I'm certain that I am way out of my league here...but I am having to do more electronics repairs on the wall unit AC's brought to me for repair.Mostly I'm replacing control relays thru the pcb on the electronic controls.im using my dad's old Weller soldering iron and it feels like doing micro surgery using a chain saw..also can you recommend a quality Flux paste I can use? Thank you for any recommendations for a soldering iron and Flux
Jon

 

Welcome to AAC!

using my dad's old Weller soldering iron and it feels like doing micro surgery using a chain saw

Some old Weller irons are still fine. I use a 50-year-old W-TCP modified to be W-TCP-L with a 700°F 1/32" conical tip most of the time.

recommend a quality Flux paste

When I need extra flux, I use MG Chemicals liquid rosin.

 

My soldering station is a Weller W-TCP with a 700°F 1/16" tip.
I use Kester 60/40 solder. You don't need flux because the flux is already in the center core of the solder.

 

Here's what I use on my home workbench: This Hakko FX888D and these small tips have served me very well (click the links). Get yourself some solder wick too, and this MG Chemicals flux is the best I've used. Be generous with the flux, make a mess. When you're done, brush it with a stiff brush (like a toothbrush) and alcohol, then lay a clean paper towel over top and brush it again with an alcohol soaked brush. That will get the flux off. If you're removing any through-hole parts, a desoldering station like this one will make your life soooo much easier. It's like a solder shop vac, you suck the solder off of the pins and the parts pretty much fall right off. Tip: Let it heat for several minutes before using it to keep it from clogging. If you're working with very small parts, or you're just old and blind like me, a microscope like this one is a huge help. Also check Amazon for helping hands clamps, they're more helpful than you would imagine.

If by your dad's Weller iron you mean one of those black plastic pistol shaped units, the equipment above will be 1000x better for anything circuit board related.

I hope this helps, good luck!

 

You don't need flux because the flux is already in the center core of the solder.

Not always.
In some cases with old oxidized wires and terminals, it makes soldering much easier if you apply the flux before you do the soldering.