looking for a soldering iron

Shpoop · 13th December 2007, 09:09 PM

Hey guys...

as embarrassing as it is, everything ive done up to this point i have crimped. I'm looking to get a soldering iron this holiday season. Can you give me some recommendations? I don't want it to cost too much, and I'd like to be able to get it at a local store like ACE or Home Depot. Does that "Cold Heat" crap work? Battery powered vs cordless? I just don't really know too much here guys. It will probably be mostly used on speakers, but maybe the option of using on something more heavy duty if need be would be a plus.

Any advice?

Thanks!
Matt

Original Burnedfingers · 13th December 2007, 09:46 PM

Take a dam* fools advice here ok?

Stay away from the cold heat and battery irons. Purchase a Weller or something along that line off ebay. You can get an iron for a fraction of the price of a new iron. Its better to buy once and buy something that is worthwhile in my humble opinion.

KP11520 · 13th December 2007, 11:19 PM

Matt,

Look at the Hakko 936-12.

It is a Soldering Station with variable temperature. It keeps the tip within 1 to 2 degrees of the temperature you set. You can get different tips and even a larger or smaller irons too for work on from a PCB to making heavy connections on Speaker cables and Power Cables that are 10 AWG.

I bought mine in the Spring from here: http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko936-1...FQIUPAodkAK87A

Great price and fast delivery. IMHO, you will NEVER regret this purchase! Get some (1lb.) Kester RMA 63/37 Rosin Core Eutectic Solder (#285) to be prepared for all electronics work!

Good luck and enjoy doing your soldering correctly!

Regards//Keith

ocool_15 · 14th December 2007, 01:45 AM

I have had several soldering irons and the best one I have is a Weller WP-25(~$40). With a couple tips I use it from smd to about 14ga wire. Cheaper irons seem to have more difficulty transferring heat to the tip. The weller tips have a larger amount of material/ surface area to transfer the heat more effectively and you end up doing a better job.
I have not had anything more expensive like a soldering station.

Original Burnedfingers · 14th December 2007, 10:37 AM

Years ago I purchased a cheap iron Rat Shack I think. Anyway as it heated up it transfered the heat to the handle which made it very warm and uncomfortable to use. So a nice insulated handle is something to consider also.

Original Burnedfingers · 14th December 2007, 10:37 AM

Years ago I purchased a cheap iron Rat Shack I think. Anyway as it heated up it transfered the heat to the handle which made it very warm and uncomfortable to use. So a nice insulated handle is something to consider also.

zeonrider · 14th December 2007, 11:44 AM

Weller ,Weller ,Weller , TCP 24V-50W,Weller ,Weller ,Weller & only Weller !

Regards zeoN_Rider

mgm31 · 14th December 2007, 02:03 PM

Weller station !

I found an used one for $75 with digital temp (model EC2002).

My old philips iron is now taking dust.

Try to avoid new weller "low cost" stations that are not real "weller".

And avoid ceramic tips (low cost soldering station) : solder does not stick on it and it's realy hard to do a good job

Nordic · 14th December 2007, 02:54 PM

My one supplier recently intoroduced me to the Quick series of soldering irons... they were always out of pocket's reach for me, but finaly they got stock of a more entry level (although I can't see why it is in any way inferior to their other irons).

The model is Quick936A I have seen some on the web but they seem to be an older model, the current model allows you to discconnect the soldering iron and its cable, it is also home calibrateable. It was just over $20 and I'm very happy with it...

Extra bits were less than $2 a piece

I realy love how the tip is hot in seconds as opposed to my cheapass iron which took minutes to warm up...

It also claims to be ESD safe...

come to think of it, quick936 / hakko936, maybe its the same thing?

KP11520 · 14th December 2007, 04:32 PM

Hi N,

I was looking at that one before I found the best price on the Hakko. It looks very similar, I remember it was around $40 - 50 USD and others on other forums said they may be the same. Another said it was a Chinese knockoff. So for $30 I got the Hakko to be safe and like you, I love it for all the same reasons! I also get cheap tips on eBay from China between $1 and 2 USD.

