Soldering iron brands

[vavet]

OP here,
I’m a ME. I’m dabbling in pcbs and perf board assemblies to help me do my job using arduino boards with the associated components to make my circuits work. Sometimes this means using the arduino output to control a 12v circuit using a 2n3904 transistor. Sometimes it means using a SFH620 optocoupler to pull an arduino pin high or low while isolating the other circuit and not allowing the electrons to intermingle.
The at home soldering iron will be used mostly for the new pcb or new perf board setup of through hole components. I might try getting into smd in the future, but for now, I’m only using through hole components.
Space is not at a premium for my designs.
Thanks for all the banter, insights, and passionate recommendations.
Sometimes the ubiquitous brands are not (either they never were or have gone downhill) that great. When I first started working on cars, I always used fram because that’s what my dad used. The common wisdom these days tells me fram is ****. Same thing with good year tires and Nike shoes.
It sounds like weller has not suffered from the same overinflated ego or quality decline.

 

[mAd mOrdigan]

I do small jobs on car and motorcycle wiring as well as rc car work and the weller I recently got replaced an old RadioShack brand. I’m very happy with it. I’ve also heard Hakko is good as well.

 

[powertrip]

I build aerospace sensors and use a Hakko fx-951 as my main unit. We also have several JBC, Weller and Tenma stations. I am partial to the Hakko even though they are all good enough for and aerospace environment.

 

[Max]

Vavet - thanks for getting back to us. You are right - it has been a spirited discussion. Fortunately Snap On dosn’t make soldering stuff or it might have gotten crazy.

What you are doing is one of the most forgiving applications except for point to point. As long as you don’t get an iron that is too high of a wattage or has a giant tip you should be OK. You’ve gotten a lot of good reccommendations here so please let us know what you end up going with.

If you’re like me, you’ll eventually make a mistake or change and have to rework a board. At that point you can unsolder with wire braid, a pump type solder sucker, or a vacuum system. A solder sucker is the most cost effective ($20-$25 for a good one) solution, but a vacuum system is so much nicer if you can afford or justify it. I work on a lot of old test equipment, and I have an old Pace system that really speeds things up.

Max

 

[vavet]

Vavet - thanks for getting back to us. You are right - it has been a spirited discussion. Fortunately Snap On dosn’t make soldering stuff or it might have gotten crazy.

What you are doing is one of the most forgiving applications except for point to point. As long as you don’t get an iron that is too high of a wattage or has a giant tip you should be OK. You’ve gotten a lot of good reccommendations here so please let us know what you end up going with.

If you’re like me, you’ll eventually make a mistake or change and have to rework a board. At that point you can unsolder with wire braid, a pump type solder sucker, or a vacuum system. A solder sucker is the most cost effective ($20-$25 for a good one) solution, but a vacuum system is so much nicer if you can afford or justify it. I work on a lot of old test equipment, and I have an old Pace system that really speeds things up.

Max

We have an electronics repair lab at work and I do, on occasion, use their Pace vacuum system when I'm changing something. Usually I can get away with using my little solder sucker bulb if it's just a resistor or transistor. The vacuum system really is nice. I don't think I'll be buying one of those for home, though.
I'll keep everyone posted on what I end up buying.
Thanks

 

[sreeb]

What ever iron you get, get a flux pen:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008OC3VMU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mcbane]

I’m surprised nobody mentioned Edsyn Loner 952 station. I got one for less than $200 on eBay. Has two 100 watt irons with separate temperature controls. I leave one with a broad tip for desoldering with braid and the other iron with a fine tip for soldering.

Makes surface mount soldering and rework feasible down to 0.025 pitch. Of course not going to do BGA work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mAd mOrdigan]

Vavet - thanks for getting back to us. You are right - it has been a spirited discussion. Fortunately Snap On dosn’t make soldering stuff or it might have gotten crazy.

What you are doing is one of the most forgiving applications except for point to point. As long as you don’t get an iron that is too high of a wattage or has a giant tip you should be OK. You’ve gotten a lot of good reccommendations here so please let us know what you end up going with.

If you’re like me, you’ll eventually make a mistake or change and have to rework a board. At that point you can unsolder with wire braid, a pump type solder sucker, or a vacuum system. A solder sucker is the most cost effective ($20-$25 for a good one) solution, but a vacuum system is so much nicer if you can afford or justify it. I work on a lot of old test equipment, and I have an old Pace system that really speeds things up.

Max

Recommend a “good” solder sucker? In the market for one now. Or will anything on amazon do

 

[sharkytm]

Jonard or Engineer. My big jonard will **** components off a board.

 

[Max]

I prefer the classic Soldapullt. There are likely others just as good, but I would avoid the cheap chinese clones as the tips don’t last.

As an example: http://www.edsyn.com/product/DS017.html. Just a list price of $21.

Max

 

[ransil]

Recommend a “good” solder sucker? In the market for one now. Or will anything on amazon do

Small stuff, pace big stuff i would look st hakko

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[sreeb]

I'm very happy with a zd-915.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07542D82F/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If your boards and time have value, then a vacuum de-soldering station is worth the money.

 

[E430Driver]

Spent better part of a decade soldering small circuit boards (oscillators for satellites, boards for ordinance guidance and sonar prototypes for nuke boats). Hands down the Metcal was the nicest I've ever used. It made the Weller stuff look like a radio shack gun (we all have seen that junk). If Metcal is outta budget, like when I needed something for around the house, for small items I went with the Hakko FX888. Its better than the Wellers we used for years before we finally got Metcals.

 

[Htscheg]

I have a Hakko and its served me well for years

 

[sreeb]

Spent better part of a decade soldering small circuit boards (oscillators for satellites, boards for ordinance guidance and sonar prototypes for nuke boats). Hands down the Metcal was the nicest I've ever used. It made the Weller stuff look like a radio shack gun (we all have seen that junk). If Metcal is outta budget, like when I needed something for around the house, for small items I went with the Hakko FX888. Its better than the Wellers we used for years before we finally got Metcals.

I think the FX-888, which uses an iron with built in heater/sensor and T-18 discrete tips, is not as good as the FX-951 which uses the T-12 series cartridges with integral heater and sensor. The Chinese clones of the T-12 tips and compatible irons do not disappoint.

 

[plc268]

I have both the older Hakko FX888 (analog) and a TS100 soldering iron. I don't solder much anymore, so the Hakko doesn't have a permanent spot on my bench right now.

So I tend to pull out the TS100 more often and I run it off a Milwaukee m18 battery, which tends to be more convenient for me.

 

[MarvinBerry]

I do a lot of soldering on guitars & pro audio gear... Mostly ptp through hole but also multi pin cable assemblies & such.

Just bought one of these $35 Weller wlc100 stations to replace a very old, very worn out rat shack rig which never let me down until it sorta quit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AS28UC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Saw one in a local shop last week for $55 and almost bought it but the boxes were all dusty & kinda busted. Looked on the phone, $35 Amazon prime bam done.

Obviously haven't used it yet & not expecting it to hold up next to the $200 digital setups but it is a Weller & I really believe good technique & bring mindful goes longer... Avoiding & spotting cold joints & so on.

 

[transam81]

I have a Tenma 21-147A I got used for my first adjustable iron. I like it so far. Much better than my single temp cheapy iron.

 

[E430Driver]

I think the FX-888, which uses an iron with built in heater/sensor and T-18 discrete tips, is not as good as the FX-951 which uses the T-12 series cartridges with integral heater and sensor. The Chinese clones of the T-12 tips and compatible irons do not disappoint.

Understand that, also realize the Happo 951 is more than twice the price of the 888, approaching a used MetCal at that point.