Calling all soldering wizards!

zepp76

I need to solder in three new tactile switches that measure 6mm x 6mm to a board and there is not a lot of room to do it! What would be the best watt iron and tip to use please?

Also, desolder braid or pump for confined space with regards to removal of old switches please?

exocet

25 watt iron is fine. Choice of tip is dictated by space / whatever you’re comfortable with. Something like 3mm will be fine. I use braid and pump - pump to remove the bulk and then braid to remove traces from PCB / legs of switch. If I could only use one of those on that job, I’d opt for braid.

Emp_Fab

Get some flux.  Soldering without flux is like a dry hump.

zepp76

exocet said:

25 watt iron is fine. Choice of tip is dictated by space / whatever you’re comfortable with. Something like 3mm will be fine. I use braid and pump - pump to remove the bulk and then braid to remove traces from PCB / legs of switch. If I could only use one of those on that job, I’d opt for braid.

Thank you I’ll order some braid, I have the pump.

Emp_Fab said:

Get some flux.  Soldering without flux is like a dry hump.

I have flux, me and flux are an old friend after making thousands of tattoo needles. 

Danny1969

If it's leaded solder then you need an iron that gets hot. Stating the wattage of an iron is a bit pointless as how hot the component gets depends on how long you hold the iron against it and whether the iron remains a constant temperature when held against something. I use my Weller on the same temp for every job from laptop SM to large TRIAC's and stuff, just vary the time. Same deal when I'm using hot air for SM stuff. 

Sometimes if the tracks are vulnerable  and it's really crowded you are better off cutting the old component so each leg can be removed easily with no damage to the track. 

I use a decent braid to clean up after removing the old component the trick is don't attempt to slide the braid unless there's plenty of heat on it . 

Then I would use leaded solder to put the new one on