Copper, Brass and Silver Soldering

Soldering Between Copper, Brass, and Silver

Becoming proficient in soldering using either copper, brass, or silver is important in plumbing, jewelry making, craft projects, circuit boards and many other precision assembly projects. It can be difficult knowing what materials and techniques to use, but with a few adjustments, soldering between these materials can become second nature.

Brass & Copper Soldering

Copper is the easiest metal to solder with because, after it is heated and melts into the solder, the bond it creates is incredibly strong. Brass may be the second simplest metal for soldering, so binding the two metals shouldn’t be too daunting. The reason most people would want to solder using these two metals is for pipe fitting projects – soldering a brass valve onto a copper pipe. The most common solder for brass to copper soldering is a half lead, half tin solder.

To solder brass to copper, cut the copper pipe to size and clean the inner ridge of the cut copper. Clean the copper with an emery cloth until shiny. Coat both ends of the pipe with tinning flux. Put the valve onto the copper pipe ends and push them together. While torching, wrap the soldering wire around the seam between the pipe joint and valve. Slowly move around the pipe seam, then allow to cool. This type of soldering might require more heat than a copper to copper solder because the brass can be difficult and resistant to the solder.

Silver & Brass Soldering

Silver is the most difficult metal to work with, but combining brass and silver into a project can be quite beautiful. The bronze color of the brass complements the lightness of the silver. After a few attempts and adjustments, soldering these two metals will no longer be the frustrating experience you may have anticipated. The key is to have the optimal equipment and solder on hand.

To solder silver and brass, place both pieces of metal into a warm pickling solution. Pickling solution is used to clean metal before and after solder because the acid in the liquid removes impurities. This helps the metals look their best and helps the soldering process go more smoothly. Keep the metal in the warm solution for a little under ten minutes, then dry.

Solder paste is the best choice for this project. Choose one that is for non-ferrous metals – those that don’t contain iron – such as brass or silver. The solder paste should also contain a flux agent, which will help the solder flow more easily. Apply the paste where needed with a brush or syringe. Heat until the solder melts into the correct spots while using the tip of the iron to drag the solder along the joint where needed. Allow to cool, and then re-steep in the pickling solution for around five minutes.

Copper & Silver Soldering

Combining copper and silver is mostly done for aesthetics as well. Many jewelers and crafters believe that these metals together look striking and timeless. Make sure to keep ordering in mind when attempting this type of project. Copper melts at a higher temperature than silver, so it is easier to solder silver to copper than vice versa. Doing this the other way around may cause the silver to get too hot causing the copper to sink into it.

Like above, make sure to pickle your metals so they are clean and easy to work with. Then, flux the copper and dry it under the flame. Using extra easy solder can give you more room to adjust and go slowly. Follow the guidelines for brass and silver, but make sure to watch your heat. If the silver starts to look soft, pull back.

For all your soldering needs, visit Janel Online – the leading distributor of JBC Tools Soldering Systems and other solder materials.

Top 5 Techniques to Maintain a Soldering System

Maintaining A Working Soldering System

Modern soldering tips are made from iron which is plated with nickel or chrome and surrounds a simple copper core. The plating is important because solder won’t stick to chrome or nickel, but if the plating is flawed, the solder will stick to the exposed iron. This leads to increased oxidation – the process that causes rusting – on the tip. To prevent this process, soldering tips can be protected with a layer of tin, but, there are many different ways to maintain a system to keep you from getting to this point. To give your soldering system the longest life possible, try following these guidelines:

1. Keep the tip clean. Solder can build up over time and begin to damage the tip. In order to keep the tip clean, wipe it periodically with a damp sponge. The trick is to wipe it just often enough to prevent buildup and damage. Because touching the tip to dampness changes the temperature of the metals in the tip and makes them contract or expand, it is not advisable to wipe too often. The contracting and expanding can lead to fatigue and collapse. Using an extra porous “yellow sponge” can help to maintain dampness for a longer period of time. Check out JanelOnline.com for a full range of soldering tip cleaning sponges. Additionally, to clean your tips right next to the point of work JBC offers a full range of tip cleaning methods all of which support JBC Tools tip cleaning stand.

2. Keep the heat low. Oxidation is a problem with soldering systems because high heat increases the rate of oxidation. A good practice for soldering system maintenance, as well as general safety, is to turn off the iron when it’s not in direct use. Keep in mind that JBC Soldering Irons automatically go into hibernation mode when not in use. Completing all soldering for a project at the same time also simplifies the care process and reduces the number of times the tip gets tinned. Temperature-controlled soldering stations are also available to maintain the temperature at an appropriate level.

3. Prevent plating cracks. When too much pressure is applied to the tip, the plating can crack. It can be tempting to think that more pressure will aid in heat transfer, but this is incorrect. When appropriate, maximizing the contact area by using as large a tip is a better way to transfer heat more effectively. Additionally, iron is not very tough, and when it cracks, the crack moves all the way down to the copper core. The solder then dissolves it, leaving you with a hollow tip. To prevent cracking, refrain from banging the tip when reinserting the handle.

