Soldering equipment - what do you have?

[toolnut]

I like the Weller stuff. Have a D550 , D440 , and a soldering station for fine stuff. I don't lioke **** connectors so I solder and shrink wrap all my connections.

 

[r6_cannibal]

solder and shrink wrap is the way to go for longevity. I have 2 weller stations, one is digital and the other analog. both are just as good, heat indicator of when it's at the appropriate temperature is nice. I have a butane torch to do on the road soldering, it has an attachment for a solder tip but usually I just use the flame to heat up what i'm soldering if it's not near fumes or a tight space.

forgot to mention my HF "heavy duity" solder gun, it has held up well and as long as you keep the tip properly tinned it's decent for the larger stuff.

 

[Avgas]

Craftsman Professional Dual Heat Soldering Gun

It's got a trigger on it, works great, heats up quick. I have had some bad luck with smaller irons, I hate having to wait for them to heat up.

 

[GuidoK]

60W
Works great, cheap extra tips, heats up in about 30sec.

 

[toolnut]

I have thought about getting a digital one. That would be great for the sensitive stuff.

 

[rodm1]

http://www.metcal.com/

like this one but make shire you get a working hand piece. A new hand piece runs about $100 to $150. Temp is adjusted with different solder tip.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Metcal-PS2E-01-...in_0?hash=item56340aa103&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[G1K]

I have this one: XYTRONIC AUTO-TEMP 379
http://www.solderingdesoldering.com/xytronic/379.html

It's a great unit. The tip heats up in seconds compared to minutes like my old radio shack unit.

R

 

[mrb]

I second the xytronic. Good stuff at a reasonable price.

 

[rjspitz]

I don't use a station, just have 3 or four guns, each at different wattages.

Bought one of these on a whim, not worth it...

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have several guns, I believe the 550 (now called) is the largest however. I have thought of the Craftsman one posted earlier, as my father has talked about never having a large enough gun for working on electric wheel chairs. (he has worked on a couple over the years, and I ended up working on vehicles from a retrofit place)

But I also have old ones that you used to heat up on a stove/campfire/forge.

Never bought one of those cold solder dodads, as my grandfather (dad's side) would be rolling in his grave (electronics repair person) about "cold solder" joints.

 

[Monte]

http://www.ersa.com/

 

[doug.j]

A Weller WD2000M for PCBs and Hakko 936 for wiring and connectors.

 

[toolnut]

I have several guns, I believe the 550 (now called) is the largest however. I have thought of the Craftsman one posted earlier, as my father has talked about never having a large enough gun for working on electric wheel chairs. (he has worked on a couple over the years, and I ended up working on vehicles from a retrofit place)

But I also have old ones that you used to heat up on a stove/campfire/forge.

Never bought one of those cold solder dodads, as my grandfather (dad's side) would be rolling in his grave (electronics repair person) about "cold solder" joints.

The 550 works very well but Weller makes a 650 also. A lot more heat than I need. As for the cold solder ones their a lot of hype.

 

[Mike F]

I can't seem to find mine, and I have a bunch of stuff to solder. Borrowed my father-in-law's old Weller 8100, which is 100W. Wanted to see if it would work so I tried it out. Took forever to heat, and was unable to heat up a 10 gauge wire enough to melt solder. I need to solder 18 thru 12 gauge wires. I was thinking about the Weller D550 or D650, but was unsure if that would be too much gun for the small wires ( or would it even be enough for the 12 gauge?). What do you guys recommend?

 

[russlaferrera]

I have 4 Weller guns of different wattage s and a smaller Unger for transistors.

 

[-B-]

several pencil types by Weller
a cool old big plug in iron
Weller old school trigger gun
Benzomatic pencil butane
and an old school tinning soldering iron

I **** at wires but just about anything else I am just fine

 

[toolnut]

I can't seem to find mine, and I have a bunch of stuff to solder. Borrowed my father-in-law's old Weller 8100, which is 100W. Wanted to see if it would work so I tried it out. Took forever to heat, and was unable to heat up a 10 gauge wire enough to melt solder. I need to solder 18 thru 12 gauge wires. I was thinking about the Weller D550 or D650, but was unsure if that would be too much gun for the small wires ( or would it even be enough for the 12 gauge?). What do you guys recommend?

On that size wire (8 to 16) I use my Weller D550. On the lighter stuff I use the
8200 (D440) or my solder station (18 to 22). A D650 is very heavy duty industrial for 6 gauge and heavier.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I have 2 wellers, in, a 25 watt and a 40 watt,(they are pencil ones< easier to solder in tight places... ouch, when you burn your self......)
I hate crimp connector, the only place I would use is oxygen sensor....