I've always heard good things about Weller. Is there a particular model? Gun vs Pencil type? I can't imagine being too precise w/ the gun type. What's the difference b/t a good one and a RadioHack one (which I currently use)?

Good reviews - gun type $45


Pencil $42


Another pencil $89


Another penicil $17


Non-Weller, so so reviews, but cheap $24.17

 

what are you trying to solder? I can't imagine using a gun style woruld work for anything but large gauge wires without the need for presicion.

I use the WLC100, would probably like the WES51.

 

I've used the WLC100 and the SP23LK. Both have worked for me, but i haven't done more than one or two connections on say a megasquirt. Mostly just open wiring work.

 

Depends on the use.

I have a 40 year old Weller gun that is ideal for wiring harnesses, but would absolutely suck for doing PCB work. You need a pencil type for that.

 

The weller wes51 is my standard answer for "what's the best entry level iron?" It's durable, has a good tip selection, and is sufficiently versatile to do both delicate PCB work as well as splicing big heavy wires together in a harness.

 

WES51 here, had it for 4 years, still super-awesome.

 

While I'm sure the Weller WES51 is a great entry level gun, if you're on a serious budget and have a Frys in your area, this is a very budget friendly alternative:

FRYS.com | VELLEMAN


Had mine for 8 years, still works great. Not as precise as a super fine tip iron, but there are ways to work around it once you build up your skills.

 

At the cheapest level, there is the 20/40A Radioshack iron:

Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron : Soldering Tools & Supplies | RadioShack.com

The next logical step IMO, is the Hakko 888:


The Hakko is funny looking, but it is the best bang for your buck iron out there.
EDIT:
Actually I take that back. Now that they changed the 888 to no longer have a ****, it loses some points. So idk.

 

that radio shack unit is shitty because you cant get tips for it. What works it cutting off that iron and swapping in the $7 45-watt they sell.

 

It seems like every time we have a soldering iron thread, people post things other than the Weller WES-51, and I really can't understand why.

I am a broadcast engineer. I solder a lot. I have traveled the country and visited a lot of different radio stations doing installations and service work, and so I have also borrowed a lot of different irons from people.

The tip is the single most important part of the iron. Not just shape and size and ease of availability, but also the quality of the plating, the durability, how well solder flows onto it, etc.

There are many irons which are substantially better than the WES-51, but they all have prices with a comma in them. At the price range we are talking about, there is simply no alternative.

 

$90 is still hard to swallow for a lot of people.

 

I bought this one and it works great.

BK3000LF Lead Free Soldering Station from BlackJack SolderWerks

 

that looks really nice for the price.

 

In general, I tend to assume that Miata owners have no problem swallowing.

 

But in that case money is earned, not spent

 

Ive gotten replacement tips for mine in the past, but maybe that has changed recently.

Hakko offers quite a few tips:


Ive never used any super expensive irons, but the Hakko is the nicest Ive used.
Its also recommended by Dave at EEVBlog

What is unfortunate is that it went from this:


to this:


The digital readout is gimmicky and the membrane buttons are super lame. I wish they had just stuck with a ****.

 

This one is still my favorite in the under $100 category. https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10707

Granted I havent soldered as much as Joe, I liked this one just as much as the weller I used and the units with a comma in the price that they have in the ece lab at school. The tip that comes with it is pretty solid, I believe it uses either weller or hakko tips, I cant remember.

Wait isnt the op about soldering guns? If I need more heat than 50w, I'm probably just going to use the propane torch.


And another thing, **** soldering sponges, brass scrubbies are the way to go.

 

You have to order the tips from Radioshack and pick them up in store.

Yup. Black color option would also be nice, I'd buy another one immediately.

I'm pretty sure that's a knock off Hakko 936.

 

Beat me to it.

Id almost buy one except I wouldnt want to support sprakrape.

 

Something that can do at least 10 watt, 20 watt,30,40, and 50 watt intervals. I find 20 watts to be perfect for soldering most stuff however i like the 40-50 max settings since it heats up quicker.

I'm using one from radio shack, it has the watt dial indicator on the handle. Very compact and so far 2 years, probably solder once or twice a month on average, an hr-2 hour each time. No issues yet.

If i was to do this more often i'd definitely look for something bigger and more professional but for my occasional soldering of boards here and there it works great.