Radio Shack Digital Solder Station - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: tony3d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 03:02:40 pm
content: Hi All, I am now ready to start soldering, and found a great deal on the Radio Shack Digital Solder Station.http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3132686#tabsetBasic.My Radio Shack can get any of the tips, and stocks several. It's on sale right now for 69.99 plus I have another $10.00 off coupon which they'll honor. So for $59.00 I think it's a pretty good deal. Just wondering what that black banana plug ground on the front is for? Pretty sure it's for static electricity, but not sure what to do with the other end. I guess just tough it to discharge yourself? You can even calibrate it for different style tips. What do you all think, and what about the ground plug. Thanks.

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 03:49:54 pm
content: Ill qualify right out of the gate that I've never used this thing but its probably typical radio shack gear. In that I mean like most things they sell these days it wont be completely abysmal. Think low side of mid grade.The thing you'll want to watch out for is whether or not you can get replacement tips easily and/or if they're compatible with weller or hakko. If what they come with are equivalent to what they've got in their firesticks you're going to need to replace them in pretty quickly. Also if you can only get conical tips, that's going to be at least somewhat problematic because you really want your go-to tips to be chisels that fit the pad diameter nicely.At that price point you might want to consider looking at the consumer weller analog variable temp stations. Just offering that up as something to consider since they're well supported and it'll be on par or a little better build quality.And as an aside, that banana plug is probably for connecting a ground clip to an esd safe work bench.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 04:45:24 pm
content: It is a rebranded Atten.

author: con-f-use
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 04:51:26 pm
content: Quote from: tony3d on November 02, 2013, 03:02:40 pmAt least it says "Ground Jack" in themanual. Basically it gives you one of four options:- Iron floating (increasing possibility of static shock)- Iron hard grounded (directly connected to ground - bad for soldering in life-circuits as you can easily short stuff)- Iron soft grounded (connected to ground via an 1MOhm+ resistor - reduced shortciruit damage, static electricity fades slowly)- Iron referenced to some other potential via connection to the jack (not sure when you'd want that)

author: tony3d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 06:16:54 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on November 02, 2013, 04:45:24 pmIt's actually a rebranded Madell.

author: tony3d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 06:18:52 pm
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on November 02, 2013, 03:49:54 pmMy store handles 4 tip styles in stock, but you can order many different ones. Hakko 900m are direct replacement. I'm thinking for $59.00 it's worth it.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 07:09:08 pm
content: Quote from: tony3d on November 02, 2013, 06:16:54 pmBullshit, Madell just sells the same rebranded crap.

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2013, 07:45:56 pm
content: Quote from: tony3d on November 02, 2013, 03:02:40 pmRadio Shack Digital Solder StationI have been using this one in my equipment maintenance shop for the last few months, only occasional use soldering wires and terminals.when I first unboxed it, I had an issue with the iron's screw down sleeve, it is thin cheap metal and it wouldn't stay on the threads, I squished it a bit oblong with pliers and it has held just fine. I don't know if it will hold up if you plan to change tips often.As far as usability, it heats up very fast and has enough thermal capacity for average work.It is easy to use and the digital display can be changed from C to F if you like.Overall it doesn't feel cheap, but I wouldn't recommend it if you plan on doing tip changes often or if you need good thermal capacity.For the price it would be a good soldering iron you plan to abuse; or as a first iron to learn on.If I were to give a rating, Id say....3 out of five multimeters.

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 05:06:18 am
content: Since you are in the US can't you get a hakko888 for less than a hundred bucks? I would just get one of those for the little bit extra.

author: tony3d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 01:12:07 pm
content: Quote from: cwalex on November 03, 2013, 05:06:18 amThe cheapest I can find the Hakko888d for is $91.00 plus shipping. I'd like to know just what makes it worth the extra $32.00? Then there's shipping as well. Everything I have been reading about the Radio Shack for the most part is very positive. It seems to reach its set temp very fast, maintains it within a few degrees, has all the same important features, and the reliability seems very good. If there is something I'm missing here that's what I'd like to know. Being a beginner, I can't imagine how for $59.00 bucks tha Radio Shack can be that far off the mark. The only issue people were complaining about was getting tips, which does not seem to be a problem anymore, especially since the Hakko 900 tips seems to be direct replacements. People really seem to be stuck on Hakko, which I'm sure is a very solid product, but so far I don't see any great advantage over the a Radio Shack for what will amount to $40.00 dollars after shipping. The rest of that money could be spent on other items I may need. Again being a beginner I may be way off the mark here, if so please explain.

