Soldering iron
The heated tool used to melt solder and join wires and lugs when repairing or modifying a guitar's electronics.
Guitar wiring needs an iron hot enough to make a joint in two or three seconds, since a slow, cool iron heats the whole pot and can damage it. A small chisel or conical tip, a clean tinned surface and a little flux are more important than raw power, and a heat sink or a damp cloth protects heat-sensitive components. Most guitar work is done with a thirty to forty watt iron, and a temperature-controlled station is better still because it compensates for heat drawn away by large metal parts.
Example: Installing a new pickup requires a soldering iron to attach the hot and ground leads to the volume pot and switch.
See also
Related
- PageCold solder joint
- PageHookup wire
- PageWiring harness
- PageActive pickup
- PageAlnico
- PageBlade pickup
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley