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Plant Propagation

How Many Watts is Your Soldering Iron?

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)

13 years ago

I am going to go buy a soldering iron to make holes in pots and plastic containers. When I started shopping them, I found out the pencil style comes in a wide range of wattages: anywhere from 20W to 100W. How many watts should I get? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Carol

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Comments (8)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
For your purpose you will need as high a wattage as you can get. Al
nancyanne_2010
13 years ago
I believe the one my dad gave me before he passed away is 100 watt. I use it for making holes in containers and for elting the ends of nylon braiding rope.
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Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author
13 years ago
What is the "trigger" for on my Dad's old soldering gun? (circa 1960s or 1970s - Sears Craftsman)
davemichigan
13 years ago
If you are going to buy something just to make holes, I would suggest getting a cordless drill. I know many people use soldering iron to melt plastic, but melting plastic gives toxic fume.

It is probably ok if you are not doing a lot and do it outdoor, but you don't have to worry about it with a drill; plus you can do much more with a drill (except that you cannot do soldering with a drill).
nancyanne_2010
13 years ago
But you cannot solder anything with a drill.

Drills do not always work on plastic and can shatter some types of plastic.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
I bought my soldering iron, for soldering, more than fifty years ago. It is a Wen brand, 200 watts. It heats in less than a minute, has its own light, and as far as I know is only good for soldering. I also have several drills that do a good job making holes, but are worthless for soldering. Al
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
13 years ago
I read somewhere recently, don't recall where, that slits were better than holes for drainage. No explanation as to why. No other information either.
mn_voyageur
13 years ago
I expect that the slits prevent "stuff" from getting out. (Only water.)

nancyanne_2010
Being trained as a machinist, I am curious about shattering plastic with a drill. If one pushes hard using a dull bit, I can see where the plastic would break, but that would not be "drilling", that would we "forcing a steel rod through plastic causes it to break." (I would agree with you!)

A sharp bit, preferably a brad-point bit, should drill nicely through all plastics. The brad-point on the drill bit will prevent the bit from "walking" when you are trying to drill through smooth plastic.

MarkN

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