Soldering station recommendations?

F

fj

New member
hi everyone,

i need to buy a soldering station. does anyone have any recommendations. i'd like it to be under $100.

there are a few on ebay but i'm just not sure about quality etc.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/58W-Solderin...Electrical_Test_Equipment?hash=item53e09f4f5a

the only thing that it would be used for is to solder together my christmas controllers, ssr's and portafloods.

also, what solder would be best to use? what composition and diameter? what size tip is best to use?

thanks, fj
 
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i would recommend this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360228202727
It appears to be the same as the one g2ktcf has recommended.

I notice the store is out of stock but message him as waited until the last lot came in.

As for solder start with Tin/Lead (60%/40%) around the 0.8 to 1mm. The Flux is important, don't buy one with acid based flux. I usually buy "Multicore" brand solder but the stuff at Altronics is also OK.
Tip size comes down to personal preference, 1.0 to 1.6mm chisels are excellent for most components. a 4mm flat is helpful for terminal blocks. You can do the TB if a 1.2mm tip as long as you increase the temp and move the iron around the pad a bit.
I have the iron above with additional pencils with various tips already installed. that way I am not waiting for the iron to coll down before changing the tip.
 
CSI -2A all the way. And buy three extra tips (conical, fine) now. You will need them after a couple dozen board builds.
 
i got the LK937 soldering station off ebay, an brought 2 extra tips.
all i can say is it works great, the temp changed like instantly, when i change from circuit boards to soldering cable's together.
best i ever found on ebay.
ps. the LK is 'Lion King' brand.
 
I started soldering 2 months ago just for christmas stuff and I followed the recomendation of others here and bought the CSI-2A station. I can't imagine it working any better.
 
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