4. Use the proper cleaning tools. Do not use abrasive materials to clean the iron. Sandpaper and wire brushes will damage the metals in the iron. Likewise, do not dip the iron in solder flux to clean it, as flux can also damage, or corrode, the tip metal. If the tip becomes blackened, and a wet sponge fails to clean it, then brass wool, inox wool, or even a tinning block can be used. To use a tinning block, a small amount of flux is placed on the block and the tip of the iron is rubbed in it. The tip is then wiped on the sponge to remove the remains.

5. Use good-quality solder. Cheap solder has impurities that can build up on the tip. A good quality solder will have a high metal purity and a high percentage of tin. When you are finished soldering, clean the solder tip and then flood it with solder. Once it is set, wipe it again then store the iron. This tins the tip, which protects it against oxidation.

RMST-1A and RMST-2A Soldering Kits

Micro soldering technologies have improved dramatically over recent years, providing users with new, easy-to-use and inclusive means of soldering. There are a myriad of different nano soldering irons and kits available on the market, and it can be hard to determine which is best for you. Some kits are best for hot air soldering, while others are designed for what is called digital soldering – a new, highly advanced technique being used in the creation of the latest nano computer and smartphone technologies as well as medical technologies.
There are two affordable, all-inclusive kits available on the market today that are often considered the best choice for those customers looking for a well-made micro soldering station. They are the JBC Soldering Tools RMST 1A and 2A Premium Series Rework Station Kits. They are identical with the exception that the 1A is 120V and for use in the USA only while the 2A is 230V and for use in Europe.

About the RMST-1A and RMST-2A Rework Station kits

These kits are designed with JBC’s Advanced system and contain all the necessary equipment for in-depth micro or nano soldering. The entire RMST kit includes a 120V/230V station, a high power hot air control unit, tool control unit, electronic suction module, stands, desoldering irons, soldering handpiece, two desoldering tips, a cartridge for the T245 handpiece and a tip cleaning system stand. Additionally, the kit is designed to work with other compatible JBC micro soldering instruments, making it a great addition for anyone who already has a partial set of micro-assembly tools.
Perfect for moderate-to-advanced soldering, the RMST 1A and 2A kits are quick to set up and easy to use, providing a safe and effective experience during the precision electronic assembly process. The kits also boast an advanced cooling system leading to longer product-lives for the microchips and other items assembled on the station.
For soldering projects involving printed circuit boards, the RMST 1A and 2A include a JT high power hot air soldering station and related accessories to make these specialized jobs easier to complete. The accessories include a heater stand, an extractor stand with extractors and tripods. All these accessories can fit in the useful drawers attached to the station.
These two kits provide everything one needs for high quality advanced soldering and desoldering tasks. These are inclusive kits made by JBC – a leading manufacturer in the micro assembly industry – and are made from the highest quality materials utilizing the most advanced technologies available today. Whether working with hot air soldering techniques or the more advanced digital soldering methods, these kits are designed for advanced projects that require the utmost precision and fine tuning.

Nano Soldering Stations

Nano Soldering Stations Explained

It seems that – with each passing year and technology continuing to improve – soldering equipment keeps getting smaller. The rapid advances in mobile technology have been possible as a result of a dramatic increase in the efficiency, availability and dropping costs of small, nano products. These are very tiny pieces of electronic equipment that allow for powerful computing resources through a very small chip.

Nevertheless, someone has to make that chip, and they must also be able to repair it. Nano chips are no different from a traditional computer chip in that it must be designed and built in an extremely precise manner. This has led to a new type of soldering referred to as nano soldering and, in turn, had led to new soldering equipment.

What is Nano Soldering?

For most purposes, nano soldering is the soldering of incredibly small, micro components. As nanotechnology continues to advance and technological devices get smaller, more powerful and more complex, we need more advanced tools for the assembly and repair of these components. Nano soldering is the method by which these chips and other components can be easily, safely and effectively built and repaired, despite their small size.

Why Use a Nano Soldering Station?

First and foremost, there are soldering projects that a traditional soldering iron and machine just cannot handle. The need for precision or the small size of the project is not conducive to the use of a full-sized or even micro soldering station. Nano soldering stations allow scientists and engineers to perform experiments or try out new technologies that were not possible with a traditional soldering iron, opening up new realms of possibility for future technologies on the nano level.

These systems are small and save valuable workspace. They also tend to use less energy than traditional soldering stations while providing powerful soldering at moderate and even high temperatures. These systems are also designed with advanced cooling technologies that make them easier to work with and more durable.

The introduction of nanotechnology and nano soldering has led to research and development into new alloys and other components that can handle even higher temperatures than previously used materials. This opens up a new realm of opportunity in high heat soldering. These soldering irons and stations are so precise that they can be used with magnification to view items at a microscopic level.

