The requirement for removing filter cap cans is to move a lot of heat energy into the solder joint in a short period of time, so that the joint temperature get's high enough fast enough to not heat up everything else around it as well. (Think PL-259 braid soldering.) This can be done one of two ways, either with a high mass low-wattage soldering iron (low rate of energy input, high heat capacity) or with a high-wattage soldering gun (low heat capacity, high rate of energy input.) The heat transfer is driven by the temperature difference. If too small an iron is used, the tip temperature will decrease too rapidly to do the job.
73, Bob AD3K -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Knoppow Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 3:10 PM To: Paul Christensen; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Drakelist] T4XB Question ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Christensen" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 11:36 AM Subject: Re: [Drakelist] T4XB Question >> I replaced the three-section electrolytic in my R-4 with >> no major >> problems (that Drake chassis is a huge heat sink - make >> sure you're >> using a big iron/gun). > > After trying to tackle the filter cap removal from my > Drake 1A, I began looking for 200-watt soldering irons. I > was (and still am) in shock over the price of new, > high-wattage irons. I finally found a used, 40+ year old > 200-watt Hexacon iron, and it was still nearly $100. Best > as I can figure, the price of new Hexacon and American > Beauty irons is held up by demand from commercial sheet > metal workers. > > Paul, W9AC You might try local swap meets or junk shops. I've bought several large old soldering irons at such places for a few dollars. You may have to replace the tips but usually you can just file them down a little and re-tin them. I have not looked on ebay for them but its another possibility. Two of my large irons are American Beauty brand and I think the other is Esico both once top brands. The mass of the tip may be more important than the wattage. Modern irons have very little mass so are cooled quickly, for working on old equipment one needs a high mass iron. -- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles WB6KBL [email protected] _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
