soldering irons

[sfr]

Okay, for a while now, (well, since I moved out of my parent's house 5 or 6 years ago) I've been stuck using this soldering iron.  Which, as you can imagine is about as junky as any other Radio Shack product.  Fortunetly, I didn't pay that much for the darn thing, although I do think they talked me into buying some batteries that day.   And whatever address I made up is probably still getting the catalogs (or whatever they use that for)

Anyway, I was at the hardware store today picking up cutting oil, and they had a real good deal on Weller soldering irons, and I had remembered that brand being recommended here before.  They didn't have the solder stations, but they do have the nice soldering pencils - Is it worth it for the top of the line weller stuff?  When I poke around online, I see these are the "consumer" level irons - and opening up my Rat Shack iron, I see the 20 watt/40 watt setting (which was always nice) is reall just a switch wired up with a power resistor - would it be okay to cut the ends off the Weller, and hook it up to this for the dual settings?

[smoguzbenjamin]

The iron you have there looks WAAAY better than what I have. I have a crappy soldering iron, but it does the job fine

[R&D]

I use the Weller WLC100 series. I have had this unit for over 5 years and have very good results with it. The unit goes for about $43 at partsexpress.com. You may find it cheaper elsewhere. I picked up mine at Hamvention for $25 new.

[Peter Snowberg]

An iron with active temperature control makes all the difference in the world. There is no comparison. I'm convinced it's the best investment you can make as either a hobbiest or a pro. (The second best investment being a DMM and the third being a scope.)

I would recommend this unit 100%.... no make that 10,000%:

http://www.jameco.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=91&prrfnbr=4740&cgrfnbr=501&ctgys=

I have been using one for over 15 years through times of hobby use and serious production soldering (1000's of circuit boards!). Even at the $110 price tag, you won't regret it in the slightest! They are AWESOME! Invest in your furure. Having the right temperature at your fingertips is worth gold and your connections will look and BE better.

I have not tried this one, but with active control and at only $40, I don't think you can go wrong:


http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7501

In my view which is highly biased by using one day in and day out, an active contol iron is the only choice.

I don't like Weller irons.... In fact I almost hate them. Brand name garbage is nicer than generic garbage, but they're seriously overpriced for what you get (even when they're cheap). All the ones I've used were really just deluxe version of the RatShack irons, or they use different tips to set the temperature which is a big pain in the butt. You can't get 565 degree tips for instance. If you are working on one size connections for a while and then suddenly need to solder one connect that's larger, you're out of luck.

I would rather be drinking chocolate mayonnaise soda with curried marshmallow prawns than have to use a non-settable and/or non-active control iron.

One big difference with passive versus active temperature control is that when you have an active iron and you go to solder a big connection, the heater will come on and you get the results you want. With a passive iron the work will drain the heat from the tip and it will take much longer to come back, sometimes resulting is a less than ideal connection. I feel this is very important since you need to have the surfaces already hot when the solder is applied for the rosin to do its job.

Now on tips... if you want them to last and last... never use a wet sponge or paper towel to clean them. I just apply more solder and lightly scrape the crud off with a little screwdriver. The sulphur in the paper or sponges will slowly destroy your tips.

check out this thread about tips too:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=874

The other big thing that helps is to forget about 60/40 solder and only use 63/37 solder. The 60/40 stuff is solid until one temperature, plastic until you get a little higher, and then finally it melts to liquid. The 63/37 goes straight from solid to liquid with no plastic stage (it's called a eutectic alloy).

Take care,
-Peter

[Thomas P.]

I bought myself an ERSA Multitip-15 with 15W. I think this is a great soldering iron since it's very small and it takes only 60sec. to heat up.

I think those Weller stuff is exelent too, since they both have a lot of tips ect. to get.

[Ge_Whiz]

Hey, R&D man, you do Hamvention too? I've flown out there from the UK for the past two years (I stay with friends in Vandalia). Got some great stuff last year; angled-front stompbox cases (7) for $2 each (knocked down from $5); and tubes of 25 TL062 and 4007UBE for a dollar each.

(Sorry to go OT, guys.)

[afranks]

I would recommend buying one of the solder stations from Circuit Specialists.  Their new stations are copies of Hakko solder stations.  The irons seem to be compatible as well.  I'm planning on getting one.  I currently have a Weller WTCPT and am tired of the switch in
the iron (unique to the WTCPT) flaking out.  We use Hakko solder/desolder stations where I work and they are some of the best out there.  They heat up *very* fast and are more comfortable to hold than a Weller, in my opinion.

BTW, the Circuit Specialists solder stations start at $35...

-alan

[ExpAnonColin]

Try eBay, that's where I got my $100+ xytronics for $40 shipped.  Very nice iron.

-Colin

[R&D]

Hey, R&D man, you do Hamvention too? I've flown out there from the UK for the past two years (I stay with friends in Vandalia). Got some great stuff last year; angled-front stompbox cases (7) for $2 each (knocked down from $5); and tubes of 25 TL062 and 4007UBE for a dollar each.

(Sorry to go OT, guys.)

Yes I do attend. Last time I was there I was in the Palstar booth but I no longer work there. Yep amateur radio operator... :roll:

The Wellers are OK I did like the other station listed in this post too. I cut my teeth using a Weller getting my CAT D MIL-STD-2000 cert quite a few years ago... :cry:

[Hal]

HAHA I got 2, one 15w and one 40 w.  Both are about 30 years old, from when my dad was into electronics.  They don't have a fancy base or anything; I clean it with an old sock, and rest it in a metal napkin holder.  Yes, thats 100% ghetto :-D :-D  :-D :twisted:  :twisted:  :twisted:

[Gringo]

When i lay my hands on a digital camera, i'll show you my "station", along with some pics of the home made "drill" i use for the pcb...most days i just laugh at it, but other i feel like crying  :lol:

Works just fine, though.