The Value of Nano Soldering Kits

Janel Online sells nano soldering kits, which are full systems that include everything one might need for nano soldering, from top brands like JBC Tools and more. These kits come with the basic station, irons, tools and other accessories needed to allow one to get the most out of the advanced tool set. These kits are available at different voltage levels, depending on the requirements of the work being done.

A kit is an affordable and easy way to ensure that you get all the tools, accessories, irons and different systems that you need for the varied projects needed to be performed on said station. Much easier than piecing all the parts together to create a kit, a packaged kit does the hard work for you and ensures that you have all the tools needed for the job.

Nano soldering has brought about the ability to safely, effectively and easily solder and repair incredibly small computer or other technological components. It is beneficial to use in that these systems are advanced, powerful and precise enough for even the tiniest of jobs, they have features that work to reduce the heat associated with soldering that ruins irons and other parts and allows for higher temperature jobs than other soldering systems offer. Nano soldering kits are great, all-purpose kits that provide one with all the tools, accessories and other bits that will be needed for any nano soldering project, making it much simpler than buying each part separately.

Google Data Centers use Desco Industries Reztore

In October we received an email from Desco.  Desco, one of the manufacturers we distribute had informed us that Google opened it's data center doors most recently.  When Google opened it's doors the massive company provided us with beautiful photographs on how the facilities look and operate.

While clicking through images Desco found that Google just so happens to use Desco's Reztore Surface and Mat Cleaner.  You can see the pink bottle provided from an image from Google.  For more photographs like this one taken by Connie Zhou you can have a look here.

Reztore is designed to remove solder flux, and normal debris (such as dust, dirt, and fingerprints) from surfaces.  It contains no dyes or coloring agents, is non-flammable, non-toxic, and does not contain silicone or other substances that will leave an insulative residue on surfaces.

Product Release: JBC Soldering Tips

We're happy to announce that we made it out of Hurricane Sandy's reach unscathed and are back in business eager to assist you with all of your production assembly requirements and questions.

With that said, we are also excited to announce several new additions to the JBC Tools Soldering Line.  This reputable soldering company has released four new soldering cartridges.  The series which have been expanded are the C245, the C130 and the C210.  JBC C245 Soldering Cartridges are the largest family of the JBC Soldering Tip family.  For more information, visit our most recent, new product release page on janelonline.com.  Or for further assistance, please feel free to reach us personally by contacting us directly by telephone (1-800-782-4487) or by live chat. 

JBC Soldering Tools Quick Catalog

To make your browsing easier, we have composed a complete product listing of JBC Soldering Tools.  We have organized this list by type of soldering station, cartridge series, and soldering handpieces.  Keep in mind there are a ton of additionally accessories JBC offers, such as soldering flux (think pens and bottles) in addition to a complete soldering tip cleaning system (such as stands, tip cleaning sponges, wipers, brushes, and wool).  So go on, and have a look at the soldering products offered by JBC Tools. 

If you have any questions in terms of what soldering station would be right for you: give us a call at 1-800-782-4487. 

We have been specializing in the production assemly industry since 1961 and are proud to be an authorized distributor of JBC Tools for over 12 years - so, let's face it, we know what we're talking about! 

www.janelonline.com

JBC TOOLS SOLDERING TWEEZERS
JBC NP105-A Nano Tweezer (For NAST Stations)
JBC PA120-A Micro Tweezer (For CP Stations and DI, DD, and DM Control Units)
JBC HT420-A Thermal Tweezer (For DI, DD, DM Control Units)

JBC TOOLS SOLDERING IRONS/HANDPIECES
JBC AP130-A Solder Feed Iron (For CF Stations and DI, DD, DM Control Units)
JBC NT105-A Nano Soldering Iron (For NAST Stations)
JBC T210-A Microhandpiece (For CS and DIR Stations and DD, DM Control Units)
JBC T245-A Handpiece (For CD, DIT, DDST, DDVT, RMST Stations and DI, DD, DM Control Units)
JBC T470-A Soft Touch Handpiece with Set Screw (For CD Stations and DI, DD, DM Control Units)
JBC T470-SA Soft Touch Handpiece with Set Screw + 3m of cable (For CD Stations and DI, DD, DM Units)
JBC T470-FA Comfort Handpiece Foamed with Set Screw (For use with C470 and C245 Cartridges)

JBC TOOLS DESOLDERING IRONS
JBC DS360-A Micro Desoldering Iron (For CS, CV, DSS Stations and DI, DD, DM Control Units)
JBC DR560-A Desoldering Iron (For DIS, DIV, DDST, DDVT, RMST Stations and DI, DD, D Control Units and MS-A and MV-A Suction Modules)

