Workbench Surface

[wokkaboy]

Hey Rabbitz I use the rubber matts and then once the guitar has stain and clear coats rest the body/neck on clean rags to protect the finish.
Old towels will work fine, but not when soldering as Andrew mentioned !

[Rabbitz]

Thanks for all the ideas.

Looks like a trip to KMart to get some mats and to the Op Shop for some old towels.

I have to ask...
What are you guys doing with your soldering irons that you need to uncover your work bench?

I have a workbench that I use for "hot work" anyway but I am concerned about how you guys are flicking solder around the joint!

Here is a hot tip when soldering - throw out the old damp sponge that everyone used to use on their soldering stand. It cools the iron and is a PITA to keep damp and clean.

Next time you are at the super market grab a metal wool scourer - the ones that are gold in colour and feel soft and pliable. to clean the tip of your iron, simply jab it into the scourer et voilà the tip is clean.

[wokkaboy]

Hi Rabbitz,
think its more a safety precaution sometimes solder may drip off the tip.
I recently bought a temperature controlled soldering station and love it. It's got the gold scouring pad to clean the tip

[keloooe]

I use the towel for protecting the freezer from the solder, I had a bit of solder drip onto the towel but it was fine!

[andrewdosborne]

Ha, yes I'm over cautious with soldering around towels, managed to catch one on fire once when my soldering was more of a make ball bearings effort... Nice tip on the scourer I'll pick one up tomorrow.


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[lawry]

I use a square of that rubbery camp matting from BCF with a towel over the top and it works great for me.
As for the soldering iron, Jaycar have a brass wool unit you can buy but you can also use the stainless steel scourers you buy from the supermarket. You just ram the tip into it between uses and it cleans the tip without cooling it. And, as Wokka noted, if you can afford a temperature controlled iron your components and wire will thank you because you will get constant heat (not too hot as to vapourise the solder and not so cool that you get poor flow and dry joints).

[keloooe]

But if you can't afford one, I find 60W to be great for the price! Heats solder fast but not to hot that it destroys your components in a puff of smoke!

[ponch]

I use bath towels over some foam gear from Clark Rubber. I just got a new bench so will be getting some construction poly sheeting to lay down.

[Rabbitz]

But if you can't afford one, I find 60W to be great for the price! Heats solder fast but not to hot that it destroys your components in a puff of smoke!

60 Watts?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

Crickey. Planning on soldering the mud guards back onto your car?

I can't remember using anything over 25W in the last 30 or 40 years.

60W might be useful if you are edge soldering your shields but personally, I would think twice about putting it near components. (Having said that, if it works for you then who am I to judge?)

[keloooe]

I use copper alligator clips to act as a heatsink Rabbitz, I haven't had a broken component (so far)