Soldering Iron recommendations?

[cashishift]

I think I'd prefer the stick type, vs. the gun style.

Whatcha got boys?

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

I like the pencil style better too. Generally the gun style doesent have a big enough tip to hold heat and cools down way to fast and generally takes longer. The tip on the gun will get red hot but they dont last long and the gun is rather unwieldy

My personal favorite is a good ole weller but there are lots of good models made by other brands. but for just a good general iron I have always had good luck with a weller 40w and 80w iron depending how big I need to go. a 25w can also be nice to have if you need to do small jobs.

Also the bigger and fatter the tip the better the heat transfer and generally the better the tip life.

Keep the tip clean and tinned and you should have no problems. I dont recommend filing or grinding tips back down to shape because they are copper plated in iron usually and if you grind past the iron plating they quickly deteriorate and fail.

Oh one last thing and i apologize for my long windedness Get a good stand for it. those stupid little sheet metal stands that are included with the plug in style irons are an accident waiting to happen. You will grab the hot end once trust me!

The station style are nice to have too! especially if its a station style that accepts a standard plug in style my uncle had a weller that did this. it was really nice!


Good luck!
Sean Scott

 

[iroc409]

Weller is about the de-facto standard for most people. There are some nicer ones out there, but the Wellers are readily available and good. I'm still kicking myself for not buying one at a garage sale for $3.50, but I was busy buying other stuff for my dad (train collector) that I forgot to grab it.

I have a couple older Crafstmans (30 & 45W) that have served me well.

The style kind of depends on use. If you're doing heat-sensitive stuff like electronics, you need a smaller pencil (like the 30W). Also, the size of the item makes a difference (big stuff needs more heat).

Guns are nice because they have a lot of heat and are fairly fast, but all I currently own are pencils. I'd like to have a nice Weller gun for big stuff down the road.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I really like my Weller 240/200W. Nothing slow about it. i also have the butane SO, works well.

 

[TWX]

I've never owned a gun-type. I don't solder enough to need something that bulky to store.

I've got as small as a 15W little pencil-type to a big, 80W chisel-tipped pencil-type.

I wouldn't mind a gas-powered one, but again, I don't solder enough to justify it.

 

[Davefr]

I'm very happy with my Weller WD1.

It get's from 0 to 850 degrees in just a few second and you can program it to power down after a set period of time.

I'd recommend the 80 watt pencil.

 

[dime]

i have the hakko fx 888 and i love it. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M3U0VU/?tag=atomicindus08-20 its the updated model of the 936 and it makes any solder job super easy. whatever you get id recommend getting a large chisel tip too.

 

[exjeeper]

I have three.

Pencil type - Weller
Station type - Weller
Gun type - can't remember

I use them all depending on what I'm working on...

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I keep the following around:

Craftsman gun
Craftsman pencil
Radio Shack pencil
Bernzomatic butane pencil
Bluepoint mini-torch

 

[chrisziem]

I have a bernzomatic gas pencil, a weller gun and a generic pencil. All have their uses. Weller is good stuff and the bernz is good too.

Pencils win out, easier to use on electronics.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I think I'd prefer the stick type, vs. the gun style.

Whatcha got boys?

Depends on your application and how much you want to pay. For a high quality pencil that heats up instantly and has interchangeable tips that go from very fine to super big, I find Metcal beats everything.

 

[joemh22]

I prefer pace.

 

[Gtamazing]

I bought this from a member here. It works very well.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I had a Weller WLC100 soldering station til it broke, now I have a clone from Parts Express. For the small amount of soldering I do now, it works fine.

 

[Steevo]

I have at least four soldering tools, but am not sure where my soldering station is right now. Someone may have borrowed it.
My go-to is the trusty Weller gun. It handles most everything, never lets me down, and is built like a tank.
The little pencil iron is handy for tiny electrical work.
The "whoa, Holy mother of Satan, don't point that thing at me" unit is awesome for sheet metal sweating. It takes about a week to warm up and will burn you three hours after you unplug it. It is old. The handle is turned wood.

 

[Outlawmws]

It depends on what you are soldering. I have soldering tools from 3Lb soldering coppers you heat in a gas furnace (Yes I have a furnace, and a "soldering pot" which is a prop tank with a flame stack and cradle attached) all the way down to a small RF soldering iron for the larger sized chip components in electronics, and many other tools in between.

 

[justin10054]

I used to use those weller pencil types for electronics, but they burned out too fast. I eventually got a hakko 936 station and haven't looked back. If I ever upgrade, I'll probably get an edsyn.

 

[bgott]

http://www.tooltopia.com/portasol-sp-1k.aspx

http://www.tooltopia.com/portasol-pp-1k.aspx

I have the PTLSP-1K. It's impressive. It heats up way faster than my Weller gun. The little blow torch tip with the shield is great for shrink wrap.

 

[Drew_flux]

I bought this from a member here. It works very well.

we have one of these at work,very nice to use. for general use inside vehicles,i prefer a butane iron though.

 

[danski0224]

This

 

[illmatyk]

I have a Weller pencil-style 25w( if i remember correctly ), Matco butane( just got this recently through a deal from a friend ), Bernzomatic butane.


The Weller and Bernzomatic are at work while my Matco is here at home. I've been thinking about getting another one ( higher wattage ) but still thinking about and trying to find space in the tool box for it.

 

[aczr2k]

I have a Wall Lenk LG400C, very good gun. The cord went bad and the company sent out a new one free of charge after I've owned it at least 10 years.

 

[Trey T]

I got a Hakko 936, Made in Japan, and I like it a lot. Heats up quick. The case is all metal constructed, as it seems.

 

[JASTECH]

My favorite for PC work is a Hakko Desoldering station w/hot air & 10 tips, then a blue soldering station LCD display, Radio Shack 15/35w switchable pencile and a Craftsman butane.

 

[fivespdcat]

I'm actually surprised at the lack of love for the wes51 weller soldering station...

 

[iioogherkin]

In my limited experience I've had good results with metcal. Worked wonders at 40° on a windy mountain top making cables.

 

[lestat]

First, I don't see anybody mention it but there is a world of difference between a temperature controlled soldering station and a standalone pencil or gun. You will not go back to a pencil once you've used a station.

Secondly, I recommend Hakko FX888. Brand name, great reviews and amazing value at 80$. It may look like a toy but it's actually a pro unit.

 

[Jawn]

I'm actually surprised at the lack of love for the wes51 weller soldering station...

I've got my eye on the WESD51. First project that I can justify spending the $130, it's mine.

 

[fivespdcat]

I've got my eye on the WESD51. First project that I can justify spending the $130, it's mine.

I haven't bought one yet but I'm really leaning towards just for the reason of tip availability. I can get them anywhere, it seems like an adventure to even find Hakko tips!

 

[ishiboo]

I use a Blackjack BK6000... it's a Chinese model but I've had good luck with it. Allows digital control of air pressure, soldering temperature and hot air temp. I can do hot air rework, it has a desoldering gun and I can also do heat shrink/etc. with the air gun.

Overkill for most here, and underkill for some ******** electronics hobbyists, but it works great for me I do mostly through-hole with little SMT.