Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.
I don’t know from hot air soldering, so I can’t judge the details of this homemade rig, but it’s certainly a thorough Instructable. Hot air work/SMD soldering is something I need to break down and learn. Maybe you too? SparkFun has a decent tutorial .
INSANELY HOT DIY Hot Air Soldering iron @ 15 Volts DC and 3.5 amps…PART II – Link
8 thoughts on ““Insanely hot” DIY hot air soldering iron”
Paolo*says:
All hail the overheated chip ?
ian-2says:
Thats what I thought. I’ve overheated several QFN chips with my digital adjustable hot air station. This would be like soldering with a blow torch.
I just dont get it. A hot air station is a great tool. Its not very pricey, great 3-in-1 stations can be had for around $100 and hot-air-only for less than $60 (x-mas and birthday territory for the poor kids among us…). It makes a great first purchase after you’ve made a few boards and decide to continue. At $100, my Auyoe is my the most expensive electronics TOOL, but half as $$$$ as my cheapest (purchased) microcontroller programmer or DEV-board!
With something that does such delicate work, in the 200-600 degree C range, why not just get the real deal and save the hacking for the electronics? I do everything myself, but I cant justify a DIY hot air station to save $60 (not including your parts cost).
ozzyroosays:
Cost…. $10 Australian $$$ …. My wallet …. empty …. cost for these units in Australia … don’t go there. Adjusting the amount of hot air and it’s temperature by using a power voltage regulator and numerous nozzle tips has worked for me…fried chips? None that I know about. Say’s a lot about the shop brought version mentioned here…lol. If I can desolder parts by the way I describe and not cook my finger (especially when desoldering mosfets), I must have done something right here
Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.
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All hail the overheated chip ?
Thats what I thought. I’ve overheated several QFN chips with my digital adjustable hot air station. This would be like soldering with a blow torch.
I just dont get it. A hot air station is a great tool. Its not very pricey, great 3-in-1 stations can be had for around $100 and hot-air-only for less than $60 (x-mas and birthday territory for the poor kids among us…). It makes a great first purchase after you’ve made a few boards and decide to continue. At $100, my Auyoe is my the most expensive electronics TOOL, but half as $$$$ as my cheapest (purchased) microcontroller programmer or DEV-board!
With something that does such delicate work, in the 200-600 degree C range, why not just get the real deal and save the hacking for the electronics? I do everything myself, but I cant justify a DIY hot air station to save $60 (not including your parts cost).
Cost…. $10 Australian $$$ …. My wallet …. empty …. cost for these units in Australia … don’t go there. Adjusting the amount of hot air and it’s temperature by using a power voltage regulator and numerous nozzle tips has worked for me…fried chips? None that I know about. Say’s a lot about the shop brought version mentioned here…lol. If I can desolder parts by the way I describe and not cook my finger (especially when desoldering mosfets), I must have done something right here
Perhaps the knockers who reckon this a blow torch should check this guy out… http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2005/11/45_hot_air_pencil.html