Regards//Keith

13th December 2007, 09:09 PM	#1
Shpoop diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florida	looking for a soldering iron Hey guys... as embarrassing as it is, everything ive done up to this point i have crimped. I'm looking to get a soldering iron this holiday season. Can you give me some recommendations? I don't want it to cost too much, and I'd like to be able to get it at a local store like ACE or Home Depot. Does that "Cold Heat" crap work? Battery powered vs cordless? I just don't really know too much here guys. It will probably be mostly used on speakers, but maybe the option of using on something more heavy duty if need be would be a plus. Any advice? Thanks! Matt

13th December 2007, 11:19 PM	#3
KP11520 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2007	Matt, Look at the Hakko 936-12. It is a Soldering Station with variable temperature. It keeps the tip within 1 to 2 degrees of the temperature you set. You can get different tips and even a larger or smaller irons too for work on from a PCB to making heavy connections on Speaker cables and Power Cables that are 10 AWG. I bought mine in the Spring from here: http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko936-1...FQIUPAodkAK87A Great price and fast delivery. IMHO, you will NEVER regret this purchase! Get some (1lb.) Kester RMA 63/37 Rosin Core Eutectic Solder (#285) to be prepared for all electronics work! Good luck and enjoy doing your soldering correctly! Regards//Keith __________________ If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME ****, why didn't he just buy dinner?

14th December 2007, 11:44 AM	#7
zeonrider diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Belgrade RS	Hi! Weller ,Weller ,Weller , TCP 24V-50W,Weller ,Weller ,Weller & only Weller ! Regards zeoN_Rider

14th December 2007, 04:32 PM	#10
KP11520 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2007	Hi N, I was looking at that one before I found the best price on the Hakko. It looks very similar, I remember it was around $40 - 50 USD and others on other forums said they may be the same. Another said it was a Chinese knockoff. So for $30 I got the Hakko to be safe and like you, I love it for all the same reasons! I also get cheap tips on eBay from China between $1 and 2 USD. Regards//Keith __________________ If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME ****, why didn't he just buy dinner?

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13th December 2007, 09:46 PM	#2
Original Burnedfingers diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002	Take a dam* fools advice here ok? Stay away from the cold heat and battery irons. Purchase a Weller or something along that line off ebay. You can get an iron for a fraction of the price of a new iron. Its better to buy once and buy something that is worthwhile in my humble opinion.

14th December 2007, 01:45 AM	#4
ocool_15 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: sk	I have had several soldering irons and the best one I have is a Weller WP-25(~$40). With a couple tips I use it from smd to about 14ga wire. Cheaper irons seem to have more difficulty transferring heat to the tip. The weller tips have a larger amount of material/ surface area to transfer the heat more effectively and you end up doing a better job. I have not had anything more expensive like a soldering station.

14th December 2007, 10:37 AM	#5
Original Burnedfingers diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002	Years ago I purchased a cheap iron Rat Shack I think. Anyway as it heated up it transfered the heat to the handle which made it very warm and uncomfortable to use. So a nice insulated handle is something to consider also.

14th December 2007, 02:03 PM	#8
mgm31 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Toulouse	Weller station ! I found an used one for $75 with digital temp (model EC2002). My old philips iron is now taking dust. Try to avoid new weller "low cost" stations that are not real "weller". And avoid ceramic tips (low cost soldering station) : solder does not stick on it and it's realy hard to do a good job

14th December 2007, 02:54 PM	#9
Nordic diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	My one supplier recently intoroduced me to the Quick series of soldering irons... they were always out of pocket's reach for me, but finaly they got stock of a more entry level (although I can't see why it is in any way inferior to their other irons). The model is Quick936A I have seen some on the web but they seem to be an older model, the current model allows you to discconnect the soldering iron and its cable, it is also home calibrateable. It was just over $20 and I'm very happy with it... Extra bits were less than $2 a piece I realy love how the tip is hot in seconds as opposed to my cheapass iron which took minutes to warm up... It also claims to be ESD safe... come to think of it, quick936 / hakko936, maybe its the same thing?

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