Best Budget Soldering Iron? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: chiken
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2019, 08:08:08 pm
content: Hello,So my soldering iron fell apart, mainly because of my fault, it had some tought time with me, it was a good soldering iron RIP :')What do you guys could reccomend, which soldering iron to buy?One with variable temperature ofcourse.Main use would be electronics, but also something beefier parts too so wouldnt go below 40w.Now the price might be "funny" but wouldnt go above 35$, well my wallet does not share same enthusiasm as i do about this kind of stuff :')

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2019, 08:24:56 pm
content: bakon 950d with a T12 handpiece - NOT T13.search the forum for bakon - lots of info.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 10, 2019, 09:26:03 pm
content: Save money and provide your own 16-24v@3a PSU - $34 might work for you..

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 04:13:18 am
content: The tip length on that last iron is a joke.Here is another I found while looking for the old style T12 handle.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 04:28:44 am
content: Here is the Bakon one notice the difference?

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 04:50:08 am
content: You're right.. but OP is limited to $35 (usd??) Power supply apart, can he/she get the good handle and controller alone?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 05:02:04 am
content: Here is a Baklon 950D with the T12 iron for $37.59 with free shipping. Would be nice this iron on the other controller, on a non Chinese power supply, I guess that is called a Hakko FX951 heheh.https://www.ebay.com/itm/121841641856

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 08:58:23 am
content: That Bakon looks pretty neat! I may pick one up just because the price is so low.You can get a TS100 for as low as $35 or $40 from China, and you probably already have a DC power supply around between 12 and 24 volts, so just use that with it, it's a really neat iron. I haven't used it much, but after using it a few times it's quickly becoming a favorite.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 09:23:40 am
content: These are pretty good, i know two people who have one.Doesn't come with a stand though, but you probably still have one from your old ironhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/138x88x38mm-Digital-Soldering-Iron-Station-Temperature-Controller-EU-Plug-Temperature-180-435-Degrees-T12-Handle/32692999653.html

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 09:42:13 am
content: Is that or the 950D notably better than this, which i can get shipped within the usa for $22?https://www.ebay.com/itm/YiHua-936-Rework-Soldering-Station-SMD-Desoldering-Solder-Iron-w-Stand-110V-US/381444146894?epid=1047266892&hash=item58cfd7c6ce:g:7ZMAAOSw0jFZpMkP&frcectupt=true

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 09:55:26 am
content: Quote from: Mp3 on April 11, 2019, 09:42:13 amThe 936 uses the older 900M style tips which are shit.You want something with the tip+heating element in one block, like T12 on 950D or the one i posted.The old tip style has a small air gap between the element and the tip which makes the thermal characteristic total shit compared to the new tip+element designs.Think of the old 900M style tips like a computer CPU without any thermal compound between the cpu and heatsink.Its shit.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 10:27:06 am
content: The Hakko 936 clone stations use a 900M/T18 style tip which screws onto the iron over the heater, the Hakko FX951 clones (BAKON, KSER etc) use a T12 style cartridge tip which has a heater built in and is easily swapped. The TS100 may come with no power supply and has a bastardized T12 style cartridge and uses a hex locking screw. The other clones mentioned look like the iron from a Hakko 936 clone with a T12 cartridge sticking out, they are an absolute abomination.See these, this what the Metcal/Thermaltronics/Pace/Hakko (name brand irons) actually look like. Now go back and look at the Chinese Quicko and DSK stations shown and pay close attention to the length of the T12 tip sticking out. The iron in the bottom right of the photo is a genuine Hakko FM2028 with a T12 tip.Here is another view of the Bakon 950D, I don't own one of these (wanted something better and non Chinese) but plenty of people have brought them. As I mentioned though above, the ideal mix for me is a Bakon iron (handpiece) a T12 clone controller (I believe KSER had updatable firmware) and a non Chinese power supply. The KSER iron looked ok but I read something about quality issues.

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 10:33:05 am
content: Point taken, thanks!It seems to me from what i can tell the difference between t12 and t13 for the 950d is only length of the iron part itself.... is this true? I watched the russian video with translated subtitles and did some more googling but from what i understand its just length?

