Which soldering iron/station to pick?

maurycy · 28th December 2010, 03:33 PM

I am looking to replace my aging Radio Shack 25W soldering iron. I only do very occasional work like repairing my kids toys, some soldering of audio equipment or speaker cables every few months or so. No heavy duty jobs. I already own a stand so I was looking at getting just 25-30W iron but then I came across some inexpensive stations so now I need help deciding which one to buy. My budget is $50.

This is my first choice:

Weller WP25 soldering iron

Some soldering stations that also fit my budget:

Circuit Specialist soldering station (Hakko clone?)

Weller WLC100 soldering station

Thanks.

tinitus · 28th December 2010, 04:01 PM

also look at availability of good replacement tips

I have a nice mains voltage Weller W61, and its getting harder to get tips
next time there might not be any
the best iron I have had
but sure could use a control station

25watt, is that really enough ?

blakktalon · 28th December 2010, 04:17 PM

check the pawn shops. I got a used wes51, just the wand and psupply. for 28 dollars. it works fine, had it 6 mos.

DreadPirate · 28th December 2010, 05:38 PM

Stretch your budget a bit and get the Hakko 936. These will last a lifetime and it does make a big difference using a good quality station.

nezbleu · 28th December 2010, 05:53 PM

I have one of the BlackJack SolderWerks BK2000 stations from Circuit Specialists, which I think is virtually identical to the CSI one you are looking at. It is excellent, no complaints, works well, heats fast, nice fine tips. I ordered extra tips when I got mine, it comes standard with a conical tip and I prefer the small chisel style. Spend the extra money on some good solder, extra tips, etc.

stoc005 · 28th December 2010, 06:28 PM

I like Metcal/OKI a lot. Buy them used on Ebay or they are too expensive. Cartridges are in the 20-30USD range from Digikey and elsewhere. I do mostly SMT soldering on 0603 and smaller parts.

maurycy · 28th December 2010, 07:10 PM

Thanks for replies and suggestions. Unfortunately, with my budget I need to stay within the choices I have listed in my first post. With such limited soldering jobs I do, I just can't justify $100+ soldering iron/station.

PedroDaGr8 · 28th December 2010, 09:36 PM

There are loads of Hakko clones if you look around on ebay. Especially for the 936 station. I got a Quakko (yeah no lie that's the name) 936 with 20 tips for I think $49.99 shipped a while back. Shipped from China so it took 3+ weeks to get here but the damn thing is a tank. I have used it to solder loads of stuff. It worked well enough to melt solder into a bundle of 6 12G wires (all wires were around 10ft in length).

wahab · 28th December 2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurycy

I am looking to replace my aging Radio Shack 25W soldering iron.
Weller WLC100 soldering station

.

This one seems a good choice, as it s adequate for a wider
range of soldering joints size/mass..

tinitus · 28th December 2010, 09:53 PM

anyone tried to use one of the small gas iron, pyropen or whatever they are called ?

28th December 2010, 03:33 PM	#1
maurycy diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NJ	Which soldering iron/station to pick? I am looking to replace my aging Radio Shack 25W soldering iron. I only do very occasional work like repairing my kids toys, some soldering of audio equipment or speaker cables every few months or so. No heavy duty jobs. I already own a stand so I was looking at getting just 25-30W iron but then I came across some inexpensive stations so now I need help deciding which one to buy. My budget is $50. This is my first choice: Weller WP25 soldering iron Some soldering stations that also fit my budget: Circuit Specialist soldering station (Hakko clone?) Weller WLC100 soldering station Thanks.

28th December 2010, 04:17 PM	#3
blakktalon diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Federal, Seattle	check the pawn shops. I got a used wes51, just the wand and psupply. for 28 dollars. it works fine, had it 6 mos. __________________ no scope, Fluke 112, 2/10/55 amp battery charger,

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28th December 2010, 04:01 PM	#2
tinitus diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005	also look at availability of good replacement tips I have a nice mains voltage Weller W61, and its getting harder to get tips next time there might not be any the best iron I have had but sure could use a control station 25watt, is that really enough ?

28th December 2010, 05:38 PM	#4
DreadPirate diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Virginia, USA	Stretch your budget a bit and get the Hakko 936. These will last a lifetime and it does make a big difference using a good quality station.

28th December 2010, 05:53 PM	#5
nezbleu diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009	I have one of the BlackJack SolderWerks BK2000 stations from Circuit Specialists, which I think is virtually identical to the CSI one you are looking at. It is excellent, no complaints, works well, heats fast, nice fine tips. I ordered extra tips when I got mine, it comes standard with a conical tip and I prefer the small chisel style. Spend the extra money on some good solder, extra tips, etc.

28th December 2010, 06:28 PM	#6
stoc005 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Midwest in the USA	I like Metcal/OKI a lot. Buy them used on Ebay or they are too expensive. Cartridges are in the 20-30USD range from Digikey and elsewhere. I do mostly SMT soldering on 0603 and smaller parts.

28th December 2010, 07:10 PM	#7
maurycy diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NJ	Thanks for replies and suggestions. Unfortunately, with my budget I need to stay within the choices I have listed in my first post. With such limited soldering jobs I do, I just can't justify $100+ soldering iron/station.

28th December 2010, 09:36 PM	#8
PedroDaGr8 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Diego, CA	There are loads of Hakko clones if you look around on ebay. Especially for the 936 station. I got a Quakko (yeah no lie that's the name) 936 with 20 tips for I think $49.99 shipped a while back. Shipped from China so it took 3+ weeks to get here but the damn thing is a tank. I have used it to solder loads of stuff. It worked well enough to melt solder into a bundle of 6 12G wires (all wires were around 10ft in length).

28th December 2010, 09:53 PM	#10
tinitus diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005	anyone tried to use one of the small gas iron, pyropen or whatever they are called ?