.vevor.com/plasma-cutter-c_10061/vevor-100w-solder-fume-smoke-extractor-3-stage-filters-240-m3-h-strong-suction-p_010262788569
https://uraltone.com/juotoskaryjen-poistaja-kahdella-suodattimella.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Does Soldering Smoke Have Hidden Cancer-Causing Ingredients?
https://cancercenterforhealing.com/does-soldering-smoke-have-hidden-cancer-causing-ingredients/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Retrotechtacular: Soldering The Tek Way
https://hackaday.com/2025/01/09/retrotechtacular-soldering-the-tek-way/
Tektronix Solder And Its Application In Electrical Assembly 1977
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZSveVpgmIM&feature=youtu.be
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2025/01/27/a-low-voltage-solder-gun-from-scratch/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The main problem with a lot of inexpensive “temperature controlled” soldering irons seems to be heat transfer to the tip. Temperature is measured far from the tip, and they fail to use their full power to keep the tip hot when a lot of heat is flowing away from it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T5XKbeWDW98