Recommend a Soldering Station

kvk · 14th February 2008, 01:54 PM

Can anyone recommend a good bang-for-the-buck soldering station?

I may do some SS and some tube work at some time so, what adjustable to about 40W?

Replaceable, and available tips are are must.

hermanv · 14th February 2008, 02:10 PM

I have one of these, it works well at that price. Heats quickly and if temp control is turned up I have soldered 9.5 AWG wire.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

okapi · 14th February 2008, 02:30 PM

i have this model digital solder station

Pjotr · 15th February 2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hermanv
I have one of these, it works well at that price. Heats quickly and if temp control is turned up I have soldered 9.5 AWG wire.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

Looks like a re-branded Aoyue. Chinese but very good value for the money. Recommended!

http://www.aoyue.com/en/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=372

Cheers

OzMikeH · 15th February 2008, 09:50 PM

Get a 40W magnastat Weller. The base is a WTCPT and you can get a million different tips for them.

You really need temperature CONTOL not adjustable power.

they are the industry standard in Australia. Parts are cheap and they are fairly reliable.
They are tough apart from where the iron stand clips onto the transformer. I just glue the iron stand on top to make it easier to carry around in one piece. the switches in the handle clag up after a while but they are easily disassembled for a clean up.

with three 700 degree tips you can do most things.
get a super fine conical point for surface mount, bend the last 5mm of the top 30 degrees to help you get into tight spots.
get a small chisel for most work.
and for the big stuff get the big fat screwdriver that has no taper on it. you can do some pretty heavy stuff with that. If you need more heat for really huge items like automotive battery cables buy an el-cheapo 100W iron.

You;ll be amazed what the weller can do when you use the right tip, it's all about heat transfer, not more heat.

Pjotr · 16th February 2008, 09:27 AM

Hi OzMikeH,

Any time someone asks the board for a good soldering iron someone starts arguing Weller is the best and only choice. The question here was “a good bang-for-the-buck”. Weller is a good choice but for a BIG buck (of dollars).

The Aoyue ones are a good alternative for a tenth of the price of a Weller. They are regulated, well made and have a wide choice of replaceable tips. Have several around in the workplace besides several Wellers.

Cheers

Netlist · 16th February 2008, 09:42 AM

kvk,
Apart from the info provided here, you will also want to look at the many other threads started on this topic:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/searc...der=descending

/Hugo

Tolik · 16th February 2008, 10:37 AM

I builded this station, and found it working very well.

http://www.radiokot.ru/lab/controller/10/

Geek · 16th February 2008, 03:49 PM

x2 on the Weller reccommendation. You won't be replacing it every year

Cheers!

mpmarino · 16th February 2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pjotr

Looks like a re-branded Aoyue. Chinese but very good value for the money. Recommended!

http://www.aoyue.com/en/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=372

Cheers

I got an Aoyue from here . if memory serves they are in MA so you'll get it quick.

Pretty good unit

14th February 2008, 01:54 PM	#1
kvk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	Recommend a Soldering Station Can anyone recommend a good bang-for-the-buck soldering station? I may do some SS and some tube work at some time so, what adjustable to about 40W? Replaceable, and available tips are are must.

15th February 2008, 09:50 PM	#5
OzMikeH diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	Get a 40W magnastat Weller. The base is a WTCPT and you can get a million different tips for them. You really need temperature CONTOL not adjustable power. they are the industry standard in Australia. Parts are cheap and they are fairly reliable. They are tough apart from where the iron stand clips onto the transformer. I just glue the iron stand on top to make it easier to carry around in one piece. the switches in the handle clag up after a while but they are easily disassembled for a clean up. with three 700 degree tips you can do most things. get a super fine conical point for surface mount, bend the last 5mm of the top 30 degrees to help you get into tight spots. get a small chisel for most work. and for the big stuff get the big fat screwdriver that has no taper on it. you can do some pretty heavy stuff with that. If you need more heat for really huge items like automotive battery cables buy an el-cheapo 100W iron. You;ll be amazed what the weller can do when you use the right tip, it's all about heat transfer, not more heat. __________________ Help some guys with funny hair bang two rocks together really hard. http://athome.web.cern.ch/athome/LHCathome/whatis.html

16th February 2008, 10:37 AM	#8
Tolik diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	I builded this station, and found it working very well. http://www.radiokot.ru/lab/controller/10/ __________________ Êòî óìååò äåëàòü - äåëàåò. Êòî íå óìååò - ó÷èò. Õ.Ë. Ìåíêåí. Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, do research. H.L. Mencken

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14th February 2008, 02:10 PM	#2
hermanv diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Northern California	I have one of these, it works well at that price. Heats quickly and if temp control is turned up I have soldered 9.5 AWG wire. http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

14th February 2008, 02:30 PM	#3
okapi diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Buffalo	i have this model digital solder station

16th February 2008, 09:27 AM	#6
Pjotr diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Netherlands	Hi OzMikeH, Any time someone asks the board for a good soldering iron someone starts arguing Weller is the best and only choice. The question here was “a good bang-for-the-buck”. Weller is a good choice but for a BIG buck (of dollars). The Aoyue ones are a good alternative for a tenth of the price of a Weller. They are regulated, well made and have a wide choice of replaceable tips. Have several around in the workplace besides several Wellers. Cheers

16th February 2008, 09:42 AM	#7
Netlist diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003	kvk, Apart from the info provided here, you will also want to look at the many other threads started on this topic: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/searc...der=descending /Hugo

16th February 2008, 03:49 PM	#9
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	x2 on the Weller reccommendation. You won't be replacing it every year Cheers!

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