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 10:33:19 am
content: +1 For the TS100

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 10:59:34 am
content: Quote from: Mp3 on April 11, 2019, 10:33:05 amI updated the end of my last post.Length of the iron not so important. You want a smallest distance between the end of tip and the lowest point where you can comfortably grip (working distance). I'm not saying go rush out and buy a Bakon but hopefully you see the point I'm making.Regarding the clone T12/T13 difference I can't remember the specifics but the T12 is the more popular cartridge. It's possibly for the above reason the iron supplied with the T13 makes the tip stick out further.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 11:24:47 am
content: You can't change a hot probe without burning yourself, I would opt with the long ones instead of this short one

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 11:38:14 am
content: Quote from: ebclr on April 11, 2019, 11:24:47 amMost modern cartridge soldering stations are designed to have short tip working distances and can be swapped easily while 400C/752F. You use the provided heat resistant silicon pad or specific brands have an additional way of doing it. For instance Pace uses a tip tool, JBC uses their iron stand, Hakko uses the plastic tip sleeve.You can buy Chinese silicon tongs on Ebay for $1, no burns.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 11:39:15 am
content: MP3, here is a question for you. Do you plan to do a lot of soldering or occasional soldering? If you plan to do a lot, it behooves you to save your pennies and buy a real and proper name brand unit with OEM tips. There will be no disappointment there. Don't be afraid to look at the used market, that is how I have my Metcal MX-500. If your use is occasional, the Bakon that Shock linked might be a good choice if you have a power supply on hand but I will still recommend OEM tips. They will simply outlast and out perform the $2 Chinese specials. My dearly departed father always said that you buy your tool right and only buy it once.Psi, I think you are being a bit hard on the 936/900m style. I had a real Hakko 936 for about 7 years before upgrading. It spent 2 years of its life replacing capacitors on Dell and ELO touch screen monitors for the company. Granted, you can't solder 2 4" pieces of copper PCB together but for basic soldering it was awesome. I had chisel tips from 3.2 mm down to .8 mm that let me solder 0603 passives and SOT23 components on SMD practice boards. The limiting factor is finding OEM in a configuration you want. There is a greater selection of T12 in OEM and clone. By the way, I sold it to a ham club member and she is quite happy with it

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 11:47:13 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on April 11, 2019, 11:39:15 amI spend 10+ years of my life using irons that run 900M tips and i did lots successful soldering with them too.It's not so much that 900m itself is shit, you can get the job done with it.So maybe i should rephrase.It's that 900M is shit once you have used a really good iron and then go back to itMy thermaltronics TMT-9000 totally ruined me, i just can't use a 900M without going "hm.. why is this iron taking so long to solder this part? oh thats right, 900m tip"

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 12:03:13 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on April 11, 2019, 11:47:13 amWe can agree on that. There was a huge difference between the 936 and the FX-951 that I upgraded to. When I added the Metcal MX-500 for a ridiculous price, that just gilded the lily.I couldn't go back either.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 12:32:42 pm
content: I was lucky to get in on a special offer for my thermaltronics TMT-9000They had a special trade-in deal.You got the TMT-9000 station for ~AUD$450 and they gave you 20 different tips for free.The tips are worth like $40 each so really really good deal.Since it was a trade-in i had to surrender a soldering station to them as part of the deal.I wish i still had a picture of it, i gave them this really tiny DSE brand station.Like a 3x3x3 inch cube and plastic toy style iron pencil.It still worked and said "soldering station" on it but was such a toy and a piece of junk.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 12:35:22 pm
content: Got to remember as well they got a little better performance out of the Hakko FX-888D and T18 tip (according to Hakko) but as a sub $100 non Chinese station, with decent tip selection, if you use that criteria it's about the best thing going.Quote from: Psi on April 11, 2019, 12:32:42 pmWho was this with?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 12:41:51 pm
content: i'm not actually sure, somewhere in Australia. A friend told me about it as he was getting one too.We are in NZ and arranged to get the stations shipped here and our trade-in stations shipped to Aus.From memory the deal required more than 10 people or something.I dont remember all the details though

