Soldering Iron Introduction

This is the content required for an introduction to our soldering irons - reading this does NOT replace the mandatory session with a tutor! It will make it even quicker though ;-)

Let's begin! First off, make sure you have read the tool's manual, if available.

Safety

Personal protection:

splashing solder is rare, but dangerous - wear goggles!

Dangers	Precautions
the tip gets very hot (over 300 °C)	only touch the handle, rest the iron in its stand when not using it
toxic fumes are be generated when soldering or overheating neighboring components	take care of good ventilation and don't inhale the fumes use a fume extractor with carbon filter if possible
hot flux or solder can splash towards you during soldering, e.g. when a springy wire gets loose	protect your eyes with goggles
the solder may contain poisonous lead	get familiar with the type of solder you're using - for instance, does it contain poisonous lead? wash your hands after handling solder

Demonstration

Our electronics bench is set up in a master/slave fashion to reduce the risk of accidentally leaving soldering irons on over night - the black outlet bar only works when the desk lamp is on.

Suggested Reading

If you're new to soldering: mikrocontroller.net - "Löten" (DE)