Good cheap soldering iron - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: cowboy303
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2012, 04:44:38 pm
content: Hi,My $7.99 soldering iron stopped working yesterday and I wanted a get another one.I don'tTHINKI need a variable temp I only work with resisters and capacitors and when I use ic's I solder to ic holders that ic's clip into.ITHINK60w would be good but not sure.ACAP (as cheap as possible) would be nice.the main thing is I want it to last a good amount of time (I don't want to ask this question again in a month).I did see Dave's videos on soldering station's but there a little to many dollars.I was looking on good old eBay and found these and would like you opinion on them.http://www.ebay.com/itm/58W-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-TEMPERATURES-CONTROL-/140695421956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c219c404http://www.ebay.com/itm/RS-Soldering-Station-/320860022108?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab4bf655chttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-soldering-station-/170794949099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c42c19ebhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/220V-Lead-Free-Welding-Soldering-Iron-Station-Tool-936-/140670749078?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c0a14996http://www.ebay.com/itm/320859438589?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649thank you so much

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2012, 05:37:33 pm
content: the chicago soldering station ,is actually a atten station and you can use 900M-T tips for it .Avoid the RS station AND get a 936 clone down the road ( stay away from those attens , they're not 50/60W )This one down the road :http://www.amazon.com/X-TRONIC-MODEL-4010-Soldering-MAGNIFYING/dp/B0053491YO/ref=sr_1_8?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1330882618&sr=1-8OR this one :http://www.amazon.com/X-TRONIC-6040-Soldering-SOLDERING-MAGNIFYING/dp/B0052M8SZA/ref=sr_1_16?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1330882321&sr=1-16

author: Zeta
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 01:03:14 am
content: what about the Duratoolhttp://uk.farnell.com/duratool/d00677/soldering-station-eu-plug/dp/1498366and TENMAhttp://uk.farnell.com/tenma/21-10115-uk/soldering-station-digital-esd-uk/dp/2064549seem pretty cheap and tips and extra handles are quite cheap too.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 03:49:42 am
content: Quote from: Zeta on March 05, 2012, 01:03:14 amI have heard the duratool's very out of whack ( actually it's a rebranded item , given farnell's liking to relabel most cheap obsure products to duratool/tenma/multicomp to make it sound good )And if you notice the first RS station is exactly like the duratool , a piece of shite .The 2nd one ? Well let's not get there , it's more expensive then a Atten ( It is a atten ! ) . Get a 936 clone instead of that .

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 05:13:55 am
content: Let me tell you, even if you do very little soldering, save up a little money and get a variable iron. It DOES make a world of difference.$35 US at frys.com will net you this:http://www.frys.com/product/3055439;jsessionid=eTC1UvOX9kDhbkkQ4ff5eg__.node3?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PGElenco soldering station. Not nearly as nice as the hakko fx888 that I bought to replace it (I only got the elenco cause the local store was out of hakko's at the time and I didn't wanna wait on shipping.) That said, put a wedge tip on it and it does a great job, FAR better than those crap grade firesticks. I suck at soldering, but even so, a good station makes it a million times easier.And I bet the elenco station will last much longer than the cheap stick, for right around the cost of 3 and a half of the garbage ones.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 05:41:25 am
content: I have never had a firestick last more then 5 weeks in my sort of usage ( unless it's a GOOT , but i can feel the heat on the handle anyway )

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 06:13:00 am
content: I would recommend a Weller WTCP iron,with the heat adjusted by changing the tip.You really only need the 700F tips for normal work with tin/lead solder,but you may need several tip sizes at that temperature,to allow for different sized solder jobs.The real problem is that they arenotcheap! I recently got an "pre-loved" one at a Hamfest for $A80,& felt I had done well!The really cheap irons with a temp knob on the front of the box are pretty lousy,& it's not until you get into the reputable manufacturers that you get something suitable for serious work.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 06:30:46 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on March 05, 2012, 06:13:00 amNONONONONO . Dave Jones isn't going to agree with you .Stations that adjust temperature by changing tips are NO GOOD !You really need a good variable soldering station .The really cheap irons with a temp knob on the front of the box are pretty lousyI have used a WTCP and sold it off in 1 week !And i now have 2 936 clones ! Oh if you mean those elenco's ? Those are SHIT . Anyway .

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 06:50:03 am
content: ^^ I never said the elenco's are good. Just better than the crap firesticks that he was looking at. And relatively cheap. I suggested it because he doesn't seem inclined to be willing to wait to save enough for a hakko or similar.EDIT: Perhaps I should have specified in my first post that I recommend he saves for the hakko, as it is entirely worth it. But barring that, I at least have experience with the elenco, and can say it will at least accomplish the job.

author: cowboy303
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 07:03:57 am
content: Thanks every body for your repliesIf the Hakko 888 is way better then I'll probably get it but if I do how long do you think it will it last me. I would use it about 4 times a week for only 30 minutes or so but some times 3 hours strait.

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 07:14:21 am
content: I'm no expert, and only got mine a little while ago, so don't have personal experience with longevity. However, from what I understand, the model it replaced, the 936, was known to have rock solid performance and life span, I think Dave in one of his vids, implied his to be at least 10 to 20 years old, but that is just my hazy memory.Either way, they have a phenomenal reputation, and if you are willing to put the little extra into it, don't hesitate!The FX 888 is absolutely the way to go!IMHO, of course.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 07:50:21 am
content: As mentioned, the Hakko 936 has a reputation of lasting a long time, and the FX-888 is it's successor. Given the modest soldering described, and use of basic iron care (turn it off when not used for long periods of time, and keep the tips clean and tinned ...), it should also last a good long time.Unless Hakko's lost the plot of course, which I don't expect is the case.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 11:45:30 am
content: The 936 clones are good value for the money and also have excellent spares availability. You can find a few reviews of them in the review forum here (Aoyue and Huakko come to mind.)

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 01:27:32 pm
content: I don't just ramble about 936 clones , i review them . *Sore throat so yeah*

author: cowboy303
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 02:30:48 pm
content: Quoteso you think I should get this onehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/AOYUE-936-Soldering-Station-/110661676275?pt=BI_Electrical_Equipment_Tools&hash=item19c3f32cf3or this onehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/1-NEW-QUALITY-ECONOMICAL-SOLDERING-STATION-110V-LDB-936-/170795587661?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c435d84dthere are some ATTTEN ones but there 220v and I'm in the USAIf the Hakko 888 is much better, For an extra $20 I willing go that route. But if it's not worth the extra $20-$40 I'd be happy with the 936 clone.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 03:05:25 pm
content: Quote from: cowboy303 on March 05, 2012, 02:30:48 pmTrust me the 888 is much better . It's not worth less the 20$ to get a clone .Unless your 936 acts differently from most other 936 , then yeah .And on top of that you have 20 extra watts .The aoyue's only 35W , and a hakko will last you damn long .

author: im_a_human
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2012, 08:18:42 pm
content: My Antex irons do a remarkably good job