Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
melts at a lower temperature and is easier to desolder and
rework). However, leaded solder is not good for the environ-
ment.
You also want to make sure your solder comes with a rosin core,
and has a small diameter (around .03
″
).
Wire Strippers
Wire strippers are used to strip the insulation of of wires so that
the metal wires are exposed for soldering or crimping. Wire
strippers also usually have a built-in wire cutter. When choosing
a wire stripper, make sure it is capable of stripping small wires.
Our favorite wire strippers are the Hakko Professional Quality
20-30 AWG version (
Figure 1-11
). They have nice soft and grippy
handles, and are spring loaded. They are also very precise and
extra sharp, so the insulation comes off easily.
Figure 1-12.
High quality Hakko wire strippers
Flush Diagonal Cutters
Even though your wire stripper can also cut wires, it doesn't
allow you to cut off wires flush to a circuit board. This is where
flush diagonal cutters come in. These specialized cutters
(
Figure 1-12
) allow you to cut wires off right at the solder joint on
a circuit board. This helps to keep loose wires from short-
circuiting your project. Using a good pair of diagonal cutters
ensures you get a nice clean cut that doesn't damage the solder
joint.