JBC TOOLS SOLDERING CARTRIDGES
JBC C105 Soldering Tips (For NT105-A Nano Soldering Iron and NP105-A Nano Tweezer)
JBC C120 Soldering Tips (For PA120-A Micro Tweezer)
JBC C130 Soldering Tips (For AP130-A Solder Feed Iron)
JBC C210 Soldering Tips (For T210-A Micro Handpiece)
JBC C245 Soldering Tips (For T245-A Handpiece and T470-FA Handpiece)
JBC C250 Soldering Tips (For AL250-A Complete Handle for Automatic Solder Feed Station)
JBC C420 Soldering Tips (For HT420-A Tweezers)
JBC C470 Soldering Tips (For T470-A Comfort Handpiece)
JBC C245 Special Tips (For T245-A Handpiece)

JBC TOOLS DESOLDERING CARTRIDGES
JBC C360 Desoldering Tip (For DS360-A Microdesoldering Iron)
JBC C560 Desoldering Tip (For DR560-A Desoldering Iron)

JBC TOOLS COMPACT LINE STATIONS
JBC CD-1BB Soldering Station (120V)
JBC CD-2BB Soldering Station (230V)
JBC CD-1SB Precision Soldering Station (120V)
JBC CD-2SB Precision Soldering Station (120V)
JBC CF-1B Station with Solder Feed Iron (120V)
JBC CF-2B Station with Solder Feed Iron (230V)
JBC CP-1B Micro Tweezer Station (120V)
JBC CP-2B Micro Tweezer Station (230V)
JBC CS-1B Microdesoldering Station with Electric Pump (120V)
JBC CS-2B Microdesoldering Station with Electric Pump (230V)
JBC CV-1B Pneumatic Microdesoldering Station (120V)
JBC CV-2B Pneumatic Microdesoldering Station (230V)

JBC TOOLS PREMIUM LINE STATIONS
JBC AL-1A Automatic Solder Feed Station (120V)
JBC AL-2A Automatic Solder Feed Station (230V)
JBC DDVT-1B Soldering and Desoldering Station with Pneumatic Suction Module (120V)
JBC DDVT-2B Soldering and Desoldering Station with Pneumatic Suction Module (230V)
JBC DIR-1B Precision One Tool Soldering Station (120V)
JBC DIR-2B Precision One Tool Soldering Station (230V)
JBC DIS-1B Desoldering Station with Electric Suction Module (120V)
JBC DIS-2B Desoldering Station with Electric Suction Module (230V)
JBC DIT-1B General One Tool Soldering Station (120V)
JBC DIT-2B General One Tool Soldering Station (230V)
JBC DIV-1B Desoldering Station with Pneumatic Suction Module (120V)
JBC DIV-2B Desoldering Station with Pneumatic Suction Module (230V)
JBC DSS-1B Microdesoldering Station with Electric Suction Module (120V)
JBC DSS-2B Microdesoldering Station with Electric Suction Module (230V)
JBC DDST-1B Soldering and Desoldering Station with Electric Suction Module (120V)
JBC DDST-2B Soldering and Desoldering Station with Electric Suction Module (230V)
JBC HD-1B Heavy Duty Soldering Station (120V)
JBC HD-2B Heavy Duty Soldering Station (230V)
JBC JT-1A High Power Hot Air Soldering and Desoldering Station (120V)
JBC JT-2A High Power Hot Air Soldering and Desoldering Station (230V)
JBC NAST-1A NANO Soldering and Desoldering Station (120V)
JBC NAST-2A NANO Soldering and Desoldering Station (230V)
JBC RMST-1A Rework Station (120V)
JBC RMST-2A Rework Station (230V)
JBC TE-1A Precision Hot Air Station (120V)
JBC TE-2A Precision Hot Air Station (230V)

JBC TOOLS MODULAR
The modular line is a completely customizeable system. 
To shop JBC and mix and match click here.

Soldering 101

Micro-Soldering Basics

Modern electronic circuit boards are populated with densely packed resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, and other components. The demands of high capacity production coupled with equally high quality require automated soldering operations. Hand soldering is still a necessity for rework and maintenance, however.

Formal training in soldering is an advantage for students and technicians, if only to prevent expensive damage to circuit boards. When a student tries a new tool, she'll make some mistakes and learn from them. When a technician knows a job is beyond his capabilities, he's right to pass it up.

Board Basics

Printed circuit boards consist of a substrate, usually a material with good thermal and dimensional stability such as fiberglass, and etched or printed copper conductors. Complex circuit design sandwiches boards together with plated through-holes providing connections between the layers. Most components are designed to be soldered directly to the surface of the board. Leads may be tightly spaced. Flash memory chips, for example, have leads that are less than ten thousandths of an inch wide and ten thousandths of an inch apart. Hand soldering must be done carefully to avoid damage.

