Thinking I should get a new soldering station.

I've had my eye on a Weller station for the longest time, but put off getting one for one reason or another.

Looking at the selection, I think the choice comes down to the two following models, or, indeed the equivalent made by another company:

WTCPT (link)

WES51 (link)

The main difference is in the WTCPT the tip temperature is fixed, but rigorously controlled, while the WES51 has user adjustable power but the tip temperature is left unregulated.

I'm leaning towards the WES51 has being slightly more in line with my own style of work: I'm more likely to want higher or lower temperatures depending on the job at hand than I am to require "700F" exactly.

Update 1.

A little concerned the WES51 is only 50W max. That's less than the maximum I use now for the tough stuff.

Hakko has two models in the price range I'm looking...

On the occasion of selling the 100th and last VSPS Stereo Kit, it's time to consider what direction(s) RJM Audio will take over the next little while.

A. A minor revision of the stereo VSPS board is planned. Just a point release to address feedback I received over the last couple of years. Point release on current boards (Phonoclone 3, VSPS 300, Sapphire) expected when I deplete existing stock and have to re-order.

B. Since my circuit designs are essentially modular (the voltage regulation of the Sapphire headphone amp could be used with the Phonoclone, the output stage of the Sapphire could be detached and used on the output buffer on the VSPS...) I'm going to work on bringing that vision to a concrete reality by developing "swap-in swap-out" circuit boards... like those toys where you can change out the head, body and legs of a character to make many variations.

1. X-reg board
2. Zener reg board
3. basic op amp gain block board
4. VSPS and

...

I hate facebook but I'm willing to give Google+ a go. Now they have "product" pages as well as "people" pages, I have made a little port to RJM Audio.

RJM Audio Google+ page

My notes tell me the first VSPS Kit was shipped on July 24th 2009. Two years later, there are just over 15 of the 100 kits left unsold. This was a limited edition, once gone they are gone and at the current rate that will happen before the end of the year.

So if you had it in mind to get one...

ordering page

Plenty of helpful advice in response to my question on emitter resistors, here.

And so finally I finish my prototype Sapphire amplifier, pictured below. The case is from Chinese audio outfit hlly, and very good. I bought it on eBay.

The rest of the components are described on my web page.

Since I was effectively blogging my progress with the project as a forum thread anyway, perhaps it would be better to make it a blog rather than a post. I'm open to the idea, but does anyone ever read these blogs?