This soldering station OK for smd?

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It looks alright to me but it depends on what you’re soldering and how much experience you have. Just about any temperature controlled iron with a reasonably fine tip is okay for larger surface mount parts such as SO-packaged active devices and 1206 & 0805 passives. Only TQFPs and other really fine-pitched parts need special tools, IMO.

I’d also recommend some SM tweezers as they make handling the dinky parts much easier. I use this type with the flat tip but the normal hair removal type might work okay:
http://uk.farnell.com/productimages/farnell/standard/42349165.jpg

Nice one,
David.
 
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It looks nice and has a nice temperature range, but if it can only accept those special tips that he sells then I'd look for something else.

Believe it or not, it's actually easier to solder most surface mount parts (603 and up and fine lead pitch chips too) with a larger flat blade style tip. Be sure to get a flux pen or some liquid flux to make soldering easier too.
 
This is the soldering iron i have had for 5 years now never replaced a tip either.

http://www.ajdist.com/weller_ungar.htm

BUT i did just buy another weller because i don’t want to kill this one. The Weller 921 is really good with smd, but soldering thicker stuff wire, connectors it gets a little cold. Your best bet look for a weller soldering station on ebay and buy a base that will accept both small iron's and larger ones. You will thank your self for buying a weller when it works 100% every time and up to 10 years or more..


Here is one you could buy, both accept the soldering iron part to be removed replaced and interchanged with other types.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Weller-EC1002-S...ryZ46413QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Weller-WESD51-S...yZ109556QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
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johnthedoctor said:
You mean that the #3 tip in the 2nd link is no good?

I was thinking it was the right shape for 'do a row of pins at a time'.

Also, lots of flux dispensing bottles on ebay, even empty flux pens but where do you get a bottle of liquid flux in the UK?

The best way to solder a row of pins is with a screwdriver blade type tip. You wet the row of pins with flux, clean the tip, put enough solder on the tip, and gently slide the tip down the row and all of the pins will have a nice solder joints and you shouldn't have any bridged. It takes a bit of practice to get the technique down.

You can get flux pens (filled) from places like digi-key and probably farnell over in europe. I like the Kester 186 RMA flux pens.
 
Thanks for the warning. I'm watching a Weller iron and Decibel Dungeon has an article about building the 24v supply.

Also, I have a voltage controller (2.4Kw) and the dmm I'll be buying has a temp probe. If I got a 50/60w 230v cheapo iron with the right bits could I use it after some diy calibration? Not an ideal soultion I know but my immediate plans are for building a max of 3 x Amp3, that plus a good smd capable soldering station comes to more than 3 x Charlize.
 
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Don't worry about the iron's temp too much, just don't heat the parts for too long and you shouldn't have any problems. That's where flux helps, the solder gets wicked to the pad and the part almost instantly, minimizing the amount of time you need to keep heat on the parts.

If you plan on doing any other bench type of soldering work (like diy audio projects :) ) in the future it would be wise to get a decent soldering station now instead of a standalone iron.
 
johnthedoctor said:
Thanks for the warning. I'm watching a Weller iron and Decibel Dungeon has an article about building the 24v supply.

Also, I have a voltage controller (2.4Kw) and the dmm I'll be buying has a temp probe. If I got a 50/60w 230v cheapo iron with the right bits could I use it after some diy calibration? Not an ideal soultion I know but my immediate plans are for building a max of 3 x Amp3, that plus a good smd capable soldering station comes to more than 3 x Charlize.


Don't buy a soldering iron and build your own psu. Just splurge and buy a station there less than a 1000$ now. It's well worth it.
 
Hello,

I agree with Tekko about the solderstation.
We have Biltema in norway too and when I was about 13 I bought one of those. Just plain crap! The tip are gone before you even get started your work and the temprature regulation is very, very poor. I have changed it for a Weller WS50. At least I think thats what it is. It one of those 50w station with thick shaft. I like those better than the tiny one on the 80w stations. I think it's what you are used to.

Best regards,

magnus
 
Consider buying a used Metcal SP-200... about $80 on Ebay.

The tips are expensive... about $13.

The performance is light years away from any other iron. I have 2... you can go from tiny surface mount to lugbolts in a flash. It's really fundamentally different technology.

;)
 
Well, as far as el-cheapo stations go, I have had really good luck with my soldering station from Circuit Specialists: http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

It is NOT as good as the Weller I use at work, but it heats up pretty quickly, has nice tips to go with it (I am still on my first tip after some pretty heavy usage over the first few months I have owned it, and the tip shows no signs of wear yet). I have used this iron side by side with the Weller, and I honestly can't tell the difference in terms of ease of use or quality of work. I actually like the feel of the smaller iron of the Circuit Specialists station.

It is mainly in the parts and the case that you can tell it is not as good of a piece of equipment. The case is cheap plastic, and the iron itself has a rather inexpensive feel with cheap connectors and materials that work fine, but aren't the top of the line. After a few years I am sure some parts will fail if I keep using it like I have been, but considering the price, I have been extremely happy (but shipping overseas will probably kill that discount!)

Good luck finding a good station!
 
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