I need to solder to the ends of some D cell NiMHs. I know you're not supposed to solder to batteries, but they have no tabs and welding them isn't an option. After some experimentation I'm happy that I can do it without overheating them if I have a large enough source of heat so I can do each job quickly (less than a second on each end).
I have a '150W' soldering gun. However it's pathetic. It takes maybe a minute of holding the trigger to warm up, and is incapable of melting 3mm thick leaded solder (just makes it soft like toffee). It can just about solder the batteries, but any time I want to put it down it needs a few minutes to warm again. I put it on a power meter and it's taking 60W in heat-from-cold no-load mode, so clearly something is very wrong. I've tried cleaning up the electrode terminals - helps for a minute or so but then they oxidise again and performance gets worse. A new tip hasn't improved it. I'm also not terribly happy with the way its performance depends on what metal is across the tip - put a blob of solder across the end, the resistance goes down and so the heating moves to the terminals and not the tip. Sounds like I was ripped off for the 2 pounds I paid for it :)
So I've been wondering about another iron. Alternatives seem to be a
100Wish 'conventional' pencil-type soldering iron, or a gas flame thing. I already have a 45W temperature controlled iron for the small stuff, so I just want something for beefy jobs. I'm unlikely to be soldering pipes, but will use it general metalwork (not necessarily electrical). Something relatively crude is fine - don't need temperature control etc etc. I know where I am with pencil irons, but have no experience of gas.So any suggestions for what sort of iron to buy?
Thanks Theo