Soldering Standards

IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries sets voluntary standards for soldering, inspection, and manufacturing processes as developed by their members. Products are divided into three classes determined by the intended use. Class 1 contains general products. Class 2 requires better performance and longer life. Class 3 is for critical systems operated in harsh environments. Within each class, components must be soldered to the same standard regardless of size. Inspection is primarily visual, so a uniform appearance helps to spot discrepancies.

Types of Solder

Solder is typically categorized in terms of leaded and lead-free alloys with lead free being ROHS Compliant to the EU (European Union). The most common is an alloy of lead and tin but due to environmental concerns it is being phased out in favor of lead-free alloys. Lead-free solder is not without problems, however, and its use is currently undergoing analysis for use in aviation, medical and military systems. Lead-free solder melts at a higher temperature than lead/tin solder, requiring greater care when soldering tiny leads and pads. Over time, it can develop tin whiskers that bridge gaps and cause failures. Additionally, tin is a commodity and is mroe volatile to costs. Lead-free solder costs more than tin or lead solder.

Soldering Tools

Soldering tiny components requires a binocular magnifier at the very least. Better results can be obtained with a binocular microscope - especially for technicians with waning eyesight.

Dedicated soldering stations should be equipped with precise temperature controls and an assortment of soldering iron tips in various sizes. Separate tips should be maintained for lead-tin and lead-free soldering. Alternatively, tips can be cleaned and re-tinned with the correct solder prior to use.

Hot air can be used for hand soldering, and some stations are equipped with hot air hand pieces that are used in conjunction with paste solder. The paste consists of tiny solder balls mixed with flux and is ordinarily applied with a syringe or automatic dispenser. As the solder melts, capillary action causes components to be centered perfectly on their pads.

Many stations have thermal tweezers for removing and installing components. Large IC’s can be removed with thermal tweezers, but there is a risk of damage to the board. Such components are more safely removed with a hot-air desoldering station.

For all of your soldering and desoldering needs, including the new JBC Tools Nano stations for microsoldering, consult the product and assembly experts at Janel Online. We're available via phone or e-mail to answer any questions you may have, and look forward to helping you achieve your solder or rework goals.

Updated Precision Assembly Tweezer Line

Breaking news straight to our blog! JanelOnline.com is currently in the process of updating our independent, high-quality assembly tweezer line to continue to improve our hand and assembly tool offerings for our customers. Nevertheless, now is time to check out our growing catalog of tweezers from some of the most trusted industry brands. Janel Online’s online tweezer store touts a massive inventory of tweezers, including Erem, Excelta and Xcelite assembly tweezers.

Browse our most popular products like the Erem AM – Semi-Fine Brass, Swiss Made Tweezers for just $14.20 per set or the Excelta 0 – Three Star 4.75 inch Strong Tip Electronic Style Tweezer for only $34.58 per set. That’s $5.43 off the original manufacturer price of $40.01! You can also find economical grade tweezer kits, like the 5 piece Excelta Tweezer Kit or the 10 piece kit.

Finding the right set of tools in our online store couldn’t be easier. Search by product name, brand or price range to find the most reliable economy grade tweezers, European grade tweezers and Swiss grade tweezers all within our one-stop shopping portal.

Since tweezers are essentially extensions of our fingers for the purpose of grabbing, holding and moving smaller (and oftentimes fragile) objects, there are many different types of tweezers created for the items they are meant to handle. JanelOnline.com carries many different types in their inventory including semi fine, fine precision, anti-magnetic, soft tip, wire-cutting and stripping, flush cutting, extraction tweezers, ESD tweezers and much more.

In addition to selecting the proper body shape, when choosing the proper tweezer for the job, you must also take into account the different tweezer tips available to you. There are three tweezer tip designations:

• Biology – Have the smallest, sharpest points on the tips which are generally twice as thin as those on regular tweezers.
• High Precision – Sometimes referred to as “Standard Tips.” These are generally used for assembly of items like watches and jewelry under a microscope, but are not as sharp or small as Biology tips.
• Electronic – Sometimes referred to as “Industrial Tips.” These are thickest and (usually) least expensive tips of the three designations. They are used for non-precision work.

Don’t forget: for every purchase over $399 Janel Online is currently running a free ground shipping promotion. Simply use the purchase code “OVER399” at checkout to take advantage of this limited time offer. You can learn about many more Janel promotions by visiting our promotions page.

Need to test various component types like Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor? Janel Online also carries hand held LCR meters like the Excelta TM-500 – Rechargeable Intellitweez Meter for only $304.63. That’s a savings of $24.37 off the original manufacturer price ($329).

If you’re having trouble finding the hand and assembly tools you need in our online store, give us a call, toll-free at 1-800-782-4487 or chat online with one of our qualified representatives. The process is quick and painless.

About Janel:

An authorized distributor of Erem, Excelta, JBC Soldering Tools, and Xcelite, Janel, Inc. was incorporated in New Jersey in 1963 to provide soldering solutions. Janel now distributes over 140 manufacturer brands to customers around the world, including top names in the soldering industry like JBC Tools and Kester.

