Weller WES50

These soldering stations are used to create electrical and mechanical connections between a variety of different metals. See the chart below for details.

Safe Operating Procedure:

A photo of the Weller WES50 Soldering Station in the Makerspace.

Before using:

• Make sure your work area is well-ventilated.
• Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from molten solder and flying sparks.

While using:

• Turn on the soldering station and set the desired temperature.
• Allow the soldering iron to heat up completely before using it.
• Use a soldering iron stand to hold the soldering iron when not in use.
• Never touch the hot tip of the soldering iron with your bare hands.
• Be careful not to overheat the components you are soldering, as this can damage them.
• Use tweezers to hold small components in place while soldering.

After using:

• Clean the tip of the soldering iron with a damp sponge to remove any solder residue.
• Apply a small amount of solder to the tip of the iron before turning off to prevent oxidation.
• Turn off the soldering station and allow it to cool completely before storing it.

Additional safety tips:

• Never leave a soldering iron unattended while it is hot.
• Never use a soldering iron near water or other liquids.
• If you are soldering a circuit that is powered on, be careful not to touch any live components.
• If you are soldering a circuit that is not powered on, make sure to discharge any capacitors before soldering.

Proper Soldering Technique:

1. Prepare the surfaces to be soldered. This means cleaning them to remove any dirt, grease, or oxidation. You can use a wire brush, sandpaper, or a solvent to clean the surfaces.
2. Apply a thin layer of flux to the surfaces to be soldered. Flux helps to remove oxides and improve the flow of solder.
3. Heat the soldering iron to the appropriate temperature. The correct temperature will vary depending on the type of solder you are using.
4. Hold the soldering iron to the joint until it is heated up. You should see the solder start to flow.
5. Apply a small amount of solder to the joint. The solder should flow onto the joint and coat the surfaces evenly.
6. Remove the soldering iron and allow the solder to cool.
7. Inspect the solder joint to make sure that it is smooth and shiny. There should be no gaps or voids in the solder joint.

Compatible Materials:

Material	Solderable?
Copper	yes
Brass	yes
Nickel	yes
Silver	yes
Tin	yes
Gold	yes
Palladium	yes
Platinum	yes
Iron	no