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 12:53:23 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on April 11, 2019, 11:39:15 amNot soldering constantly, somewhere between occasional and whatever the level behind "a lot" is thoughI was looking to replace the FX888 i've had for about 8 years, since i have broken 3 handles on it and wanted something else, then i got the TS100 which i absolutely love so far, but i wouldn't have considered it if i was doing tons of soldering and working all day with it. For doing 5-15 minutes of soldering hooked up to a battery to solder in weird places easier, it's a lifesaver.I actually had a pretty difficult time finding the 950D with the T12 handle, seems like most sellers outside of a few on ebay all sell it with T13 handles, i would definitely use OEM tips though! I was interested in the 950D since it was cheap and looked nice, plus it would mostly just be a backup for the TS100.I apologize for hijacking the thread. I hope the OP finds some of this useful.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 05:10:53 pm
content: Quote from: ebclr on April 11, 2019, 11:24:47 amthat's bullshit,i hotswap all the time with some longnose pliers.

author: sairfan1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 07:03:22 pm
content: I don't think you can find like this, see many other models in the YIHUA store.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/110V-220V-Optional-Welding-Soldering-Iron-60W-YIHUA-947-III-Set-For-Soldering-Kit-With-Temperature/32785900623.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.38.49c3387eORPFgh&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_7_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_10059_10884_317_10548_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_537_536,searchweb201603_90,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=53a09ad4-dd59-4fa7-a4a9-3bab8e26488e-5&algo_pvid=53a09ad4-dd59-4fa7-a4a9-3bab8e26488e&transAbTest=ae803_3

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 07:48:55 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on April 11, 2019, 12:32:42 pmThat is AWESOME!!!!!

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2019, 09:57:01 pm
content: Hey guys..... I got in the Bakon BK950D a few days ago and have done a few soldering projects with it so far....My initial impression is thati like it but i think i need to pick up some OEM tips for itinstead of using the junky tips it comes with. The first project i did with it, didn't work when i plugged it in, and found i had a cold solder joint, so i brought it back and held the Bakon iron to the problematic joint for another second or 2 and it worked perfect after that. This was all done at 380 degrees F which is the default temperature setting on the BK950D. The controller on it is very nice and I am fairly convinced the tip it came with is of subpar quality and that it would be nicer to use with a better tip. It heated up very fast, seemed to have a precise temperature and the handle is nice and lightweight and the cable stays out of the way.The TS100 has a more consistent tip temperature I think. Soldering seems like it might be a little easier on the TS100 for this reason. However the BK950D seems like it would actuallyNow I just need to buy myself some nicer T13 style tips and i think i will be very happy with it. It improves on a lot of complaints I had about the Hakko FX888, but so far it seems that temperature consistency on the tip is not ideal compared to either the TS100 or FX888. I will buy some brand name tips and see if that improves my experience with it.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 08:27:00 am
content: you dont want T13 tips, you want a T12 handpiece.btw, your soldering too hot - 330-350 is optimal for lead-free.250-280 for leaded.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 12:04:28 pm
content: Quote from: Mp3 on May 03, 2019, 09:57:01 pmAt 380F you are too light on temp. Leaded solder melts at roughly 360-370 F. I set my FX-951 at 600 F and I use 600 series tips in my Metcal MX-500, which is 650 F. I have no doubt that OEM will perform better than what you have. You can get them at TEquipment.net and there is a thread that you can get a EEVBlog discount. I believe if you spend $100, you get free shipping. Get a selection of tips, the tip tray for them and the tip cleaner with the brass curls and a spare, dedicated tips if you plan to do lead free to avoid cross contamination and you should make the $100 easy. You know you want a variety of tips, I have 6 myself, for now.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 04:08:46 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on May 04, 2019, 12:04:28 pmbakon displays in "c" not "F"so he's actually a bit high - or a lot high for leaded solder.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 04:10:52 pm
content: btw, no point burning money on original cartridges.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 05, 2019, 12:45:07 am
content: Interesting video that voltlog did. Initial quality does indeed seem very similar. I would be more concerned with long term usage. Ultimately, how well will the KSGER tip hold up over the long haul. I might have to get a few and try them out. Not quite a frame of reference but when I sold my Hakko 936 I had OEM tips that were 7 years old at the time and worked just fine. I wonder if the KSGER tips can last like that.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2019, 08:01:08 am
content: my ali-express tips are atleast 2 years old now, and look like new - no pitting or anything.even if they only lasted a year though, they would still be a better deal than what hakko charges!