Free Soldering Tool with Weller WX Station Purchase

Janel Online is pleased to announce a new promotional opportunity to help your soldering needs with our popular Weller WX soldering station series.  With this promotion, the end-user will get a free accessory (WX soldering pencil or rework tweezers) with the purchase of each WX soldering system.  The free accessory includes the soldering stand and a tip.  

Use this exciting opportunity to help build your soldering station tool kit!

To shop all Weller products visit us online.

Janel Online is proud to be an authorized distributor of Weller Soldering.

JBC Tools: A History

At Janel Online, we stock only the most premium names in the product assembly and electronics assembly industry. One such name, JBC Tools, is a top brand of soldering tools that we carry at Janel. Whether for new soldering or reworking of electronic equipment, JBC tools are available to meet every need.

Since 1929, for more than 80 years, JBC has been ahead of the game in developing soldering tools for use by electronics professionals. In the modern era, when lead is less environmentally acceptable as a component of soldering alloys, JBC tools deliver high performance and the temperatures needed. While other soldering irons require anywhere from 10 to 90 seconds to reach the recommended 360°C, JBC stations require only two seconds, cutting down your assembly time and making the soldering process even more efficient. The recovery time after each use is also superior - other soldering irons continually drop in temperature with incomplete recovery between joints, but JBC soldering systems lose less heat per use and completely recover between uses.

This premium soldering technology delivers cutting-edge solutions in a professional world with high expectations. JBC soldering irons are backed by more than four generations of technology and testing, that other brands just don’t have. These soldering irons use a single wire as both thermocouple and heating element, controlled by a microprocessor. Other brands with twenty-year-old technology simply cannot compete.

Tip life is extended and energy is conserved due to the control exacted through the microprocessor. Recalibration is not required between uses. When the processor senses that the iron is not in use, it reduces the temperature in the soldering tip. The quick recovery time ensures that you will not need to impatiently wait for the soldering tip to reheat.

In addition, the irons are small and ergonomic. They are designed with the shortest tip to hand distance for superior control. On top of that, with the huge selection of JBC handpieces and solder tips, you can achieve a variety of small or large scale assembly goals easily. Many of our stations come with quick change capabilities, so you can change a tip hands-free achieving safety and efficiency goals.

The entire line of JBC Tools comply with European Commission regulations and all recommendations for controlling electro-static discharge. Government contractors, original equipment manufacturers and repairmen alike depend on the quality of JBC soldering stations you can find online at Janel Inc.

An authorized distributor of JBC Tools, Janel, Inc. was incorporated in New Jersey in 1963 to provide soldering solutions. Several companies came under its umbrella, including JBC tools. Janel now distributes over 140 manufacturer brands to customers around the world.

What to Look For in a Soldering/Desoldering Station

A soldering or desoldering station is an investment and the decision to purchase one (or a few) should be made thoughtfully. With the variety of soldering stations out there, make sure you’re getting the right one for your money.
Read our top 10 attributes to look for in a soldering/desoldering station:

1. Reliable Brands: Probably one of the most important features to a soldering or desoldering station, it’s important to choose a high quality manufacturer. Among others, a few of the most premier brands in the solder industry include JBC Tools, Weller and Kester. Picking quality brands where it matters gives you the perk of superior customer support, trusted materials and manufacturing, longevity of solder tools life and the versatility to interchange solder irons and other supplies within your station seamlessly.
2. Control Units: If you’re working with electronics with a high temperature requirement for soldering, you’ll need a control unit to help keep the heat under control. With a control unit, you can monitor the heat of the soldering iron tip ensuring that you keep the temperature at the level you want and get the best results.
3. Soldering Handpiece (if needed) : Depending on what you already own in shop and your soldering goals, you may need a handpiece. Certain soldering systems are flexible enough to allow you to interchange and use a variety of handpiece options to help achieve those close soldering blends.
4. Desoldering Iron (if needed): At your soldering (or desoldering) station, you may want to remove solder. For desoldering, you’ll need a desoldering iron and not all systems are equipped with a desoldering iron; if this is a need of yours, look for a solder station that includes a desoldering iron.
5. Handpiece Stand
6. Desoldering Iron Stand
7. Soldering & Desoldering Tips: To achieve really small or heavy duty applications, a variety of solder tips will be needed. If you don’t have the tips in house, search for a solder system that includes a well-rounded selection of small and large tips.
8. Safety Features: As with any soldering equipment purchase, you want to ensure the equipment includes a variety of safety features , including being ESD safe, temperature control, a station lock and even a tip cleaning stand to ensure proper solder clean up.
9. Versatility: When choosing a trusted brand like JBC Tools for your solder station, you have the added benefit of versatility. Many of the soldering equipment can be interchangeable, allowing you for the biggest range of solder applications.
And if you’re really fortunate…

10. Trial program:A demo program, like the JBC 30 day trial offered for soldering stations sold on Janel Online, allows you to experience the system first hand and see the benefits. We’re so confident in our solder systems that we’re certain once you try it out, you won’t want to return them.

