Hacker News Reader

The temperature you need is very dependent on the PCB. I have heard of macbook repair techs using 850-900C irons because of the amount of metal in that PCB and its heat dissipation capabilities. I usually end up around 700-750 for hobby projects with 2-4 layer PCBs because I like to do the joints fast.

View on HN

Show me a professional soldering station that goes anywhere near 900C - I think most max out at 500. I doubt the tip alloys could withstand that heat very long. Sounds ridiculous. 700C is excessive for just about anything.

Sorry, I meant 900F, which is almost 500C.

Metcal fixed temperature soldering irons use RF induction instead of resistive heating elements so they don't struggle with large copper pours like that. The soldering irons you're thinking of have very poor thermal recovery compared to a proper Metcal.

Correct. Once you go Metcal you don’t go back. When I got divorced the first thing I put on the “mine” list was my Metcal :)

You can solder on 0805 parts and switch to soldering bolts onto nuts without changing the tip or any settings.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com