Good soldering Iron

[GarageGuy89]

Anyone have a recommendation on a good one. I'm constantly fixing wiring on car and boats. Have tried the HF ones and the tip literally melts off, tried a few other cheap ones and the same results.

Ready to spend some money to get a decent one. Would be nice to have a built in holder that has a decent stand, nothing wimpy.

 

[one9gt]

Look up hakko fx888d


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ready to spend some money to get a decent one. Would be nice to have a built in holder that has a decent stand, nothing wimpy.

These don't necessarily work well in "the field". Great for bench work.

For field work, consider a Portasol. The Super Pro 125 has plenty of power for car/truck/trailer wiring.

EDIT : Most other brands are actually Portasol rebranded.

 

[FigureItOut]

Portasol seems to be pretty much the standard for auto work. I have the 80 "watt", a little smaller than the 125 Wizard mentioned but plenty hot for up to about 12AWG, and small enough for working in tight spaces. I have this stand riveted to my little cart. I really like the tip cleaner in it over a sponge. You don't lose heat and it tins your tip.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I use a Craftsman solder gun for "field" work of larger gauge stuff (20-12 ga)... and keep my Hakko station inside for more precise work. If for some old reason I need the Hakko, I'll take it with me... but I haven't run into anything yet that I could make work the gun.

Though I'm partial to a good quality crimp joint, over solder.

 

[KMdef9]

My Weller portable ones work great for automotive/marine.

 

[gungatim]

I buy them at yard sales all the time so I've got lots of them, about 6 weller's and those are my go-to for anything but PCB's...

 

[mdnelson86]

I use a portasol butane iron for virtually everything. Doesn't matter if I'm working out in the field or at the work bench. I just find it heats up faster, still has good temperature control and I'm not fighting a cord all the time.

If I'm doing more intricate circuit board work at the bench, I do break out the weller soldering station.

 

[TomB19]

I use a Weller gun for electrical wiring. They can be found at garage sales for next to nothing. Keep the tip clean and use good technique and it will do fine.

If the tip and/or your wire is dirty and you need to pour the heat to a joint for a long time to get solder to melt, you're going to have trouble with anything you use and the wire insulation will melt. Use the low setting and be quick about it.

BTW, I haven't purchased a tip for my Weller gun since I was a child. Tips can be made by fashioning 12ga solid house wire into the correct shape. Transfer the retaining nuts to the new tip and install. It will heat up almost instantly.

 

[G-ManBart]

At work we all have Weller WESD51s on our bench and they last forever. I'm far from an expert, but I can't imagine needing anything more from a bench soldering iron. I also keep a tip cleaner with brass sponge nearby....cleans the tip nicely and tins if for you.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ARU9PO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jallyn]

I had trouble with the cheapies going bad even with proper care so I got a basic Weller station and will never look back. Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station http://amzn.to/2a3zHpg

 

[TomB19]

Did you folks, who are recommending the solder stations, read the part where the OP indicates he is "constantly fixing wiring on car and boats"?

 

[Superbec]

I use a small torch whenever possible , didn't have that much luck with soldering irons

 

[erty67]

Weller

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[dacan23]

I have an older version Hakko, invested in one because I hate soldering, hated it much less after getting the Hakko.

Look up hakko fx888d
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dutchgray]

Did you folks, who are recommending the solder stations, read the part where the OP indicates he is "constantly fixing wiring on car and boats"?

Yes, soldering stations all the way. Those portable gas ones are great if you have no power available.
The old Weller stations where the iron was mounted on top of its base are best away from the bench and there is no reason why you can't have 10' of cord on the iron.

 

[MFolks]

I've got a variable temp soldering station,so depending on what's to be soldered,it works pretty good. The bonus is it can use the weller tips,so smaller jobs can be done easily.

 

[GarageGuy89]

Great recommendations guys. I have used one of those weller stations a while back, before I knew anything about irons and couldn't seem to find any quality at the big boxes stores. That is exactly what I was hoping to find out from you guys!

Don't mind having a station, actually prefer it.

 

[Firebrand]

X2 on the Weller -51Ds! I keep one on the bench at home and another in my mobile tech case that travels to film jobs all over. Best choice for precision work and even heavier stuff like vehicle or even tractor repairs.

 

[piratius]

For most of my work I use a 100W/140W combo Weller gun. I've also got a 25W Weller iron that I use for guitar work when I'm not in a hurry.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[JonnyMac]

These don't necessarily work well in "the field". Great for bench work.

For field work, consider a Portasol. The Super Pro 125 has plenty of power for car/truck/trailer wiring.

EDIT : Most other brands are actually Portasol rebranded.

Correct. The snap on model is a potasol. Ive got the portasol and its awesome but i cant remember the exact model..

For plug in versions our work electricians use weller

 

[jayfrank5074]

Look up hakko fx888d


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the non digital version, it's great. Looks like playschool.

 

[electroman187]

I have the non digital version, it's great. Looks like playschool.

I have the Hakko analog version as well. I also use the Weller WES(D)-51 at work quite often. They are both great soldering stations, though I have a slight preference for the Hakko.