Soldering iron reccomendations - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 01:16:32 pm
content: Looking to do SMD and thru-hole. Would get a Hakko but they're impossible to get here for more than double the RRP.Any reccomendations? AFAIK the Hakko FX888 on DealExtreme is a fake...

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 01:18:08 pm
content: If you can afford it, get a JBC. You will never regret it.

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 01:23:15 pm
content: That's a point: not looking to spend much. Possibly about £80 maximum.Thinking about a cheap clonehttp://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/346047583-Free-shipping-HAKKO-936-iron-Solder-Station-220V-soldering-iron-wholesalers.htmljust because the tips are readily available.

author: Chet T16
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 02:22:45 pm
content: Currently out of stock and i've no idea if they're getting them back in but this is where i got minehttp://www.pcb-soldering.co.uk/atten-at938d-professional-60w-soldering-station.htmlAlso available from china on ebay

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 06:34:55 pm
content: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATTEN-AT8586-2-in-1-SMD-Rework-Station-Hot-Air-Gun-Solder-Iron-UK-Shipping-/180924805539?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2a1ff571a3#ht_2019wt_1112Good buy? Combination of the above iron and a rework station (which is something else i've found to be very very useful)

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 06:56:39 pm
content: Quote from: Christopher on July 26, 2012, 06:34:55 pmSure it is ...You can try and see ifhttp://www.storeinfinity.com/atten-hot-air-gun-soldering-rework-smd-station-at8586-2in1.htmlcombined price + shipping is cheaper for you or not

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 07:04:08 pm
content: question is, you want to buy multiple times or just once?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 07:09:35 pm
content: Quote from: DaveXRT on July 26, 2012, 06:56:39 pmAll of £6 cheaper and you have to wait for it to arrive from the depths of China, rather than being shipped within the UK. Not worth waiting three weeks to save that when you're spending that much anyway.

author: icon
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 08:57:18 pm
content: Quote from: Chet T16 on July 26, 2012, 02:22:45 pmI bought the 937B from the same people - same as the one shown above but with just a dial rather than fancy-pants display. Sadly it's dead as of today. I turned the wick up to desolder some ground plane-attached caps, and now the light just briefly blinks when you switch on. Other than that, dead. I haven't spoken to pcb-soldering yet, so maybe they'll amaze me with their customer service.John

author: ErikTheNorwegian
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 11:11:20 pm
content: I just bought one of these and is very happy about it!!http://www.circuitspecialists.eu/bk-6000-blackjack-solderwerks-deluxe-rework-soldering-station-p-173.htmlAnd with this one the station was complete!http://www.circuitspecialists.eu/smd-tweezer-adapter-for-bk-6000-p-197.html

author: asbokid
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2012, 01:47:34 am
content: Quote from: Christopher on July 26, 2012, 01:23:15 pmThe 936 look nice and only £6.30 on the oriental fleabay. Replacement irons just £2. Ten bits for a quid, etc, etc!http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=18460824664http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=14076773338

author: Setar2k11
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2012, 09:08:33 am
content: Maybe a bit out of your price range but i use a Pace MBT 301 with the TD100 soldering iron and the SX80 solder extractor, i bought it in new condition off ebay for £250. Excellent bit of kit, i use it day in day out and haven't had any problems.

author: beltal
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 09, 2012, 02:36:10 am
content: How about this? It charges 40$ including shipping. And it accept the payment of Paypal. I often buy things with it.http://www.beltal.com/dhgexpress?uri=/product-fm/346047583-Free-shipping-HAKKO-936-iron-Solder-Station-220V-soldering-iron-wholesalers.html

author: JuKu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2012, 08:16:10 am
content: For the money, Hakko 936 would be very hard to beat. I have one:Pros: Cheap; excellent value; just works; tips are cheap, easy to find and plenty of variety; heats up pretty fastCons: Thermal capacity / heating power could be better (but my reference is a 500€ Weller); the handle gets hot (not too hot to work, but not comfortable).Would I buy again? If I had a few hundred for a soldering iron: no. But if I had a few hundred for tools: yes, as I would have money left for other toys. If I had 80€ for an iron: Definitely, and I'd use the extra to a wide selection of tips.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2012, 08:33:17 am
content: The 936 was officially discontinued some time ago for the FX-888 so you're unlikely to find any genuine ones, but from the reviews here and elsewhere the various Chinese clones can be just as good. Possibly some of them contain parts made in the same factories that made the original 936. There's a huge aftermarket that's built up around the "936" brand so tips and other replacement parts are cheap and easy to find.About the handle getting hot, that's commonly quoted of (some of) the clones but I have a real one (bought before the discontinuation) and it doesn't, even after several hours at 350.