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2019, 08:09:08 pm
content: Wow, i really hope my Bakon displays temperature in F not C, 380C would be REALLY way too hot!!!Thanks for your replies, everyone.... i already bought two brand name Hakko tips from ebay, but that video was very enlightening, i will probably buy some off brand ones next.after all on my Hakko 888 i used Aoyue tips for years without problem....I think the tip that came with the BK950D is so bad, even other youtube reviews show it working poorly as mine does, i think at this point even a knock-off tip would work better than what they send with it!i wish i had a thermal camera so i could compare the stock tip to a hakko one...

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2019, 08:01:13 am
content: the bakon has presets for 250,300,350 and 400.use the left button to get yours to 300(leaded) or 350(lead-free)and stay away from cheap chinese solder - specially "JINHU"that shit claims to be 63/37 but only just starts to melt at 350.(into a sludge - like it has no flux)

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2019, 10:40:26 am
content: Okay, so i was able to confirm my unit was running in Fahrenheit, i accidentally switched to celsius is how i found outNo idea why the presets are so hot though, i can't imagine wanting to go above 480f (the lowest preset temperature)I swapped the tip on my T13 handle unit with a genuine Hakko T15-D16 and the experience was great.Notably much faster heat up time until it would melt solder. I have no way to measure temperature or do thermal imaging but i would love to be able to do this. The T15 tip is a decent amount longer than the stock T13 tip. I can take photos if wanted.I noticed when i turned the controller down to 450 with the Hakko tip, it had a little trouble melting solder, so i cranked it back to 475 and that seemed to be the lowest it could reasonably melt solder and not otherwise be too hot. However i don't put too much stock in what the temparture display says - it's only 3 pin for the heater so no temperature control sensor in the handle, it's probably just guessing to whatever it's calibrated to, but using 475-480 degrees F with the t15-d16 handle gives a very similar soldering experience to my old Hakko iron when i would leave the analog dial set at 390 F.....I got a nice consistent solder at 475-480 F and didn't have as much irregularity like i experienced with the stock tip.Anyway, i still like this iron a lot, my next investment will probably be a generic set of Hakko T15 tips and i expect they'll work nicely like the real Hakko tip. But man, the tip it comes with really sucks!Time will tell if it's a winning combination......BTW this is all with Kester 60/40, i have a giant roll of the nice Kester i got 3 years ago and still have plenty left on the spool!

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2019, 08:41:44 pm
content: the T12/15 does have a temperature sensor in the tip, it's in series with the heater.and T12/15 is only looking longer and more awkward because you need a T12 handle for it.there is a thread where i covered the details.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/budget-soldering-iron/msg1310435/#msg1310435

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 01:34:26 am
content: QuoteMost of the irons posted here are shit compared to a genuine 888. I dunno if you ever used a genuine Hakko 888, or even 936, or just clones. And the T18 tips are better than the 900M... both interchangeable. Most hakko T18 clones are not very good. I've used 3 of them and they are not comparable to a genuine 888 in power or ergos or durability or handpiece temperature under heavy use. They range from really bad to just mediocre. None really came close to the real thing.IOW, "irons that run 900M tips" are not necessarily very good. This is the most cloned station in history, and most of the clones only compete by being made by the lowest bidder and sold for peanuts.Rossman is another guy who went from Ayou to 951 and thinks the old "hakko" style of iron is crap when he's only ever used a cheap knockoff. If you go from a genuine Hakko 888 to Bakon T12, you would see the Bakon is alright but is inferior in many ways. Plus Rossman leaves his 951 at 840F and replaces a $40.00 tip every month or two (per him) while replacing 1 component per hour, so how good is even the real 951?I probably do more soldering in a month than Rossman does in a year.Judging the old style of tips to the newer cartridge tips fine. I would 100% agree the 2 clone T12 stations I used are way better to slightly better than the various 3 clone T18's I've used. But the real Hakko 888 (888 has 17% more power than the 936) is way better than the clone T18/900M stations.I concur the Bakon is a really good station for $30ish, esp if you only need a few different tips. It has shorter tip to grip blah blah, hot swap, yeah, it's pretty decent. Actually the warm up time is about exactly the same as a genuine 888 with the corresponding tip (neighborhood of 17 seconds). Power and thermal drop/loss is pretty close but not as good as a Hakko 888; i.e., you have to fudge with the temp more often than with the 888 when you are encountering big ground planes or whatnot. In addition to real world use, I have preformed a test and have data that backs that up. Handle temp when under heavy load is way better than the 888, which is one of the only non subjective performance features that is an actual improvement (and likewise, the genuine 888 is way better than all of the clone 900m/T18 stations I have used; some of the clones were a problem, but to me the real 888 is more than good enough in this department; it's a rare job that the handle increases in temp). So for $30, you get a pretty capable station with a light handpiece that is backheavy and has flex in the tip. And you get a nice fold out tin stand for the ultimate in soldering ergonomics.Also, Bakon is quite possibly the only iron that has a worse UI than the 888, lol. Making adjustments is misery, and there are no user adjustable presets. You get nice 50C increments by default, and whenever you try to make smaller adjustments you will fail and end up jumping to the next 50C preset, guaranteed. I eventually gave up and used the iron way too hot to avoid having to change it. 2 months, I hid my 888 and used this iron, and it works great... for $30 bucks. I have also used a 24V t12 clone, and it performed very similarly to the Bakon. Warm up speed was way faster, but it had the same thermal drop and need to bump up the temps as the Bakon, not quite as good as the old obsolete 888 in real world use or in thermal drop test.