author: ahnuts72
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 05:06:21 pm
content: I have had the exact RadioShack soldering iron for 2 years or so and haven't had one problem with it.Tips where a pain to find at first but now i just order them from the store and have them shipped to my home.(They don't stock them at my store)It works great and seems like a good no frills soldering iron.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 06:12:50 pm
content: Quote from: tony3d on November 03, 2013, 01:12:07 pmThe RS ones (as mentioned previously) seem to be manufactured by Atten.www.ebay.com/itm/150704523692They have what looks like a Hakko clone iron in that RS picture which supports this as well. Madell is selling a range of Atten including the same product.You're essentially comparing a Japanese company specializing in soldering stations (Hakko) to the Chinese company that is copying them (Atten).The difference is the official Hakko stations should out perform these. They will almost certainly have the original iron and better parts and construction.The Hakko is probably a better deal even though it's more expensive, because the money is more wisely spent. Getting the official Hakko iron alone is worth the extra.I have 4 Hakko clones (240V, non digital ones) that cost $15 each. Hakko is more expensive here and I plan to eventually convert them to an official Hakko iron and tips or at least Hakko heaters and tips.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 09:38:08 pm
content: I would definitely take the Hakko over the RS. I have a 936 for several years now and it performs excellently. Mine is analog, but I have never had a digital station so I don't miss it. I used to work at RS in the early 90's and I agree, the stuff sold is on the low end of mid grade. Interestingly, I have a large number red LCD alarm clock I got then that is still working just fine more than 20 years later. The extra money is worth it. I find that too many people only look at up front pricing. I tend to take the long view and look at total cost of ownership. By TCO, I mean how easy is it to get replacement parts, how will it hold up over the long haul, how well does it suite my needs? I tend to research my upcoming purchases to death but I get what I want and never say, "I wish I would have waited and got that instead." Many years ago, my father, may he rest in peace, taught me to spend the extra and buy the tool once.Tom

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 10:50:36 pm
content: Quote from: tony3d on November 03, 2013, 01:12:07 pmThings like: Better weight and balance in the pencil mean it's much more pleasant & less tiring to use for short periods as a beginner or long periods as a pro. The cord from base to pencil is much lighter and more flexible, meaning you aren't forever slightly fighting it when positioning the iron (it's also almost always a bit short on the clones). Much better thermal capacity and response than the clones, which in part means being to do things like jump straight from soldering a TSSOP or QFP pin to a track to soldering a DDPAK tab or leaded component to a ground plane - without changing the temperature, your preferred tip size/shape, or getting the tip stuck to the job.Do those and many other little benefits add up to more than $32 to you? Only you can answer that - and unless you've got some experience, you don't know. Keep in mind that probably the single greatest improvement you can do to any of the clones is to use genuine Hakko tips - buy more than a couple of those and you've spent the $32 difference right there...FWIW, as a one-time hobbyist and experienced field technician who has been away from the game for many years and recently returned, I bought a $35 Atten. But that was because 240V Hakko irons sell for ~$200; at $150+ difference you may as well go a bit further and start looking at irons that are better again. At $32 difference, I would've bought the Hakko (well, maybe a 888, but probably not a 888D).If $32 is a big deal, buy the RS and make note of the things it could do better when you're using it. Plan to buy a genuine Hakko tip or two fairly soon.If $32 isn't a big deal, buy the Hakko - and when using it make note of the things it could do better.

author: bhilly82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 11:15:36 pm
content: First off the Hakko 888d is they way to go. But for the price i would give it a shot if i didn't have my Hakko. What you are paying the extra $30ish is for quality, reliability and for the ease of replacement parts. Can radioshack get you a replacement heating element? Not what i have seen.

author: adnewhouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2013, 11:40:24 pm
content: Having owned a Radio shack iron, I can tell youavoid radio shack irons like the plague. The one you're looking at might not be as bad as the one I had, but save yourself some frustration...Buy a Weller or a Hakko or a decent brand name iron.

author: ahnuts72
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 12:33:37 am
content: Quote from: adnewhouse on November 03, 2013, 11:40:24 pmI would agree when it comes to the non adjustable ones or the pencil type.Not all of RadioShacks stuff is junk though.As I said I have had mine for a couple of years and never had a problem with it.If it was a production environment I would say yes get something better but if not meh.Sent from my Nook HD

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 01:46:12 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 03, 2013, 10:39:49 pmGolden advice here.

author: tony3d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 06:43:54 am
content: Quote from: Shock on November 04, 2013, 01:46:12 amI had bought the Radio Shack unit, and ended up bringing it back. I hardto turn it up to about 600C just to melt solder. It was way off calibration. I finally went with the Aoyue 9378. So far I really like it.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 02:46:32 pm
content: I bought the radio shack digital station when it went on sale.All I can say is I like it. No problems at all.

author: tony3d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 11:32:21 pm
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on November 09, 2013, 02:46:32 pmI'm sure it's good, I probably just got a bad one. This one seems to accurate to within Plus or minus 7 degrees according to my thermocouple.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2013, 02:37:28 pm
content: FWIW, I think it's nutty to spend $50+ on ANY new solder station when you can buy a Hakko 936 for $50 off ebay. I would take a 936 over a truckload of cheap knock offs and Crap Shack offerings, digital or not.

author: tony3d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2013, 03:31:20 pm
content: Seems to work just great. Has all the features you could ask for, and comes with an extra heater, and ten tips. I'm more than happy.

author: toxicnos
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 02:07:32 am
content: In my opinion I would advise you to stick with the company's that specialize in soldering like Weller, Hakko and Pace if your on a budget these big company's have great soldering irons for that price. If your looking for good quality at a decent price look at some of the Weller stuff it's great performing and a really good price.