author: JuKu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2012, 08:46:37 am
content: Quote from: amyk on August 09, 2012, 08:33:17 amInteresting. I'm pretty sure I have a real thing too. Maybe "hot" is a strong word, as I can use it for longer than I care to sit at the bench for one go. But at least "warm at the threshold of uncomfort" is not.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2012, 09:58:45 am
content: My usual line in terms of good & affordable soldering iron: Xytronic.Pros:-very decent build quality for the price-easily obtainable accessories (and also reasonably priced)-they also do other soldering and assembly equipment like tweezers, vacuum chip lifters etc (decent quality)-as far as i know they are not clones/copies/fakes of other brands-they claim to sell ~50% of their production under their own name, the rest on OEM/ODM basis.-easy to get in EUCons:-not very innovative design (although they recently went into HF tip heating technology -> LF3000)-their website is crap (although they usually respond to emails even from private prople)Their product catalog you can find here:http://www.xytronic.com/index.pdfedit: I'm in no way affiliated with them. I just consider them perfect balance between price and quality: affordable and very reasonable quality. I 'm thinking about doing teardown of LF1600 that I own

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2012, 11:18:49 am
content: A PDF is a index! How clever.I shall take a look at the LF3000but the best station i liked so far is a ... FX-951 clone

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2012, 11:58:56 am
content: Quote from: Christopher on July 26, 2012, 01:16:32 pmYou can buy FX-888 fromniosales(in USA) on ebay. It is an original product and they ship very fast. But it is 120V/60 Hz you need to think about buying a step down transformer. Actually you can buy it on amazon from Dave's store right?

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 10, 2012, 02:11:38 pm
content: Quote from: Christopher on July 26, 2012, 01:16:32 pmYou might be able to find an OKI METCAL PS-900 around £100. It's a good solid iron, and is better than anything else in that price range.

author: maiakaat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2012, 02:08:27 pm
content: I'd recommend a JBC, you might get a second hand AD2200 for about £40/$60, although check its a 2210/T210 or 2245/T245 soldering iron, (they have the green, not black handles) otherwise finding tips will be almost impossible.These heat up in a few seconds and are good to solder within 5 seconds for lead, or about 10 seconds for lead-freeNew tips go on ebay for between £8 and £15, although be sure to avoid lead-free tips for leaded solder as the galvanic treatment doesn't tolerate lead very well as far as I am aware, these are the tips numbered *245-9**The range of tips is very good too, although getting tips is not as easy as Weller or some of the other brands.The down side of an older JBC is the 350/370W temperature cap, so lead-free soldering you'd want to use solder containing silver, to get a slightly lower melting point, and maybe have a suitable lead tip for small/sensitive stuff. I had a quick look and didn't attempt a change as I didn't want to begin probing and damage something, its enough for most tasks at 50W

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2012, 01:23:45 am
content: Quote from: maiakaat on August 16, 2012, 02:08:27 pmNot quite sure what you mean here. Do you mean the tip's plating material won't tolerate lead based solder?I ask, as I'd expect it to work without eating the tip (i.e. copper, iron, nickel, chrome, and finally the solder tinning = construction I'm familiar with), so rinsing can be an acceptable way to switch between solders on one tip (i.e. everything comes tinned in lead-free these days, so rinsing with leaded solder before use is a good idea IMHO before using it on a joint with leaded solder as to prevent weird, unpredictable alloys at the joint).

author: Devian
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2012, 06:24:42 am
content: Quote from: Christopher on July 26, 2012, 01:16:32 pmNow there are many high copy ones hakko FX888, see here:http://www.focalbga.com/original-hakko-fx-888-lead-free-soldering-station-for-pthsmt-soldering_p2174.htmlThey said it is 100% original, you can check with them.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2012, 09:24:44 am
content: What a copy ... the cable on the soldering iron gave itself away, it's not very flexible unlike on the actual FX-888Funny how these FX-888 copies cost more than their FX-951 copies go figureI should buy one FX-951 copy and reveal what's inside ...

