School me on soldering irons
08-06-2007, 12:30 PM
#1
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School me on soldering irons
Can't find my fine tip soldering iron, and I let someone borrow my ColdHeat iron and he never gave it back. Need to get something new. Any suggestions? I see many irons, from dirt cheap to super expensive, from 30 watts to 100+.
My needs are simple. I'll probably rarely use this gun again; I usually use a large pistol grip type gun w/ a built in light.
Is this all I need?
http://cgi.ebay.com/25-Watt-SOLDERIN...QQcmdZViewItem
Thx
My needs are simple. I'll probably rarely use this gun again; I usually use a large pistol grip type gun w/ a built in light.
Is this all I need?
http://cgi.ebay.com/25-Watt-SOLDERIN...QQcmdZViewItem
Thx
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08-06-2007, 01:02 PM
#4
http://cgi.ebay.com/Soldering-Iron-W...QQcmdZViewItem
That is the WES-50 soldering station. Thermally controlled, regulated, fast warm up, light and small, nice stand with a tip cleaning sponge. I bought one new for $100 and it's the best iron I've ever used. It's more expencive then the $10 Walmart irons but it's worth it. Interchangable tips from a flat wide point to a fine point for surface mount soldering. I do electronics repair on a regular basis but now I grab this over my cheapo-irons when I'm soldering anything on the car. Last iron you'd ever buy. =)
Radioshack sells something like it and I bought that and it was dead in a week.
That is the WES-50 soldering station. Thermally controlled, regulated, fast warm up, light and small, nice stand with a tip cleaning sponge. I bought one new for $100 and it's the best iron I've ever used. It's more expencive then the $10 Walmart irons but it's worth it. Interchangable tips from a flat wide point to a fine point for surface mount soldering. I do electronics repair on a regular basis but now I grab this over my cheapo-irons when I'm soldering anything on the car. Last iron you'd ever buy. =)
Radioshack sells something like it and I bought that and it was dead in a week.
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08-06-2007, 01:37 PM
#5
I've got a Hakko 936 myself. A real soldering station like this or the WES-50 lazzer mentioned are in a completely different league than the POS's you get at WalMart or Radio Shack. You can't even compare the performance. Mine goes from room temp to 700 degrees in about 30 seconds or so.
here's a hakko 936
here's a hakko 936
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08-06-2007, 02:33 PM
#10
Long as you can get new tips for the iron of choice that's what matters most. The ebay chinese ones only suck because tips are hard to get. That circuit specialists one looks like one hell of a deal with lots of tips available. I use a 30W Radioshack one. Makes it easy for me to get tips and what not and I was happy with it's performance.
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08-06-2007, 02:44 PM
#11
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If you only want to buy one soldering iron, buy a Weller. Seriously. There are a lot or soldering stations out there, but if you take a stroll through the repair shop at any radio or TV station, electronics manufacturing facility, etc., chances are that any iron you see which cost less than $500 is gonna be a Weller. Those folks are the Bridgeport of soldering equipment. (silence, you Hako fanatics 
)
This is the current version of the one I use, best $60 you will spend on a soldering iron: http://www.action-electronics.com/wewlc100.htm
For a few bucks more, you can grab this one, which is a tad more powerful and actually feedback-temperature controlled, as opposed to mine which is only power-controlled: http://www.action-electronics.com/wewes51.htm
Mine's about 15 years old, and still going strong. Unlike true love, a Weller is forever. These things are great- you can buy a wide variety of tips for them, and tips themselves are very high quality. One of the big failings of cheap irons is that the tips deform and oxidize rather easily. The very cheapest ones actually require you to file them down ever few hours of operation. Weller tips OTOH will last for years if properly cared for. Also, replacement parts are readily available, should you ever break something.
Having accurate power/temperature control is also very helpful. I can tin the ends of stranded 24 ga. wire without melting the insulation, or crank it up and join 12ga wire directly to copper plate.
)This is the current version of the one I use, best $60 you will spend on a soldering iron: http://www.action-electronics.com/wewlc100.htm
For a few bucks more, you can grab this one, which is a tad more powerful and actually feedback-temperature controlled, as opposed to mine which is only power-controlled: http://www.action-electronics.com/wewes51.htm
Mine's about 15 years old, and still going strong. Unlike true love, a Weller is forever. These things are great- you can buy a wide variety of tips for them, and tips themselves are very high quality. One of the big failings of cheap irons is that the tips deform and oxidize rather easily. The very cheapest ones actually require you to file them down ever few hours of operation. Weller tips OTOH will last for years if properly cared for. Also, replacement parts are readily available, should you ever break something.
Having accurate power/temperature control is also very helpful. I can tin the ends of stranded 24 ga. wire without melting the insulation, or crank it up and join 12ga wire directly to copper plate.
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08-06-2007, 04:52 PM
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Fry's is 20-25 miles away, but the route there is all highway through 2 construction zones. It's 97F today, not a fun miata ride. I'd rather pay $6 to get something shipped than make that drive.
I appreciate the links and suggestions. I like the one Brainy posted, seems the best value. If I had to make a living off the tool, I'd get one of those nice $100+ weller jobs. But odds are I'll only use this thing less than a half of a dozen times total.
I appreciate the links and suggestions. I like the one Brainy posted, seems the best value. If I had to make a living off the tool, I'd get one of those nice $100+ weller jobs. But odds are I'll only use this thing less than a half of a dozen times total.
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08-06-2007, 05:32 PM
#19
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Just made a quick trip there myself at lunchtime. Nothing like being able to pick up a 4 foot length of heatshrink tube, some surface mount resistors, a reference book, and a can of Jolt Cola all in one stop. 
(BTW- they have the Weller WES-50 for $99)
(BTW- they have the Weller WES-50 for $99)
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08-06-2007, 07:18 PM
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+1 on Weller or Hako in that order, I used to do PCB assembly - Weller or Hako are the only two in their class... Get several curved tips with a fine point, some quality silver core solder, solder wick and a solder tip cleaner (this is hard stuff like brake pad surface and you can get this a radioshack, note this is the only part of this I'd buy at a radioshack - clean the iron after every use - a fine metal brush is also good for this).- this will make desoldering and doing tiny parts EZ with pro results. Get some capton tape (looks like this http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/At...Switcher_4.htm) if you're gonna be soldering stuff near hear sensitive items - this stuff is awesome you can tape something and heat something near it to melting point and what ever was taped will not get hot - they use this in solder wave tables. My .02 if you want a really good setup - most of this can be had for <100$ including a decent iron. Iron should have heat control - don't get one that doesn't. Non ESD irons are nice but much more $$ and not all that necessary for auto stuff.
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