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Soldering iron suggestions

BobsYourUncle69

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Messages
443
Location
Westchester New York
Hi all ,

I have a question. Ive acquired an Amazon soldering iron(pictured ) as a temporary solution and it works well enough although I feel it'll disassemble itself Iike the alixpress ones do as the plastic gets hotter than I'd like it to.
In South Africa , I used Magnum( South African brand and made in SA , very good irons but nit avaialble here) as well as Weller soldering irons which both lasted years , my late dad's lasted 30 years before he needed to replace the soldering iron on his solder station and my grandfather's Weller failed 30 years after he died when I was trying to recap a friend's stereo amplifier.

I have both my and my late father's magnum soldering stations in South Africa and my trip back home to visit has been delayed.

I've been looking at buying a Weller but when I check the review section it seems that there are a high number of failures ranging from " 2nd use " to " 3 months ".
What else should I be looking at ? Where I am in Westchester NY there are no electronic stores etc so I'm a bit lost here and although my temporary station functions. I feel it'll come apart and there is nothing worse than losing a soldering iron mid project.

I don't use it everyday but sometimes I can use it for hours at a time. Any suggestions? I usually solder @450 degrees Celcuis ,the Magnums I have are 60w and are sufficient for my use as I mainly solder components on circuit boards , speaker crossovers etc.
Although I've had stations , adjustability isn't a big deal as any lower than 450degrees , I've found one lifts tracks on old circuit boards because of prolonged time it takes to de-solder or solder so a 60w non adjustable should do just fine incase there is one that is worth considering but isn't adjustable.
COO isn't important either.
 

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cgrutt

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Mar 4, 2016
Messages
8,427
I just bought a Weller to replace my 30-year old non-adjustable Weller that still works fine. No problem with either one so far. I don't use them very often. Hakko is another brand that seems to be very popular but I don't have any experience with those. I'd avoid yihua bought a hot air station but returned it as I felt quality wasn't very good.
 

Bert_

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Joined
Dec 24, 2016
Messages
9,827
Location
NW Iowa
Get a blue Weller. I think mine is a wp35. It's plenty of power for circuit board work.
 

BrandonV

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Joined
Jun 9, 2023
Messages
4,030
Location
Arizona
Soldering stations have to be one of the most overpriced things in the industry.

Get a KSGER T12. Same tips as the same tips as the Hakko 951 (which is what I recommend if you do want to spend $), better thermal recovery than anything budget hobbyist Weller or Hakko will offer without spending multiple hundreds, and the temperature sensor is in the tip unlike the hobbyist ones.

You're getting something that from a "name" brand company would cost $300 for pennies on the dollar.

 
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theoldwizard1

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,460
Location
SE MI
Take a close look at the Miniware TS101. Tiny, yet powerful ! 65W, 400°C

The "stand" they give you is a joke. Buy a decent stand. Also, depending on the type of work you do, the standard tip may NOT be appropriate. For supper fine work (like surface mount components) you will want a TS-1. Other available.

Screenshot 2024-08-17 100541.png
 

walta

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
2,316
Location
Dutzow Missouri
I say forget Weller! The stuff designed before 1990 was great and cutting edge for the time. After the 90s they value engineered everything good and turned it to into manure.

If you want to spend money Hakko has been great.

I bought a $10 soldering iron from Amazon to live in my field kit. It is great has a digital readout set any temp you want gets hot fast and it is grounded. Sort of makes sense that the people that do most of the soldering would learn to make good equipment.

Walta
 

duneslider

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Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
2,291
Location
Riverton, Utah
I have a Hakko FX888 and wouldn't go back to anything else. The Weller 1010 is nice too. In true GJ fashion you should get a Metcal and then sneer at the rest of us using substandard tools.
 

kgkg1

Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Messages
13
Location
Colorado
I will second the KSGER T12. It has been fantastic for minor hobby use (tinning wires, soldering wire to ESP32 / ESP8266 microcontrollers, etc).

I switched to a Hakko T15-D24 tip which I like better for my uses than the the included tips.
 
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