soldering Iron

[LightSoundGeometry]

I wanted to start a new topic as a lot of older post hold bad links and old technology as time moves forward

I need a good one in the lower price point. will be for pedals and getting easy replacement tips is important to me. Been trying to make my own but was unsuccessful, so far.

appreciate you guys!

[roswell]

Does $91 qualify as a lower price point?
http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-FX-888D/dp/B00ANZRT4M/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1431569976&sr=1-3

[davent]

I found the tips i could source at the local brick and mortar if need be and bought the appropriate iron, Weller WES51.

[Rhop]

I found the tips i could source at the local brick and mortar if need be and bought the appropriate iron, Weller WES51.

The Wellers are rock-solid. I've got the WESD51 (the one with the digital display) and it's been working flawlessly for a little over a year now. Lots of tip selection, and the tips last forever. Well worth the price.

-Ryan

[J0K3RX]

The Hakko FX888 is great no doubt, well worth the $$!

I have a couple "Genuine Hakko 936" and they are rock solid! One of them I have had for over 10 years and still works perfect like day one! There are replicas of them for next to nothing and I have heard good and bad about them... I guess if you're a gamblin man then what the hey.. I'm not. I can't speak for all brands but for Hakko make sure you get "Genuine" tips and elements.. They cost more but are WAY worth the extra $$.. Don't fall for the cheap tips on ebay or amazon! They look good but they ain't!!! I have a genuine tip on mine and it's maybe 4+ years old and still in great shape! I even left my iron on for about 3 days straight by accident and this is the same tip and element I am talkin bout, still in great shape! Even a used 936 would be a great buy providing that it's working etc.. All over ebay

I have a Metcal MX500 and an old SP200 that never even get turned on... always go for the Hakko

[Greenmachine]

Weller WP35

[CodeMonk]

Another vote for a Weller.
My last one lasted me about 30 years.

[MaxPower]

I use $3 soldering irons. Why  search for replacement tips when you can just replace the whole thing?

[LightSoundGeometry]

appreciate it

cheap guns suck ..if you cant get a good flow with the proper tip you are risking a flawed build every time ..solder is a funny thing - i went the 4 buck cheap route and paid for it in wasted time x parts when a layout wont work imho - you might have a technique down to use them but I couldnt do it 

[Jdansti]

I really like the performance of the Weller WLC100 station, and for $37.90 + free shipping, you can't beat it. My only complaint is that the first one I had died after about 5 years. One reviewer has gotten over 10 years of use, so I'm hoping my second one will last longer than the first.

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC

[LightSoundGeometry]

just got a WP 30 because it was 4 bucks cheaper than teh 25  and was reading it takes the small conical tip now for pcb work...all the reviews echoed my radio shack complaints ..will never go back in that store ever again - the reviews have me anxious to get it ..47.50 shipped

[aron]

My WLC100 is still going strong. I love it.

[italianguy63]

just got a WP 30 because it was 4 bucks cheaper than teh 25  and was reading it takes the small conical tip now for pcb work...all the reviews echoed my radio shack complaints ..will never go back in that store ever again - the reviews have me anxious to get it ..47.50 shipped

I see you made your decision.. I will chime in anyway because I just went through this at Xmas.  After research my two big contenders were the Hakko-FX888 and the Weller WESD51.

I bought the Hakko, and love it.  Can't say enough good about it.

MC

[stonerbox]

I'm gonna give ToolCraft a shout out. I had never heard about the brand before, which left me a bit hesitant at first, I was thinking about getting a Weller from the start but they do get very pricey fast. Anyways.. now that I got the ToolCraft ST-50a and used it for about a year I could not ask for anything more.  It has a nice, strong quality tip and the heating is also pretty accurate and very fast.

IMO the black one looks a lot better and unfortunately Amazon only got the white version of the ST-50a. Never mind the "beginner" description in the title 'cause this station is as good as many other analogue ones that costs a bit more.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toolcraft-Beginners-Analogue-Soldering-Station/dp/B008PPSLSA/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1431599438&sr=1-1&keywords=TOOLCRAFT

Edit:
I see you already chosen one, my bad.

just got a WP 30 because it was 4 bucks cheaper than teh 25  and was reading it takes the small conical tip now for pcb work...all the reviews echoed my radio shack complaints ..will never go back in that store ever again - the reviews have me anxious to get it ..47.50 shipped

[Luke51411]

I really like the performance of the Weller WLC100 station, and for $37.90 + free shipping, you can't beat it. My only complaint is that the first one I had died after about 5 years. One reviewer has gotten over 10 years of use, so I'm hoping my second one will last longer than the first.

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC

I might try this one I'm getting sick of replacing tips every 3 builds. Have you had good luck with tips?

[CodeMonk]

I really like the performance of the Weller WLC100 station, and for $37.90 + free shipping, you can't beat it. My only complaint is that the first one I had died after about 5 years. One reviewer has gotten over 10 years of use, so I'm hoping my second one will last longer than the first.

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC

I might try this one I'm getting sick of replacing tips every 3 builds. Have you had good luck with tips?

Weller tips, if properly taken care of can last for years.

[trixdropd]

I use aoyue. first the 937+ now the 968a.

I don't know if the value can be beat.

http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-937-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B000I30QBW

[Luke51411]

I really like the performance of the Weller WLC100 station, and for $37.90 + free shipping, you can't beat it. My only complaint is that the first one I had died after about 5 years. One reviewer has gotten over 10 years of use, so I'm hoping my second one will last longer than the first.

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC

I might try this one I'm getting sick of replacing tips every 3 builds. Have you had good luck with tips?

Weller tips, if properly taken care of can last for years.

I have a weller 25 watt iron right now and the tips seem to just be getting eaten up... the first few tips lasted me quite a while but not so much lately. I bought a bunch of weller 15 watt irons with screwdriver tips when they were on sale for $3 each a while ago, those tips didn't last very long either and I haven't been able to find replacements but tips for my other iron are $4 each so it worked out ok except now I'm about out of both...

[duck_arse]

my weller tips are now outlasting the heaters (wtcpn, v.old, v.v. expensive).

[LightSoundGeometry]

found this video, and in my short time (im a noob), completely agree with these old instructional videos. solder and solder tools are essential - almost every failure in a build was due to soldering issues ..I bet in the 95% tile anyways

wanted to post this for any other newbies to the hobby. Or even if you are an ole time - they are well made videos and worth a watch especially for noobs like me. lots of good pointers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIT4ra6Mo0s&list=PL926EC0F1F93C1837