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Posted: 1/8/2022 4:51:02 PM EDT
I want to get into soldering. Just bought my first soldering iron.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AS28UC?psc=1&;ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

But I think I'm going to need different tips for soldering with circuit boards and for other things I want to use it for.
Mostly I intend to use this in conjunction with my 3D prints, making robots and RC cars and things of that nature.

Anyone know where I can get soldering supplies, like solder, solder wick, flux, tips, etc locally? Or is this all stuff I'm going to have to buy off Amazon?
Link Posted: 1/8/2022 7:17:27 PM EDT
[#1]
Amazon's cheap and easy, home depot and hardware stores have limited supplies, radio shack has tons of stuff if you can find one.(especially switches and connectors) Harbor freight has some basic units too with shrink tubing,
Link Posted: 1/9/2022 5:06:25 AM EDT
[#2]
I dont know of any Radio Shacks Left.  I honestly dont know of any Weller dealers around local either.  Lots of places have closed.  Both of the FRYS Electronics closed.  but they were ghost towns for the past 3 years or so.  Wish I would have caught them in their last couple weeks to see what deals they were doing.

Maybe check HRO (Ham Radio Outlet) up at 43rd and Peoria I want to say or online at hamradio.com for Weller parts.

Otherwise get part numbers off of the Weller website and then search online for what you need.

for solder you can see what Home Depot has but make sure you dont get the super sized stuff for doing plumbing.  If you are doing circuit board stuff you want real thin solder so you can control the amount you put on a trace.  I use 60/40 .031 dia rosin core solder.  My last spool I bought was from Radio Shack oh 6/7 years ago and its still about half full and I do a fair amount of rework on stuff, projects, tinkering, RC stuff, antennas and connectors.  I havent looked at Home Depot to see what they have so I dont know for sure.  Solder last forever unless unless you are constantly using it or overloading your connections.  Get a 1lb spool and you will probably have it for years and years.  My small spool of silver solder I bought heck 12 years ago or more and I think I still have 3/4 of it or more, but I really only used that for doing battery tabs to make racing packs from loose NICAD and NiMH cells.  That was nasty stuff to work with.

Get a Fume extractor also.  Or work in a ventilated space and dont breathe in the soldering fumes.  Those are bad bad news, silver solder fumes are worse news.  

Other online places to look, Digikey.com, mouser.com, alliedelec.com, waytekwire.com, tessco.com for specialty stuff depending on what you are looking for.

Good Luck.

Radio Man
Link Posted: 1/9/2022 10:25:26 AM EDT
[#3]
Circuit Specialists just moved to Tempe. Their retail store is open weekends 10 to 4 on weekends.  I havent been in there for a few years so I cant vouch for what they currently stock.  Give them a look of you are close:  Circuit Specialists
Link Posted: 1/9/2022 3:11:39 PM EDT
[#4]
Link Posted: 1/10/2022 11:41:20 AM EDT
[#5]
Damn, Apache Reclamation is permanently closed? That’s a damn shame, I could roam that store for hours. Went to suggest it, looked it up, now I’m bummed!
Link Posted: 1/10/2022 2:02:26 PM EDT
[#6]
I like this stuff for my audio mods and repairs .Main product image for WBT 0800 Silver Solder 4% Silver Content 1/8 lb. 093-586
WBT 0800 Silver Solder 4% Silver Content 1/8 lb.
WBT
Part #093-586  
Model: 800
Read 22 Reviews
|
3 Questions, 27 Answers
orWrite a Review
Highest quality lead based silver solder with 4% fine silver content. The halogen-free flux is gentle on precious metal surfaces and the melting temperature is extremely low (356°F/180°C).
Link Posted: 1/10/2022 2:56:09 PM EDT
[#7]
Frys electronics used to have it.  Does that store still exist?

40 Watts isn't very much, I prefer a 60 Watt minimum with a temperature controlled tip.  Some multilayer boards, especially ones with a ground plane or two, will suck all the heat out of a 40 Watt iron.

My portable is a Weller W-60P3 and I use their larger bench models.  I also have a heavy duty Metcal.  Funny thing is, I only solder once or twice a year anymore, rather than daily.

FRU is a thing (field replaceable unit), so board level only.  I think last year, I soldered one leaded battery and one battery holder at work.  At home, I probably only soldered leads to LED light strips.
Link Posted: 1/10/2022 3:23:39 PM EDT
[#8]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Frys electronics used to have it.  Does that store still exist?

40 Watts isn't very much, I prefer a 60 Watt minimum with a temperature controlled tip.  Some multilayer boards, especially ones with a ground plane or two, will suck all the heat out of a 40 Watt iron.  

My portable is a Weller W-60P3 and I use their larger bench models.  I also have a heavy duty Metcal.  Funny thing is, I only solder once or twice a year anymore, rather than daily.

FRU is a thing (field replaceable unit), so board level only.  I think last year, I soldered one leaded battery and one battery holder at work.  At home, I probably only soldered leads to LED light strips.
View Quote



Fry's is gone.. it was a shell of itself for the last few years, open, but empty shelves and areas and way off brand stuff, but then they permanently closed all of them last year.
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