Recommend a RELIABLE soldering station???

[Praying_V]

Hi everyone.  I've been using a "CSI-Station 1A".  This is the $35 soldering station made for Circuit Specialists.  When I ordered it last year, I thought it was a fantastic deal...  Until it stopped heating up four weeks later.

The problem was the heating element- the ceramic rod that heats up inside the iron.  The station came with a spare element (which I thought was odd), and now I know why.  So, using my old radio shack iron, I soldered in the spare ceramic element, and I was back in business.  It worked like new again... for another 2 or 3 months.

I have no idea why the elements are burning out.  I have two other soldering irons that have been reliable for years.  I've contacted Circuit Specialists about purchasing additional ceramic elements, but they won't return my mail...

So yeah, I'm looking for a decent, reliable station.  The cheaper, the better, but I'd go as high as $200 if thats what it takes.  I'll mostly be doing pedals with it, and occasionally amp work.  Give me some opinions guys, thanks ....................................ken

[Dragonfly]

Weller WES51

[Praying_V]

I'm looking at the Weller WESD51- same station, but with the digital temp display.  Never had a problem with it?  I know Weller has a good reputation.  Its $120, which sounds fine.  Any other opinions?

[JoeGuitar]

I'm looking at the Weller WESD51- same station, but with the digital temp display.  Never had a problem with it?  I know Weller has a good reputation.  Its $120, which sounds fine.  Any other opinions?

I've had the WESD51 for about a year now & have been more than happy with it.

Joe

[Mark F]

I got the XYTRONIC 137ESD Temp controlled esd safe etc. from Circuit Specialists for $79.00 or so & you get a free DMM that is a pretty good meter. I love the 137 & I can't say enough about it. Do a search of the Forum about soldering stations there has been a LOT of posts about this.

[96ecss]

Weller WES51

+1 on the WES51. I've had mine for 10 months and it's great. The Weller it replaced was about 20 years old.

Dave

[Praying_V]

Well............  I'm reading up on them both, and I don't see a clear advantage of one over the other.  I'm leaning toward the Xytronics, as I'm already putting in an order with Circuit Specialists, and its $40 less.

[Dragonfly]

Well............  I'm reading up on them both, and I don't see a clear advantage of one over the other.  I'm leaning toward the Xytronics, as I'm already putting in an order with Circuit Specialists, and its $40 less.

Heres my "clear advantage"... 

My Weller WES51 gets used 5-6 days a week, 8 hours a day, for the last 2 years...its never failed me.

[Praying_V]

Does anyone know if there's a "tweezer iron" available for the Weller?  For de-soldering and such...

[96ecss]

Here's a link to the WES51 from HMC. http://hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bin/scripts/query.cgi?query=wes51 They have them for $95.00. I don't know how much Circuit Specialists sells them for, but I've seen them sell for $125.00. I got mine from HMC for $95.00 and got a $20.00 mail in rebate from Weller for a final cost of $75.00.

Dave

[Plinky]

HAKKO 936.

[goosonique]

have always wanted a new set...but my Japanese made 40watter refuses to die ...

[xshredx]

Could some of the european visitors here also give advice about where to get a soldering station in europe...?
I see you americans getting weller ws51's for 100 dollars or even less, but I can only find it at 215 euros (293 dollars).

Which brands are also available (preferably online) in europe?

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I'm a Hakko fan, but they are not cheap.
however, the Hakko designs are cloned (these are I believe legal clones, but I could be wrong.)
Anyway there is a thread on the matter here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=85254
And here is a happy thought for the Europeans (and Australians like me): if you buy soldering equipment via Hong Kong thru ebay, you often get the choice of 230v. Sweet!