Hit 500 solder joints without a single rework today and it felt good

I’ve been working on this batch of 10 radio modules for a Cessna upgrade, and I set a personal record today. 500 joints checked off the list, all passing continuity and visual inspection on the first go. That’s a big deal for me because I usually mess up at least 3 or 4 from rushing or bad lighting. Took about 6 hours of steady focus with my Hakko iron cranked to 700 degrees. Anyone else keep track of their no-rework streaks for something like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_laura10d ago

700 degrees on a Hakko? That seems really hot for leaded solder. I run mine at 650 tops, anything higher and I get that burnt flux crust that makes me want to scrape everything. But I guess you must know what you're doing if you pulled off 500 joints clean like that. I can barely make it through 20 without having to redo something because my hand slipped or the iron picked up a tiny glob of solder. You must have a really steady setup, maybe a magnifying arm or a good vice.

willow11410d ago

Honestly, I think you might be mixing up Fahrenheit and Celsius there. Tbh, 700 degrees Fahrenheit is pretty normal for leaded solder with a Hakko, a lot of folks run it right around there. On the Celsius scale, that'd be like 370 degrees, which is way too cold for most work. The burnt flux crust usually comes from leaving the iron on the joint too long, not the temp itself. Ngl, I used to have the same problem until I started making sure my tip was clean and I moved faster. Give it a shot at 700F with a fresh tip and see if it changes things for you.