The soldering stations featured at Janel Online have quick tip changing capabilities; you can change a tip while being hands-free, a big safety plus!

Check out one of our JBC soldering stations in action:

MENDA Pump New ESD Safe Bottles

  

We recently updated our MENDA PUMP Inventory. 

These bottles make it easy to identify various chemicals on the workstation

A bit about them: HDPE durAstatic bottles are designed to protect your valuable static sensitive printed circuitry

No migratory additives - reduces the change for contamination from the bottle

Embossed with ESD protective symbol

Long lasting dissipative properies

Genuine Made in the United States of America

Available in Yellow, Green, Orange, Blue

To Shop MENDA PUMP Products visit us Online today.

JBC Tools T210-A (and PA120-A) Soldering Handpieces Compared to Other Tools

Earlier we mentioned a new great find we found: EEVblog.

Jahonen, a user of this forum has written up a detailed post comparing the JBC T210-A handpiece to other soldering tools.

While we are a distributor of all three, we thought it was a great idea to provide the curious user information in terms of how these soldering handpieces compare visually.

JBC Tools T210-A vs Weller WSP80

JBC Tools T210-A vs Metcal SP200

JBC Tools T210-A vs Weller TCP

JBC Tools PA-120A.  In terms of the JBC precision micro tweezers are concerned, a user reported that they believe the JBC PA-120A are of a proper size for 0603/0402 components (but also seem to work for larger components by changing the suitable cartridges.  Additionally, they are lite weight rather than many clunkier comparisons.  With the PA-120A tasks difficult tasks become a breeze.

JBC Tools CD-1BB, T210-A, PA120-A Customer Reviews

While searching ourselves on Google today we came across a really interesting Electronics Blog.  Not only that, but customers were talking about JBC Tools.  After reading several posts, we found a member who recently purchased the JBC CD-1BB soldering station from us.  He certainly seems to be a big fan of the product.  

Here is his post:

Robrenz Re: JBC T210-A (and PA120-A) Handpiece Compared to Some Other Tools

"I have the JBC CD-1BB compact station it was $390.00 US http://www.janelonline.com/product-p/jbc-tools-cd-1bb.htm  It has the 245 handle which is still light as a large pen. I is truly a dream to solder with. It has the same or better thermal response as a Metcal but totaly adjustable temperature. Heatup time from cold is rediculously fast. and tip change takes about 3 seconds and you never touch the tip. I personaly would not worry about a two output unit. there are plenty of very small tips for the 245 handle that will allow you to do the small work but then you can just stick a heavy tip in when necessary and have 130 watts of instantaneous power at your disposal.

Check out this video of mine using the very wide tip on the 245 handle. The temperature setting on that tip is only 260 C to not shift the resistance of the resistors from overheating. No other iron has the thermal response necessary to solder that much area that fast at so low of a temperature.  You will never be the same after JBC  " 

Other users Commented:

Zaoka Re: JBC T210-A (and PA120-A) handpiece compared to some other tools

"I have AD4300 and AD2700, JBC is way ahead of all stations that I had a chance to use."

Grenert Re: JBC T210-A (and PA120-A) handpiece compared to some other tools

"If I didn't already have to much invested in Metcal tips, I would definately be tempted to buy the JBC."

Jahonen JBC T210-A (and PA120-A) handpiece compared to some other tools

"For my work, having a normal iron and tweezers is a must, since I often must lift and swap SMD components back and forth during prototype testing along with normal soldering tasks. Those PA120-A's had no problem with components attached to ground planes of a multilayer board, and I tried some very hefty PCB's (although not with particularly thick copper but thick enough to cause problems with wimpy soldering tools), too.  I think I have my mind "poisoned" already from that JBC experience  "

Robrenz responds to Jahonen:

"Like I said, You will never be the same after JBC  "

To check out this entire blog thread have a look here.

Those of us at Janel Online are big fans of JBC Tools.  

We have been an authorized distributor for over the past twelve years.  

If you have any questions feel free to ask us.  

You can visit us online at www.janelonline.com.  

A perk of our ecommerce shop is that we carry many JBC items IN STOCK.

If it looks as though we don't have stock please contact us either by phone or live chat - we are probably restocking our shelves.

To shop the complete line of JBC products - visit us here.

- The Janel Online Team

JBC Tools New Product for NAST-1A NANO

       Janel likes to keep our customers informed which is why we want to show you the latest
       product from JBC.

       As of last week, JBC recently released the NEW adaptable NANO Sleeve.  This item works
       with the NP105-A NANO Tweezers an allows the user to have greater control over the tool
       while soldering.