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2012, 08:08:13 pm
content: How come Metcals don't come up more often when you guys are talking about soldering irons? I love those things and you can find used ones on ebay for about 100bucks pretty often. That's for a base station and a hand piece and usually comes with a bunch of used tips.They heat up in about 5 seconds. Love it!

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2012, 08:49:10 pm
content: After several B-brand stations and irons I took a deep bread and bought a Weller WS81 ( 3 years ago) and I should have done it the first time ( could have bought two wellers and still saved money in the long run) last year I bought a used Pace solder/desolder station and next month a second pace one wil join the rest.I hate to change tips so I allways have several irons standby. The weller with a small tip for smd or narrow spots ( the pace is rather big)For both stations I have a whole assortment of tips. I bought the weller with 4 different tips, and for every tip a spare one ( because I use it everyday the tips from the other stations /irons lasted 1 to 3 months) but the spare weller tips are still in their bags, even the tip I use most is still as new. And I am very sloppy on tips. My weller is always at max temp but shuts down when i put it in the holder. I poke holes in plastic with them, alleays forget to clean them ect. But it heats up quick enough. The pace is on several hours a day and also still the original first tips and still as newIn the long run a quality station is the most economical.But i'm new here on the forum, i like it allthough it looks a bit like its sort of not done here, to promote quality stuff. I thought we Dutch have the reputation of being cheap but after reading here I think that opinion needs some adjustment. It is Rigol, Owon, Atten ect for and after.In that case, i will probbly make no friends here but I always tell what i thin, so sorry but no China junk for me anymore, i started with voltcrap, Rigol, cheap solderstation ect, they all died or I got sick of them misbehaving or just lying to me and tossed them out. Now I save a bit longer and buy quality ( real quality, not paper quality, or good looks quality, ect. ) or a used A brand.An instrument must be save and well build and all the things Dave shows in the teardowns but for me most of all it must be last long and do what it is made for, good accurate measuring, and absolute accuracy, not nice commercial incomplete paperspecs based on nothing. But I feel I am a minority in that opinion. Don't shoot me, just my opinion and eveybody must buy what he wants.Fred

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 04:00:29 am
content: The cheapest "insert name of tool here" turns out to be the same as buying your last tool first. Buy cheap and sooner or later you regret it, or it does not work as well as you hoped, or it fails and needs to be replaced too soon, or you loose interest in the particular hobby and now you want to sell it. In all these cases, a quality device will last you your lifetime, have lower maintenance costs, and have a significantly higher % resale value. The cheap stuff..... sorry.Sometimes it's seems wasteful to pony up the full cost of good gear, but in the end.... it almost always pays off. Notably in long/delightful service or resale value. There is nothing quite like using quality tools. It makes the job/hobby so much more effortless/enjoyable.RegardsKaptain "Why is it I seemingly almost never take my own advice, even when I know it's right?!?!?" Zero

