Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clark Rowden on December 8, 2015 at 3:49pm

I recommend this Aoyue:

http://www.sra-solder.com/aoyue-469-60-watt-soldering-station

I have had an older model similar to it for several years now and I am very happy with it.

As an alternative, the following is a soldering station that a lot of people on another forum I visit use and recommend:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__19240__Soldering_Station...

Both of these use soldering tips that are 100% compatible with Hakko soldering tips. Hakko is a high end brand of soldering stations.

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Permalink Reply by Keith on December 9, 2015 at 4:44am

I have that very station, I also recommend it and did to two other close friends who also love it.  I ordered a second pencil when I bought it and it is still in the drawer waiting for the first to fail.  I am using it on a church build in which I am soldering ALL the ends for the sound system.  It heats almost immediately and holds temp well.  I personally love the pointy tip that comes with it, some don't, I do.

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Permalink Reply by Clark Rowden on December 9, 2015 at 2:10am

The one from Hobby King looks almost identical to my older Aoyue except for the placement of the On/Off switch (mine is on the front instead of the side).

Yeah, it's a heck of a deal, but I can only give a 2nd hand endorsement since I don't own that very unit.

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Permalink Reply by Clark Rowden on December 8, 2015 at 4:35pm

I looks like the first one Wayfinder recommended is the same as the first one I recommended but the site I linked to offers replacement heating elements for the iron for $9.00:

http://www.sra-solder.com/c011-heating-element-for-soldering-iron-f...

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Permalink Reply by KaptnKen on December 9, 2015 at 2:32pm

Thanks for the recommendations guys...looks like I may find one of these under the tree soon!

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Permalink Reply by JL on December 10, 2015 at 12:56am

I have a cheepie no-name pencil iron I got from a flea market, came with solder tips, woodburning tips, and an xacto blade holder.  20 years later it is still working great.  One thing I have learned is that no matter how well you treat the tips, occasionally you need to take a file to them and remove the crud down to a shiny new metal gleam. it's amazing how much hotter/faster it works right after that.

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Permalink Reply by JL on December 11, 2015 at 1:17am

I would be interested in how it works out taking off the oxidation and the residue from using the iron not as intended (on accident only sometimes)

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Permalink Reply by Thumper on December 11, 2015 at 5:35am

I have used a 40+ year old Weller pistol grip soldering gun my entire adult life. Only had one breakdown and fixed it un under an hour (don't remember what the problem was.....CRS). Plus, you can make and change out tips using copper wire, very versatile.

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Permalink Reply by KaptnKen on December 11, 2015 at 11:30am

True they are tough but I was even able to kill one of those. My Dad had it since the 60's though and I guess it was just time to die. I was replacing headlight sockets on the car and everything I had that could possibly solder curled up and decided it had had it at that moment. Ran out and got another big Weller and no problems with it. And yeah, my Dad did the same thing for replacement tips...made them out of #10 copper wire. There's a length of it down here in the basement just for that purpose.

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Permalink Reply by Lazylefteye on December 18, 2015 at 1:38pm

Thinking of buying this soldering iron. Would it be suitable?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-SP40NKUK-SP40N-Soldering-Iron/dp/B00...
Any advice much appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Lazylefteye on December 18, 2015 at 11:59pm

Thanks for the feedback Wayfinder. Much appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Diglydog on December 19, 2015 at 2:15am

I love my Hakko soldering station.  It's not cheap and is total overkill for CBG work but I find it really pleasant to use:

http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-FX-888D/d...

I can't really comment on other soldering stations because, before this, I used cheap and nasty irons which had a mission in life to fall on things and melt or burn them.

Edited to add - don't be put off by the fact that it looks like a toy 'my first soldering set'. It's not.

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