Such a tool as a soldering iron is indispensable for radio amateurs, but people who are far from electronic equipment and components do not consider it a thing of first necessity. Sometimes situations happen that can be corrected only with the help of this tool, and if it is not there, then what should I do? If the problem is a one-time nature, then there is no need to go to the nearest store and purchase an expensive product. You can make a little effort and with the help of simple components to assemble a homemade soldering iron. There are many options for assembling this device - consider some of them.
Resistor apparatus
This is a very simple but extremely reliable device. At home, it can be used in different ways. Depending on the design and power, they can solder microelectronics up to laptops. A large device even allows you to solder a tank or any other large product. Consider how to make a soldering iron with your own hands.
The circuit is interesting in that a resistor suitable in power is used as a heater. It can be PE or PEV. The heater is powered from the household network. These quenching resistances make it possible to solve problems of various scales.
We carry out calculations
Before proceeding with the assembly, some calculations should be performed. So, for the manufacture of devices with heating elements made of resistors, it is enough to recall Ohm's law from the school physics course and the power formula.
For example, you have a suitable part like PEVZO with a nominal value of 100 Ohms. You are gathered on its basis to create a tool for use in household electrical networks. Using the form, you can easily count the parameters. So, at a current of 2.2 A, a homemade soldering iron will consume 484 watts of power. This is a lot. Therefore, using damping resistance elements, it is necessary to reduce the current by four times. After that, the indicator will decrease to 0.55 A. The voltage on our resistor will be within 55 V, and in the home network - 220 V. The value of the quenching resistance should be 300 Ohms. As this element, a capacitor is suitable for voltages up to 300 V. Its capacitance should be 10 ΞΌF.
220V Soldering Iron: Assembly
As a rod, any suitable red copper bar is recommended. It should go into the hole of the resistor with the smallest possible clearance. During assembly, pour silicate glue on it.
It is possible that glue will also worsen a little heat transfer, however, it will dampen the system from the rod and the heating coil. This will protect the ceramic base of the resistor from possible cracks.
Another layer of glue will protect against backlash in this important site. The cores of wires will be led out through the hole in the tube-bar. This diagram will help you understand how to make a soldering iron reliable, efficient and inexpensive, as well as safe.
To avoid troubles, it is better to strengthen the insulation where the wires are connected to the heater. For this, an asbestos thread is suitable, as well as a ceramic sleeve on the body. Additionally, you can apply elastic rubber in the place where the electric cord enters the handle.
So itβs very simple to make a soldering iron with your own hands. Its power can vary. To do this, simply replace the capacitor in the circuit.
Mini soldering iron
This is another simple scheme. Such a tool can work with various miniature devices or parts. With it, you can easily dismantle and solder small radio components and microcontrollers. Each master has the materials for creating this product. You will learn how to make a soldering iron, and then you can easily assemble it from improvised materials. Power will be provided from a household transformer - anyone from a frame scan of an old TV will do. As a sting, a piece of 1.5 mm copper wire is used. A 30 mm length is simply inserted into the heating element.
We make a base tube
It will not be just a tube, but the base of the heating element. It can be rolled up from copper foil. Then it is covered with a thin layer of a special electrical insulating composition. This composition is also very simple and easy to manufacture. It is enough to mix talc and silicate glue, grease the tube and dry it over the gas.
Make a heater
So that our soldering iron, made with our own hands, can adequately perform its functions, for it you need to wind the heater. We will do this from a piece of nichrome wire. To solve the problem, take 350 mm of material with a thickness of 0.2 mm and wrap it on the prepared tube. When you wind the wire, lay the coils very tightly to each other. Remember to leave straight ends-pins. After winding, lubricate the spiral with a mixture of talc and glue and let it dry until it is fully baked.
Completing the project
The third stage is additional insulation and installation of the heater in a tin case.
This work must be done very carefully. The ends of the nichrome wire that come out of our heater should also be treated with insulating material. In addition, treat all the cavities that might arise from a lack of accuracy with the mixture.
The manufacturing process of this tool provides for the protection of the heater leads with heat-resistant insulating material and pulling the cord through the hole in the handle of the soldering iron. Screw the ends of the power wire to the terminals of the heater, then carefully insulate everything.
It remains to pack the heating element in a tin case, and then smoothly put it in place.
You can now use this product. If you did everything right, you get a great soldering iron, assembled with your own hands. With it, you can solder many interesting circuits.
Miniature non-wired resistor design
This tool is suitable for small work. It is very convenient to solder various microcircuits, SMD parts with it. The scheme of the product is simple, there will be no difficulties with the assembly.
We need an MLT resistor from 8 to 12 ohms. Dissipation power should be up to 0.75 watts. Also choose a suitable case from the automatic handle, a copper wire with a cross section of 1 mm, a piece of steel wire 0.75 mm thick, a piece of PCB, a wire with heat-resistant insulation.
Before assembling this soldering iron with your own hands, clean the paint from the resistor housing.
This is easily done with a knife or a liquid with acetone. Now you can safely cut off one of the terminals of the resistor. Where the cut was made, drill a hole, and then drill it with a countersink. A sting will be mounted there.
At the very beginning, the diameter of the hole may be 1 mm. After processing it with a countersink, the sting should not come into contact with the cup. It should be in the resistor housing. Make a special groove on the outside of the cup. A down conductor will be held on it, which will also hold the heater.
Now we make a fee. It will consist of three small parts.
From the wide side, connect a steel down conductor to it, in the middle part the body from the handle will be fixed. On the narrow part, the second remaining resistor pin is installed.
Before you start working with this tool, wrap the sting with a thin layer of insulating material. So simple and easy you got a low-power 40-Watt mini soldering iron.
Naturally, serious soldering stations and hot air hair dryers are offered for professionals today, but these devices are very expensive and are available only to masters from service centers for repairing computers, laptops and mobile devices. This equipment is inaccessible to the home master due to its cost. We hope this article will tell you how to make a soldering iron with your own hands quickly and easily.