author: Fluxed Matter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 04:21:04 am
content: Quote from: kaptain_zero on August 18, 2012, 04:00:29 amAmen to that...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 04:27:36 am
content: Quote from: PA4TIM on August 17, 2012, 08:49:10 pmNot at all, promote away. It's just that some posters are students, or on a low budget, or maybe only have an occasional use for a tool and can't justify spending lots of money. But there is plenty of high quality gear seen as well.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 12:07:00 pm
content: I support Agilent very animously, but Rigol is just great.If not the low-end series, because you better know what you are buying since you don't expect to get ferrari when you pay for a toyotayou pay peanuts for a rigol (comparably) and you get a watermelon because like dave said, it's the best budget scope!Remember, a scope is always lying> SO i don't know what's wrong with Rigol.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 12:51:39 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on August 17, 2012, 08:08:13 pm+1 for Metcal (OK Industries). They use a completely different technology from most irons - there's no conventional heating element, no temperature sensor and no feedback control system. The base station supplies power as rf, and the tips absorb this energy and convert it to heat - until they reach their design temperature, at which point they abruptly lose this 'lossy' property and stop getting any hotter.The technology guarantees fast warm-up, no temperature overshoot, and the ability to maintain a constant temperature even when heating large joints or soldering quickly. Having used one I hate using anything else - and no, I don't have any commercial link with the manufacturer.The MX-500 type with the tips that have a circular concentric plug are the best IMHO, followed by the SP200 which has a 2-pin D shaped tip connector. Personally I'd avoid the cheaper PS-900, it has a separate heater which is built into the iron rather than the tip, and it doesn't work nearly as well as the ones which have the heater within the tip.I own a Metcal STSS system, which is the earlier version of the MX-500, and uses the same tips and accessories. Highly recommended if you can find one, they do come up on Ebay from time to time.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 02:41:38 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on August 18, 2012, 12:51:39 pmSorry, but there are alternative products with similar features. For example, take the ERSA i-Con. Starting at room temperature it heats up in 9s, starting at stand-by temperature it's just 3s. You can choose from three temperature control loops, one without temperature overshoot. For some situations it's nice to have overshooting, especially when heating up large masses. And if you worry about the temperature differences of different tips you can select the tip in a menu or enter the specific offset temperature manually. I'm using an i-Con2 for about a year now, soldering nearly anything from SMDs up to large connectors and I'm very happy too :-)

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 03:06:46 pm
content: QUICK 201.A quick getaway from those brands.

author: PChi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 06:11:46 pm
content: I think that soldering iron choice is partly driven by emotion and what you are used to. It's a bit like religion.I have used some old Hakko irons and a previous place but I preferred the Metcals.Currently I have access to a JBC at work but again I prefer a Metcal.The last place I worked had a lot of Metcals of various ages and they seemed to keep on going so I blew some cash on a Metcal MX-5000. So I am a Metcal believer.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 09:27:23 pm
content: To be honest, all I have ever needed is an Antex CS18 (with silicone cable). None of the fancy stations. But then I don't do large multi layer boards with large ground planes etc. It's a nice iron and the 0.5mm tip is great for SMT.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 10:06:51 pm
content: I've always thought of Metcal and other RF based stations as suited for production as to keep techs from adjusting the settings more so than lab use (no lockout keys or codes to lose/forget as there are with temp controlled stations for production).Personally, I've found the ability to adjust temperature to be useful (no need to change tips when the size is correct for the joint, as can be the case with a Metcal (recollection of different temp value <500, 600, 700F series IIRC> for some tips, that have the same geometry).Not that big a deal to turn it up when needed IMHO, then drop it back down to conserve tips, but I can see where not having to do so, or even think about it, would be convenient.But I suspect thatPCHi's right, that it's personal preference bordering religion.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 05:30:14 pm
content: FSM...... Flying-Soldering-Monster?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 08:05:26 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on August 21, 2012, 05:30:14 pmI never knew what it meant1) Flying Spaghetti Monster2) Finite State Machines

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 08:51:12 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on August 18, 2012, 09:27:23 pmCool. I have used a CS18 for a good few years as well, and have used other Antex irons for years before that.But I decided I wanted something better so I ordered a Hakko FX-888 yesterday.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 08:54:58 pm
content: I like my free Antex digital soldering station I got from work (they were about to throw it out!), awesome bit of kit. Little to no overshoot, and warms up quickly. 65W good for high power stuff.However I also love the OKi Metcal soldering stations we use at work - they work so well, heat up in a couple of seconds and solder beautifully.

author: ot1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2012, 04:56:21 am
content: Get a Weller with a temperature readout, mine heats up in 3-4 seconds from cold, and shuts off when in the holder, or can go on a standby temp. lots of tips available for SMD as well as large components.Removal of SMD can be done with an iron and solder braid, but its a challange and much slower than hot tweezers or a hot air pencil or hot sucker.