Radio Shack 20W Soldering Starter Kit User manual

20W Soldering
Starter Kit
6400255 User’s Guide
We hope you enjoy your 20W Soldering Starter
Kit from RadioShack. Please read this user’s
guide before using your new soldering kit.

2
Package Contents
Soldering
Iron
Silicone Ring Soldering
Iron Holder
Stand
Cleaning
Sponges (2) Rosin Core
Solder
Soldering Tips (3)
Cone Chisel Fine-point
Desoldering
Vacuum
Pump
2.5mm
Desoldering
Braid
User’s
Guide

3
Features
• Ergonomic,cool-griphandle
• Heat-dissipatingcoil
• Lightweightdesolderingvacuumpump
Important Safety Instructions
• Readinstructionsbeforeoperatingtheproduct.
• Keepoutofthereachofchildren.
• Workonlyinadryareathatisfreefrom
ammablematerials.
• Operatethesolderingironinproperlyventilated
roomsorroomswithafumeextractionsystem.
Inhalationofsolderingfumesandparticlesfrom
uxinthesolderisdetrimentaltohealth.
• Becareful!Hotsolderingironscancausesevere
burnsandigniteres.Donottouchthetipand
theheatsinkplateorletitcomeincontactwith
anyothermaterial.
• Donottouchthetipofahotsolderingironor
removesolderfromitssurfacewithyourhands.
• Thissolderingironhasapolarizedplug(one
bladeiswiderthantheother).Toreducethe
riskofelectricshock,thisplugismadetotthe
polarizedoutletonlyoneway.Iftheplugcannot
befullyinsertedintotheoutlet,turntheplug

4
overandtryagain.Ifitstilldoesnott,contact
aqualiedelectrician.Donotmodifytheplugin
anyway.
• Ifthesuppliedcableisdamaged,itshouldbe
repairedbythemanufactureroritsagentor
asuitablequaliedpersoninordertoavoida
hazard.
• Neverholdthesolderingtiptothesoldering
pointtoolong.Thiscandestroythesoldering
point.
• Neveroperatethesolderingironwithoutthe
soldering tip. This can damage the heating
device.
• Whenyouarenotusingyoursolderingiron,set
thepowerswitchtoOFF.
• Storethesolderingironinadry,secureplace
wherechildrencannotreachit.
• Keepthesolderingironawayfromdustanddirt,
andcleanitwithadampclothoccasionallyto
keepitlookingnew.
• Thisproduct,whenusedforsolderingand
similarapplications,produceschemicalsknown
totheStateofCaliforniatocausecancerand
birthdefects(orotherreproductiveharm).

5
Setting Up Your Soldering Iron
1. Carefullythreadthedesiredtipintothe
ironandtightenwithpliers.
2. Install the silicone ring on the iron’s heat
sinkplate.
3. Insert the soldering iron holder into the
slot on the stand.
4. Place the iron in the holder and plug the
powercordintoanACoutlet.
5. Place the cleaning sponge into the stand
andaddwater.Whenyou’rereadytouse
theiron,addwatertothesponge.
Note: To avoid burns, always set the power
switch to OFF or unplug the iron and allow it
to cool before changing tips or touching the
silicone ring.

6
Replace the Soldering Tip
1. Unplugthepowercordandlet
thesolderingironcooldown.
2. Useplierstorotateandremove
the current tip.
3. Carefullythreadthedesiredtip
intotheironandtightenwith
pliers.
Tin the Soldering Iron Tip
“Tinning” means coating the soldering iron tip
withasmallamountofsolder.
1. Plugintheiron,switchonandwaitone
minute.Thenwipethetipquicklyonthe
dampspongetoremoveimpuritiesand
oxides.
2. Tinthesolderingtipbyaddingasmall
amountofsolder.
3. Whenthetip
becomesdiscolored
duringuse,wipeit
across the damp
cleaningsponge,
then tin it again.

7
Soldering
1. Insert the component
leads through the
correct pads on the PCB.
2. Press the soldering iron
tothepadwherethe
lead emerges. Heat the
padforonesecond.
3. Donotmovetheiron.Instead,movethe
soldertotouchthepointwherethepad
and lead meet. Do not touch the solder
to the iron.
4. Pullbackthesolderbeforeyouremove
the iron.
Leads
Iron
Solder

8
Flowenough
solder to hold the
component; solder
shouldnotextend
beyondthepadand
shouldextendonly
slightlyabovethepad.
5. Trimtheexcess
leadascloselyas
possibletothe
PCB.
Caution: Be careful
when soldering and
trimming leads.
Protective eyeware is recommended.
Turnothesolderingironifnotusedforover
5minutes.Toprotectyourtools,donotkeep
theironsetatahightemperatureforlong
periodsoftime.
Tintheironagainafterusetoprevent
oxidation.

9
Using Desoldering Braid
Abridgeforms
ifsolderows
overtheboard,
connectingtwo
pads that should
notbeconnected.
1. Place the
endofyour
desoldering
braiddirectly
on the solder.
2. Press the iron
ontopofthe
braid.When
the solder
melts,the
braidwill
soakupthe
excess.

10
Using the Desoldering Pump
1. Pushdownthe
desoldering tool
plunger until the
cleaningshaft
protrudesfromthetip.
2. Heatthebridgewith
soldering iron until
solder melts and
becomesliquid.
3. Holdthepumplightly
to the melted
solder and
press the
triggerbutton
tovacuum
solderfromthe
connection.