Soldering Iron For Motherboard

[ginky4]

What is the correct wattage soldering iron to buy for fixing broken solder joints on motherboards and printed circuit boards? Can somebody give me a recommendation of a soldering iron to buy for this?

[SuperSparks]

Be aware that motherboards are multi-layered and therefore not normally repairable with a conventional soldering iron.

I use a 12 watt with a selection of very fine tips for working on PCB's. But if you're going to be working on computer PCB's a lot it would be well worth investing in a temperature controlled soldering iron.

[ginky4]

I am constantly fixing things like police scanners and kid's toys that have little circuit boards in them. My big Weller Soldering Iron gets too hot so I am thinking about getting a 30w pencil type soldering iron for small repairs. I am looking at this one >http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=64%2D2067

[SuperSparks]

Here's mine, a 12W Antex (I've got a 25W as well for bigger jobs):






30 Watts is a lot of power for PCB's IMHO, I think you should go for a lower output.

[ginky4]

I just bought this one from Radio Shack. I can switch between 15 watts and 30 watts with a flip of the switch. Check it out here >http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=64%2D2055

[SuperSparks]

They closed all the Tandy (Radio Shack) stores down over here, I used to have one literally at the end of my road

That looks ideal. Get a good selection of different tips as well if you can.

[logowriter]

I'm not sure if this'll work, but I've heard that a rear-window defogger-repair kit can be used to redraw cut traces on the mobo. Makes sense, since it's a conductor, but I have no idea whether it'll last or break or heat up or cause crashes or whatever. You might want to check that option out, though.