Soldering iron

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A 25-50 watt iron is about right. Most decent irons have tips that can be replaced. If not, it's a cheap iron. You could always grind down the tip with a file to give a nice point. Don't be too concerned, most of the components aren't that sensitive to heat, mostly the capacitors and the chip itself, but decent technique won't put them anywhere near their limits.
 
Fenris said:
You could always grind down the tip with a file to give a nice point.
LOL, didn't even think of that. And it is replaceable, I have a replacement tip on it.

Fenris said:
Don't be too concerned, most of the components aren't that sensitive to heat, mostly the capacitors and the chip itself, but decent technique won't put them anywhere near their limits.
Thanks for the reassurance!
 
You could always grind down the tip with a file to give a nice point.

Yeah, you can do that with a $2 iron where it really doesn't matter and throw the thing away when the tip is burnt off (and it will burn off pretty quickly when you file it down to the copper core) and no replacement tips are available. With quality stuff, this would be very bad practice, as a soldering tip is more than a piece of metal that gets hot.
 
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jpg: Solid advice. In my youth, I used to do just that(file the crud off the tip to make it nice and shiney) until my uncle told me I should use a wet sponge to clean the tip. I had filed off the iron plating, and sure enough it started to disappear. The roson in the solder eats copper like crazy.:devilr:
 
I actually do exactly that....I buy these Cheapo $1 soldering irons and then Grind the Tip down to a sharp point and use it that way.....Each iron lasts me about 2 months and then I just replace it with another $1 Iron.....They actually work surpriseingly well....


:D
 
impsick said:
SO YOU SAY A SPONGE WILL HELP FROM THE TIP EVAPORATING? IT SEEMS THAT EVEN WITHOUT SHARPENING IT DOWN IT STARTS TO GET SHORTER. IS THERE NO WAY TO PREVENT THAT? OR DO MORE EXPENSIVE TIPS LAST LONGER?


Buy a quality soldering iron. I have three solderinh irons. All 3 are WELLER (15W, 25W and 50W). They are 17, 10 and 25 years old, all with original tips (a dozen of them - for different purposes and temperatures - from SMD and SOIC chips soldering to soldering of steel metal sheets).
I clean them only with dry, dense linen cloth while hot (quick stroke over the tip is all they need). These tools saw a lot of heavy duty use over the years without deterioration.
Wet sponge is out of question because fast cooling makes tip's protective surface material to crack.

If you plan to avoid stress in your hobby, invest in good tools. WELLER has my recomandation for quality and longevity.
 
mpmarino said:
looks like a lot of people carry that same hakko copy:
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307


Of late, there's been quite a few Hakko knock-off's from a few companies located in mainland China, ironically having the same model number on sale in the Far East(soldering station, smd rework..you name it). They retail for less than half the price of a Hakko real deal. Here in Malaysia and Singapore, Hakko is widely purchased and used by a lot of the big name semi-con and electronics factories. Nothing beats the quality, parts and support from Hakko which they manufacture/assemble out of Singapore.
Personally, I'd put my money on a Hakko anytime as having used one for more than 10 years and still strong albeit replacement bits, now saving up to get a proper station with an assortment of bits to suit most DIY projects or repair.
 
BWRX said:
Holy smokes! I didnt even see your post mpmarino. Sorry for the echo. They are worth trying though.

Edit: echo removed ;)


That was too funny!

I placed an order for the Auyoe cheapie. My ~$300 Hexacon therm-o-track went south on me when I inadvertantly touched the tip to a cap that had a 120V charge. The Hexacon replaced a ~$250 OK industries model that was stolen.

That's too much money spent. The Hexacon was a superb station only about a year old. Certainly my fault but it made me realize that a quick slip cost me 300 clams. A theft cost me $250. The next will only be 40 bucks

:)

- and there will be another...it's inevitable.
 
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