Soldering Irons

Wayne J

Wayne J

Super Moderator
Staff member
Not all soldering irons are created equal. I went into this venture with an old Weller SP23 hobby iron. I thought I had a decent iron for this stuff. I struggled a bit with tips and heat, but wrote it off as inexperience. Then it was suggested to pick up a better iron. It was suggested that a CSI unit would be much better. I bought one, and after the first use, I wish I had bought it when I started. There are better ones than this one, but it is really hard to beat the price for what you get.
When purchasing be sure to get extra tips, as it only comes with one.

Either of these units are great...
http://circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307


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I agree that a GOOD soldering iron is best tool you can have, if you plan to solder a lot! Saves time and saves your components from getting burned up!

I can't remember how I came to this iron, but I like it and it heats up quickly. From turn on to soldering temp it takes 30 seconds. However it is more expense then the previously mentioned irons ($60). It comes with a 1/32" tip, 1/16" is an option also.

229673.jpg

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/st...01&catalogId=10001&pa=229673&productId=229673


ms
 
I use these:

936_station.jpg


For soldering and this for de-soldering:

821SO881.jpg


The soldering station is ESD certified, I'm anal about the whole static thing. I use all this on a ESD/Anti-static mat and of course have such map at my feel/wheels of chair. While wearing a wrist grounding strap. My wife still makes comments like, "See, you're connected to that thing more than you are me."

With this co-op darn near out of the way... I suppose its time to ensure I'm 'connected' to her a little more often. Enough said. :)
 
Only asking because Weller is a Cooper Hand Tools product and I work for Cooper Lighting. I think I'll ask if I get a discount ;)
 
Sorry there Brian,

Halos are made in Mexico now, none in our plant. Our site makes industrial and commercial HID like floods, site lights, parking lot lights, etc.
 
Any ideas to what i should buy locally (adelaide, south australia)

Choices seam to be:

Jaycar 50watt soldering station $50
Duratech 50watt soldering station $99
Goot 46watt soldering pencil $60

Currently have a cheapy 25 watt iron and its just not fine enough

Im leaning towards the pencil because i tend to do a decent amount of soldering away from a desk (eg in cars etc)
 
I had a weller for a LONG time (20+ years?) and it finally gave up the ghost. I replaced it with the 1A (top couple of messages in this thread). Should arrive any day, the price is right....
 
i got a black and decker for $12 from big lots and it work fine. I came with the bench stand as well.
 
my only concern is that 48W is the power IN, I wonder what the power out is... 20W? 15W? any less than 20W and it may not solder heavy things....
 
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