I trained initially as an electronics technician, this would not work for several reasons:
1) Candle flame would not be hot enough AND deposit particles on the tip of the soldering iron; the soldering alloy used in electronics is very precise and any impurity mixed with it, or oxidation, elevates its melting point and makes it more difficult to use correctly, resulting in bad solders (called ‘dry’ solders).
2) The soldering iron’s tip must be at a precise temperature give or take a few degrees (which is why some are thermo-regulated) to melt the soldering alloy), maintained for the few seconds each individual solder takes.
3) The soldering alloy itself cannot just be melted and re-used, it need to be removed (there are special pumps for this) and replaced with fresh soldering alloy.
Given the context of the story, what could work would be magically providing the correct sustained temperature to the working tip of the soldering iron.
It would still need fresh alloy, but since he has a soldering alloy he must have a roll of it as well (pretty much inseparable equipments).
clever solution to heating a soldering iron without electric power, though a set of soldering coppers would be a good investment here
ask -> asked
I trained initially as an electronics technician, this would not work for several reasons:
1) Candle flame would not be hot enough AND deposit particles on the tip of the soldering iron; the soldering alloy used in electronics is very precise and any impurity mixed with it, or oxidation, elevates its melting point and makes it more difficult to use correctly, resulting in bad solders (called ‘dry’ solders).
2) The soldering iron’s tip must be at a precise temperature give or take a few degrees (which is why some are thermo-regulated) to melt the soldering alloy), maintained for the few seconds each individual solder takes.
3) The soldering alloy itself cannot just be melted and re-used, it need to be removed (there are special pumps for this) and replaced with fresh soldering alloy.
Given the context of the story, what could work would be magically providing the correct sustained temperature to the working tip of the soldering iron.
It would still need fresh alloy, but since he has a soldering alloy he must have a roll of it as well (pretty much inseparable equipments).