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 05:17:51 am
content: I had an analog 888 since 2012 and after i broke a handle right by the base connector plug for the 3rd time, i decided to go looking for a different unit, though the 888 did always work great for me except for those handle issuesI should consider upgrading to a nicer Hakko, this iron is fun to use even though it might not be the most precise, i still actually prefer my TS100 to any other iron i've had or used when it comes to tip temperature consistency!

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 07:27:14 am
content: I expect some of the clone handles to break in half next to where the parts screw together. I've broken one of the clones. The smell and the appearance of the threading gave the impression it was made of recycled cheese plastic from the getgo. And it sounds like a stupid detail, but the hard foam overgrip on the original Hakko is the bomb. It is comfortable despite sweat or flux; doesn't get slippery or tacky and just gives a comfortable and secure-feeling grip that is easy to manipulate. It's also bomb-proof. The foam is a couple shades darker than what it started, but there are no signs of wear, damage or separation. The clones I have used had a rubber overgrip which makes you feel your own sweat and finger oil, instantly and incessantly, even when your hands are pretty clean. I would take time and effort to wipe those down, regularly. TBH, the only time I remember ever cleaning my 888 handpiece was the day I got the 888D and noticed how dark the overgrip had become. I used a paper towel barely dampened with alcohol, only over the overgrip and avoiding the rest of the plastic... and it didn't look or feel any different, after or since.Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've used the same 888 handpiece for over a decade now, originally with the 888 and now with the 888D. I am surprised that it would break 3 times in such a short period of time.* And I hate to wonder if you bought replacements on eBay from Hong Kong or China for $20.00 instead of the $65 that the distributors sell it for.*3 times in 7 years! I have stated a couple of times before that you can expect a cheap clone station to last 2-4 years before the handpiece breaks in half from heat degradation. That is completely disappointing to have that happen to a more expensive station.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 08:57:52 am
content: Quote from: Mp3 on May 10, 2019, 05:17:51 amDon't get a Hakko FX-951, the Pace ADS200 beats it in almost every way for the same price. Tips just as high quality but cheaper, higher performance and power with more mass and you don't have to calibrate or buy $5 pieces of plastic to remove your tips easily.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 09:25:54 am
content: I also like how the ADS tips have a keyway, so they go in the same way every time. I don't know if they're any stiffer, but the subtle feeling of mush and play in the clone 951 two part handpiece and the slight bendiness of the cartridge, itself, was a letdown. That, plus the nerf dart handpiece and lack of mass in the business end just doesn't feel super refined to me.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 12:09:34 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on May 10, 2019, 09:25:54 amYeah the keyway has been used also in the TD-100 for quite a while so it's proven reliable. I have the new TD-100a on my Pace MBT350 station which is the aluminum version. The keyway prevents over insertion so there is minimal stress on the tip socket inside the barrel. The MT-100 tweezers are also keyed so one of the easiest tweezers on the market to do tip changes, 10 seconds for a complete swap over.These are 1124-1001-P1 which is 0.2mm (.008"). I mean is that sexy or what? My chin nearly hit the floor when I tried these out.