What Soldering Irons dou you guys use?

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bigparsnip

bigparsnip

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Joined 2003
owlstone.co.uk
#1
Hi, I am looking about at the momnet to get myself a new soldering iron, as I have finaly decided that my Antex XS25 is just too imprecice for what I want to be doing these days. So, I was wondering what everyone her uses, and what you would recomend my looking for.

Bearing in mind that I don't want to spend too much money, I will be trying to get something for below £70, either new of from e-bay. So far, I have looked at various temperature controled Weller Irons (like the EC2100), and I have seen an Iron from magnum (the 2004) which I think I can get new within my budget (you can see the specs here ).

So do people have any experience with the above models, or any further sujestions for me (or even any irons that might be what I want that you are selling) to try?

Any help would be very useful.

Andrew.
 
#5
Weller is good if you are a pro. They have also spare parts, important!

A Weller lasts 8-10 years in production!

My SMD iron WSP80 is wonderful, 80 watts in a pen!

Weller is expensive! Look around first because Weller is a luxury for a amateur. You must do a lot DIY'ing if a Weller should pay.
 
#7
li_gangyi said:
that's a hellotta power for SMD...??
Click to expand...

Indeed, warm in 10 secs.
 

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#10
I picked up a Weller WPCPT soldering station about a year ago, at a local radioshack store that was closing, for $50 and it works great for almost everything. It keeps a real stable temperature (700 F with the tip that I have), which makes soldering go real fast. They have 600,700 and 800 F tips of various sizes. It has some closed loop sensing system, which keeps the tip accurate to a few degrees. Before this, I had a normal iron, which led to cold solder joints, and other bad joints.

For smaller stuff, I use the variable temperature weller iron with a small tip at school (WES50), and I recently started using a Hakko 852 SMD rework station, which makes it easy to get those 28pin SSOP packages mounted on boards and adapters.

Another thing I like is to have a can of flux paste around, as you can dip the tip of the iron in it to clean it, and it will work much better. I also use a lot of flux for small smd parts.

--
Brian
 
#11
terrible consumer

I bought my Ersa in 1974 in Mechelen, while going to boarding school.....
I moved to the US in 2000 and got a transformer just for that tool.....

you see, I hate changes.... and overconsumption.......


J-P😉
 
#13
The absolute best, in terms of temperature control and consistency, are Metcal IMHO.

www.metcal.com

V. expensive though (to buy and run) and either Weller (with electronic switching, not the unreliable bi-metal) or a good basic temp-controlled one will do almost anything.

I personally use an Antex temp controlled one I bought cheap, the Metcals are for work.

Andy.
 
#17
I use a Pace MBT200 Sensatemp solder/desolder station. About $800-$1200usd new. Mines used, but in good shape. After using a standard "Iron" for many years, I have all but given up not having a temp controled unit. SMT work is becoming more and more common, and I won't do it without a good station. I also have "had it" with desolder braid and soldapults(sp?) when doing repair work. lets face it, they are a pain in the backside(On a good day!) and sometimes, downright useless. I do have an older weller iron that is still a good general use iron, but It's not getting used much these days.

Tall Shadow
 
#18
Right, I have had a bit of a look about to see what I could pick up seacond hand, and I was wondering what would be better, a Weller station with a digital tempreatur control (variable), or a metcal fixed temp station?

I haven't realy esed the metcal stuff before (although I have heard a few people on here mention it), and I know from experience that the Weller stuff is nice to use (and will probably last a very long time), so I'm looking for someone who could possibly help me decide which would be best.

Andrew.

just thought, if the metcal would be better for me, would I be better off going for the stss-ps2v-02, or the SP200 model?
 
#19
Hi,

I use a Ersa Multitip C25 for normal use and a Ersa MS 60 soldering station when,ehm I don't use that one to often.

Great tools and spare parts available. Although used for quite some years it's only my second tip I replaced. I use the long life metal plated tips. For SMD I use Ersa as well. Never liked the grip of the Wellers but their quality is undisputable. Just a matter of taste I guess.
 
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