Need help deciding on soldering station/tips

[Slick1]

I'm thinking about getting the (Aoyue) CSI-2901 from circuitspecialists.com and want to go ahead and order tips with it since I think their shipping is really high to even just get a tip later. Is there anywhere cheaper to get the tips? And is there anywhere without overpriced shipping if just need to get one tip later on?

This is what I'll likely be soldering:
Deans Ultra T-connectors and bullet connectors (for electric RC planes)
LED's to wire (probably not to PCB's)
wire tinning
I'm no pro, but am going to attempt to solder a component on the PCB's of a camera and an mp3 player, so I do need a very fine tip. Maybe some other light PCB work.

Which shape and size tips should I get? There are so many, it's really overwhemling. For the CSI-2900 series, they're listed here.



Also someone said Hakko 936 tips work in the CSI-Station1, but the 2900 series irons looks different than the Stationx irons. So will Hakko tips work in the 2900 irons too? I'm guessing not, after reading this (he's replying to user linuxworks who has the station2a).
You can also see the differences in the irons on Aoyue's website for the 2900 series and the 900 series.



As far as the station itself, I thought about getting the 2900, but someone said the digital display went bad on their similar Station2a. So I wouldn't have to worry about that part going bad with the 2901. Is that the best choice?
This person says the 2900 is great.

[c2cthomas]

If you are going for the small and find sort of stuff then I would suggest these two tips.

Larger solder joints require larger tips for proper heat dispersion so keep that in mind as you may want to order a large tip to have on hand.

Long Conical Fine Point Tip (KD-M-LB)
1.2mm Chisel Tip (KD-M-1.2D)

I got one of these and it does the job for me.
Soldering Iron Station,digital,TMC 08-1000D,free solder - eBay (item 370267131665 end time Dec-27-09 13:29:13 PST)


for how to solder look at http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-solder/
http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/telescope/soldering.htm

[jleaman]

I'm a weller fan, always have had weller, never had problems with it, i bought mine for 149$ 5 years ago, still have it and the original tip.

Here is a decent one on ebay,

Weller WESD51 Soldering Station/Iron Tip - eBay (item 260524374170 end time Dec-22-09 16:28:22 PST)

Just needs the base case cleaned.

I have this one,

New Weller WTCPT - eBay (item 200405567610 end time Jan-12-10 05:46:58 PST)

Works well, and if you need to get into smd soldering, you can just buy the new iron, they are 49$ with smd tip.

It's not tem controlled, but if you look on ebay, you can get those for slightly more.

[Slick1]

Originally Posted by c2cthomas

If you are going for the small and find sort of stuff then I would suggest these two tips.

Larger solder joints require larger tips for proper heat dispersion so keep that in mind as you may want to order a large tip to have on hand.

Long Conical Fine Point Tip (KD-M-LB)
1.2mm Chisel Tip (KD-M-1.2D)

Thanks. Which large tip should I get? Also, circuit specialists doesn't list what tip their 2900 series comes with, but if it's the same tip (I don't see why it wouldn't be) as it comes from Aoyue, Aoyue states theirs comes with the LF-2B. Could that take the place of one of the ones you listed?



Thank a lot for your input jleaman but I'm not really looking for advice on what all stations people have and suggest.


Any other advise on which tips I should buy, and which of the two Aoyue/CSI stations I should get, is greatly welcomed.

[c2cthomas]

Originally Posted by Slick1

Thanks. Which large tip should I get? Also, circuit specialists doesn't list what tip their 2900 series comes with, but if it's the same tip (I don't see why it wouldn't be) as it comes from Aoyue, Aoyue states theirs comes with the LF-2B. Could that take the place of one of the ones you listed?

Thank a lot for your input jleaman but I'm not really looking for advice on what all stations people have and suggest.

Any other advise on which tips I should buy, and which of the two Aoyue/CSI stations I should get, is greatly welcomed.

This one should do for most large stuff 3.2mm Chisel Tip (KD-M-3.2D) http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7321

Bigger than that and you might want to use a soldering gun.

I don't know anything about Aoyue at all so I can't offer any advice there.

[Slick1]

c2cthomas, those aren't the correct tips for the CSI-2900 series stations/irons I mentioned. Those may be for the CSI-STATION1A/2A that are listed here? Also the CSI-2900 series stations are listed on that same page.

I linked it in the OP, but (because of the colors) the hyperlinks on this forum are really hidden, but for the CSI-2900 series, the tips are listed here. That KD-M-LB recommend may be similar to the LF-2B that the Aoyue 2901 (and this I guess the CSI-2901) comes with?

Supposedly, according to what some say, the Aoyue's and Hakko's are made by the same company and/or plant (or Aoyue makes the Hakko?).