        The JBC Nano Sleeve is ESD safe and are made of a soft, non-slip material.  They offer a
        pleasant grip that facilitates the handling of any small microscopic SMD component.  The
        aim is to optimize the functionality of the tool by improving it's ergonomics: an intrinsic
        property of all JBC Tools products.

        This item can be purchased separately from the NP105-A NANO Tweezers.  It will work
        great with the JBC NAST-1A or NAST-2A Soldering Stations (as the NP105-A belongs
        to this soldering station).  For further information check out N1783 NP105-A at Janel.
        Online shopping will become available very soon.

        Janel Online is proud to be an authorized distributor of JBC Tools for over 12 years.
        If you have any questions, visit us and ask let us know!

        - The Janel Online Team

Janel Online now gives our customer the opportunity to evaluate any JBC Soldering Station of their choice.
We offer this trail in confidence that once you try a JBC Soldering Station you won't want to give it back.

For further information on the JBC 30 Day Trial visit our page.


- The Janel Online Team

Product Update: Desco New Full Time Continuous Monitor

The New Desco 19325 Continuous Monitor replaces the 19225 Monitor.  This product features a NEW and IMPROVED Banana Jack.  A benefit of an improved connection will help prevent accidental disconnects with the operator's wrist strap.

For further reading please visit our product page.

Thanks for visiting Janel Online.

Ten Commandments of Soldering by Weller

I. Thou shall not remove tip from soldering iron when power is "On". 
Causes heating element to rise in temperature to approximately 1300 F resulting in thermal shock and reduced heater life.
 
II. Thou shall maintain a damp (NOT drenched) iron sponge (preferably with de-ionized  water). 
A drenched sponge will bring the temperature of the tip down too drastically, causing thermal shock and reduced tip life.
 
III. Thou shall not disconnect soldering iron from base unit when power is turned "On". 
Disconnecting or reconnecting the soldering tool from the base unit with power applied may cause a short between non-compatible pins resulting in damage to the base unit or pencil.
 
IV. Thou shall maintain a coating of solder on working area of soldering iron tip. 
Protects the tip from oxidation.
 
V. Thou shall never drop soldering iron while heated. 
Dropping the soldering tool while heated may cause thermal/mechanical shock to the heater, sensor, or tip (fractured plating).
 
VI. Thou shall not throw soldering iron into soldering tool stand. 
See Commandment V.
 
VII. Never use soldering iron  as a crowbar or pry tool.  
Could chip or pit finish on tip rendering it useless.
 
VIII. Using sharp or serrated objects to remove tip from soldering iron is forbidden. 
See Commandment VII.
 
IX. Honor thy "KGB" (Known Good Base).  
Do not plug a non-working soldering iron into a KGB. Could cause damage to the base.
 
X.  Thou shall  turn station down to lowest setting during daily usage when not being used.   
Turning the station down during non use periods will prevent severe thermal cycling of the tool.  However, tools not being used for extended periods of time should not be left on indefinitely.


- Weller

Introducing the Latest from JBC Soldering Tools

     Shopping Link Coming Soon!

New Products from Menda Pump

As of last week Menda Pump recently released NEW Yellow durAstatic, Dissipative Bottles.
Check them out on our site today.

JBC Modular Line "Build Your Own"

We get a lot of questions about what tools, stands, and tips accompany JBC's modular line.
Thanks to JBC Tools new website, we have found this really handy sheet which might answer many of your questions.

As an update, JBC has also renamed one of their stands.  The AD-SA or AD-SB (known as both) has now been changed to the AD-SC.  Nothing has been changed drastically, so if you buy say, the T470-A handpiece (also fairly new) it will still work with the AD-SA or AD-SB stands.  For one more side note regarding the T470-A, this item has also replaced the T245-TA or T245-CA (known as both).

We hope this helps!  If you have any additional questions, please give us a call or shoot us an email.

Until next time,

Janel Online

Welcome back.  Today we've been working on creating a quick and easily accessible page which allows you to download the newest version of JBC software.  The software features increased performance, an enhanced user interface, and will reduce any errors.  After you make the download, we promise you your soldering station will be in tip top shape.

To download visit us on our site.

Have a great weekend,

Janel Online

Welcome to the Janel Online Blog.  This page has been in the works for some time and we're very excited to be sharing it with you.

Our goal for this site is to keep our customers as informed as we possibly can about new products in the industry, while, really enabling our customers to have a voice.  We're interested in what you have to say about new products, old products, and anything in between.

For those who are wondering, yes, we will absolutely keep our new products page on our site.  And we will continue to post new content there as well.  Just think of this site as a a great extension of that page.

Second, we will continue to keep posting on our tumblr.  

Tumblr is fun.  We like it.  We believe you like it too.

For now, welcome to our New Products and Information Blog.  We strive to bring you all of the latest updates from the brands you know and trust.

Thanks again for choosing Janel Online to meet your production assembly needs.