How to Use a Soldering Gun

Use a soldering gun to coat and secure wire connections with solder. The hot tip of a solder gun melts the tin and lead alloy called solder. Cover a wire connection by dripping the molten solution over the exposed wire. The soldering job will cool and harden in a few seconds. The tip of a soldering gun heats quickly when the trigger is pressed, then cools just as fast. The soldering gun design keeps the tip off of the resting surface. A soldering iron stays hot until it's unplugged, and it is difficult to lay down without the tip contacting the resting surface.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Solder

1. Thread bare wire through a connector plate, or around another wire, and twist any remaining exposed wire around the connection.

2. Place the wire connection over a board or work table that will not be ruined if hot solder drips on it. Solder turns to liquid when heated with a solder gun. Drips are common.

3. Plug in the soldering gun, grip the handle and press the trigger. The curved tip will be hot enough for use in about 15 seconds.

4. Uncoil a few inches of solder into a straight post. Hold solder about 3 inches back from the end to be heated. Place the end of the solder against the hot tip of the solder gun, holding the two right above the wire connection to be coated. Drip enough solder on the connection to cover all bare wire.

5. Release trigger and pull the remaining solid solder away. By the time you lay the solder and solder gun down, the soldered connection will be cool, hard and dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Strip short exposures of wire for soldering jobs. Solder holds firmly, so the connection will not need to rely on knotted wire to secure it.
• Use caution with the heated tip of a soldering gun and liquid solder. Both cause severe skin burns on contact. Keep hands and face clear of heated tip and keep all body parts out from under the work area where molten solder may drip.