SOLDERING AIDS

Soldering - Specialised tools and materials

Soldering is no different to any other task whether it is undertaken for the hobby or for “real world” applications…

All it takes is a little knowledge, some simple techniques and the use of the right materials and tools to do the best possible job.

Like many tasks, there are often simple, low cost but incredibly helpful tools and materials that will make the task of soldering easier for you… and they are all here on this page!

So far, there are 25 separate soldered details on the front footplate of this Brass and Nickel Silver loco and about another 50 or 60 soldered joints on the rest of the footplate & cab of this part-constructed loco kit (For those interested, it is a somewhat modified Brassmasters Royal Scot).

Soldering this tidily and finely is not so hard once you have the Iron, solder, flux AND the simple added tools such as those below)

Take your time and browse - there is lots of good stuff here!

——————————————————————————————————

Universally safe *refillable* flux pen:

Text Box: A handy little tool about the same size as a medium felt tipped sharpie or marker pen. This handy refillable flux pen will never leave your pocket once you realise how helpful it is. The flux itself is totally safe for every use. You need very little flux on any joint so it will last. When it runs out re-fill it with DCCconcepts Sapphire liquid flux.

Soldering Iron TIP REVIVER:

Text Box: If your soldering Iron tip is not perfectly clean and shiny, it can’t transfer heat and you can’t solder properly! Heat it and wipe on a damp sponge to check. If it has dark patches or isn’t well tinned, roll it in this little tin of magic and it will work like new!

Silver Conductive Paint:

Text Box: Sometimes it is hard to conceal lighting wires or perhaps you want to install surface mount LEDs but are wary of soldering to them as they are so small. This little 10ml vial contains enough to “paint your wires” in a myriad of places…. And if you paint over them once dried, they will be totally invisible! (Pictures below use this paint to provide power to the LED in the guards hand)

Conductive GLUE:

DCCconcepts Precision Wire Stripper & Cutters

Text Box: Exclusive to us! We had these strippers made for us based on a pair I’d used for over 20 years. These are the ultimate stripper for fine work, and the locking adjustment lets you set them in any position so you are guaranteed to strip the insulation, not the core. Adjustment is so fine you can take the strip size as high as 3mm - or as small as 0.1mm.

Solder removal Wick (De-soldering braid):

Text Box: Too much solder creates short circuits on PCBs and ugly seams on brass kits. Dip this copper braided solder removal wick in flux and then apply to the joint with the soldering Iron on top, moving it back and forth - any excess solder will be soaked up immediately. An easy way to make clean up less of a chore!

Assorted colour 1.5mm shrink tube:

Text Box: It is good practice to insulate every electrical joint to prevent short circuits. This very handy pack has 36 pcs of shrink tube in the common wire colours (with extra black & red provided). Just snip off enough to cover the joint plus a few mm, slip it onto the wire and then slide over the soldered joint. Heat with the side of the Iron tip to shrink it firmly into place...

Fibreglass cleaning Pen:

Text Box: Sorry its not a great image, but it IS a useful tool that is a great help when you need to solder almost anything: This pen has a retracting replaceable fibreglass brush that is perfect for cleaning rail, brass or other modelling metals, circuit boards or anything at all that needs to be clean for soldering. (Also great for wheel cleaning to improve the running qualities of locomotives!)

Graphite Solder Mask:

Text Box: Sometimes you want to join two pieces of metal flexibly by soldering a rivet or pin in place, but you don’t want the two parts to accidentally get soldered together! This Solder mask is a graphite compound that will stop solder going where it is not wanted. Just smear it on the surfaces you want to remain solder free! (It also makes a great conductive lubricant!

Liquid electrical insulation (Liquid electrical tape):

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Desk top magnifier

Even a skilled modeller can do with a little help sometimes, and while big enough to do the job, this very nice multi-angle adjustable lamp also has a small enough footprint to fit on your workbench and to NOT get in the way of other tasks when its not needed….