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 necessity. Sometimes situations happen that can only be corrected with the help of this tool, and if it is not there, then what to do? If the problem is one-time, then there is no need to go to the nearest store and purchase an expensive product. You can make a little effort and use simple components to assemble a homemade soldering iron. There are many options for assembling this device - consider some of them.
Apparatus from a resistor
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 for power is used as a heater. It can be PE or PEV. The heater is powered from the household network. These dampening resistances make it possible to solve problems of various scales.
We carry out calculations
Before moving on to assembly, some calculations need to be done. So, for the manufacture of devices with heating elements from resistors, it is enough to recall Ohm's law from a school physics course and the power formula.
For example, you have a suitable PEVZO-type part with a nominal value of 100 ohms. You are going to create a tool based on it for use in household electrical networks. With the help of the form you can easily calculate 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, with the help of resistance-damping elements, it is necessary to reduce the current by a factor of four. After that, the indicator will decrease to 0.55 A. The voltage across 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 for voltage up to 300 V is suitable. Its capacitance should be 10 uF.
Soldering iron 220V assembly
Any red copper bar of suitable size is recommended as a rod. It should fit into the hole of the resistor with as little clearance as possible. When assembling, fill it with silicate glue.
Perhaps the glue will worsen the heat transfer a little, but it will dampen the system of 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 knot. The cores of the wires will be brought out through the hole in the tube-rod. This diagram will help you understand how to make a soldering iron reliable, efficient and inexpensive, as well as safe.
To avoid trouble, it is better to strengthen the insulation where the cores will be 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 will enter the handle.
It's so easy to make a soldering iron with your own hands. Its power may vary. This requires simply replacing the capacitor in the circuit.
Mini soldering iron
This is another simple circuit. With this tool, you can work with various miniature devices or parts. With it, you can easily dismantle and solder small radio components and microcontrollers. Each craftsman has the materials to create 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 - any one from the frame scan of an old TV will do. A piece of 1.5 mm copper wire is used as a sting. A 30 mm piece is simply inserted into the heating element.
Making a base tube
This will be not 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 compound. This composition is also very simple and easy to make. Enoughmix talc and silicate glue, lubricate the tube and dry it over gas.
Make a heater
In order for our hand-made soldering iron to adequately perform its functions, you need to wind a heater for it. We will do this from a piece of nichrome wire. To solve the problem, we take 350 mm of material with a thickness of 0.2 mm and wind it around the prepared tube. When you wind the wire, lay the turns very tightly together. Don't forget to leave straight ends. After winding, smear the spiral with a mixture of talc and glue and let it dry until it is completely 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. Also, mix any cavities that may have resulted from lack of care.
The manufacturing process of this tool involves protecting the heater leads with heat-resistant insulating material and pulling the cord through the hole in the soldering iron handle. Screw the ends of the power wire to the heater terminals, then carefully insulate everything.
It remains to pack the heating element in a tin case, and then put it evenly in place.
Now you can use this product. If you did everything right, you get an excellent soldering iron, assembled with your own hands. With it, youyou will be able to solder many interesting circuits.
Miniature non-wire resistor design
This tool is suitable for small jobs. 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 assembly.
We need an MLT type resistor from 8 to 12 ohms. The power dissipation should be up to 0.75 watts. Also pick up a suitable case from an automatic pen, a copper wire with a cross section of 1 mm, a piece of steel wire 0.75 mm thick, a piece of textolite, a wire with heat-resistant insulation.
Before you assemble this soldering iron with your own hands, peel off the paint from the body of the resistor.
This is easily done with a knife or liquid with acetone. Now you can safely cut off one of the resistor leads. Where the cut was made, drill a hole, and then process it with a countersink. The sting will be mounted there.
At the very beginning, the diameter of the hole can 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. It will hold a down conductor, which will also hold the heater.
Now we make a payment. It will consist of three small parts.
From the wide side, connect a steel down conductor to it, in the middle part the case from the handle will be fixed. The second remaining output is installed on the narrow partresistor.
Before using this tool, wrap the tip with a thin layer of insulating material. That's how simple and easy you got a low power 40W mini soldering iron.
Naturally, serious soldering stations and hot air dryers are offered for professionals today, but these devices are very expensive and are available only for 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 show you how to make a soldering iron with your own hands quickly and easily.
