DIY soldering station + brand name soldering iron? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 09:55:45 pm
content: Hello folksYoungster on very, very low budget needs your help!I was searching for soldering stations and equipment and i came up to aWeller wtcp 51, it caught my eye because it doesent have any electronic circuit for regulating temperature, temperature is regulated by tip itself (by curie point, at some temperature metal loses it's magnetic properties), you can buy different tips for different temperatures. Shortly Weller wtcp 51 has only soldering iron + transformer + fuse + switchSo is it possible to have a decent soldering equipment if i only buy brand name IRON and buy second hand transformer and i will add fuse and switch.total cost of Weller wtcp 51 - 318$cost of my idea:- weller soldering iron that Weller wtcp 51 has - 130 $- transformer 230/24V 50 or more VA - 10-20$I could also buy Weller whs 40 for simmilar money but it seems a little bit crappy to me.NOTE: - In country where i live there is no Hakko, only brandname that we have is weller.- Buying used ones is no option since there is nothing to chose from, equipment is old and used up but price is 15-20% lower than it isin stores- No ebayEdit: My choice is very limited in all electronic equipment and parts, stuff is overpriced in both second hand sale as well as in store.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 10:14:03 pm
content: While I applaud the DIY attitude, Hobbyking ships to Croatia and this may save you time money and messing aboutQuotehttp://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__948__178__Tools-Soldering.html(change your country and currency at the top, change the warehouse on the left above the categories menu)EU Warehouse for their dirt cheap station:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__32515__Soldering_Station_with_Adjustable_Heat_Range_with_EU_plug_EU_warehouse_.htmlInternationa Warehouse:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__19241__Soldering_Station_with_Adjustable_Heat_Range_with_EU_plug.html

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 10:29:19 pm
content: I searched their page, no quality tools as far as i see, onlye yiheee that Dave reviewed recently, still thanks a lot mate.I forgot to mention i will be dealing with soldering in general, mostly trough hole but SMD is also on the list.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 11:04:42 pm
content: What exactly is your budget?Are the numbers currently listed for prices in US or EUR?FWIW, if you go outside of Coatia, you should be able to find quite a few sellers that carry most any major brand (Ersa, Weller, JBC, Metcal/Oki/Thermaltronics, and Hakko for example), and be able to get consumables as well (I.e. tips; this is very important).TME, which is located in Poland, carries Weller, Ersa, JBC, and Thermaltronics for name brands (here). Other members will likely be able to chime in with good sources if you're patient.If you decide on a JBC for example, you could also take a look atJanelonline.com(US), as they sell the 230V models, prices are the best in the US from what I've seen, and the shipping to Europe isn't horrible as I understand it.Also, if you haven't already, take a look at eBay in other nations and see if there's anything and the seller will ship to you. Certainly worth a shot IMHO.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 11:39:34 pm
content: Quote from: Electric flower on April 15, 2014, 10:29:19 pmQuoteSo, suit yourself, but if you're on a very low budget, there's nothing wrong with the Yihua 936 clones. They work, they might not be very pretty inside, but they work. And they use standard 900 series tips etc which are easy to come by."quality tools" and "very, very low budget" are usually mutually exclusive.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 02:24:46 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on April 15, 2014, 11:39:34 pmI couldn't wait for the Yihua but I got a different clone, and upgraded the tip with an original Hakko 908-CK and works flawlessly as a large mass iron. Heats up in around 40 seconds (yeah maybe too long compared to others) but once heated up it can deal with anything. Actually mine doesn't flicker on and off as much as the Yihua, but one thing that bothers me is that the transformer block itself is not grounded. Not that it matters much since the tip is grounded and the block is enclosed, but I think I'm going to put a "pepi b" thermal protector that I have from an old degausser on it and ground the core as well. Yeah they saved a cable a crimp/solder for this unit. Mine is a Tenma clone and the way I see it it means Ten Manufacturers because you have no clue where it comes from.This is the original Hakko fitted in the clone 907 iron (depicted in the picture not attached) that comes with the clone 936.But since I'm married with kids and both going to college I'm really in a shoe string budget

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 07:48:33 am
content: Thanks for replies, i also apologise for forgetting to say what my budget is, it is about 150 USD or 110 EUR, when i said low budget i was not thinking on really cheap tools, i wanted to get bramd name quality at lowest possible price of brand name.Im trying to get something really good for money of 150USD that preforms good as something 200-300$, that is why i posted info about my "project" and asked if it would work or not.Also have in mind that things that cost 150 $ would be somewhere.Also, once agint thanks for your help and sorry for bothering and forgetting to specify info about my budget

author: Wh1sper
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 08:56:41 am
content: Quote from: Electric flower on April 15, 2014, 09:55:45 pmHere in Germany this is @ 170 € EuroMaybe worth to ask for shipping costs

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 09:20:52 am
content: There is a guy by the name 'sparkybg' on DangerousPrototypes forums, who has developed a soldering iron controller which supports Hakko T12/T15 and JBC C245 tips. You can look at this his topic there.I myself am working on a design based on sparkybg's idea, but JBC-only, simpler, more jellybean components, some additional features.

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 09:50:32 am
content: Years ago I've done this with very good results, when searching for a soldering station with fume extractor on the tip.Weller was selling only the iron, complete with pipe and neoprene tube, so I decided to build a station with a transformer and a fume pre-filter, and put a vacuum pump into a box under the table.Any 24V, 50-60 VA transformer will power the Weller WTCP iron.The socket on the station was unobtainable, so i changed the plug with one of those used for CB microphones (or used in many Hakko clones).The WTCP is a very good, reliable iron, and the tips last long.In a production facility you do not need often to change the temp or the tip type, so it is a good choice.Now the economic side is a little different different: with the money you will spend for the Weller iron plus the trqansormer, the cables and the case you can buy a complete original Hakko station, form the Italian distributorhttp://www.batterfly.com/shop/hakko_fx-888dBest regards

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 12:07:55 pm
content: Quote from: miguelvp on April 16, 2014, 02:24:46 am40s is around the same time the genuine 936.OP: For $150 you can get a real FX-888D, but it sounds like you're just starting out with electronics, and for that you don't need $200+ performance iron.

author: MLXXXp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 01:25:34 pm
content: Quote from: ciccio on April 16, 2014, 09:50:32 amA 3-pin XLR plug and socket would also be a good choice for this.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 05:37:25 pm
content: Quote from: sleemanj on April 15, 2014, 11:39:34 pmUnfortunately, this does tend to be the case.Quote from: Electric flower on April 16, 2014, 07:48:33 amQuite understandable. Sadly however, soldering equipment and such are more expensive in Europe than the US though, so keep that in mind (can buy from the US, but will have to deal with a step-down transformer or other means of getting the correct mains voltage into the device, which usually kills the savings when it's all said and done).Quote from: Electric flower on April 16, 2014, 07:48:33 amIn theory, this might work, depending on how much you spend on everything (parts, .... <namely the transformer and enclosure>).The link for an FX-888D is probably the least expensive you'll see for a new station based on what I've seen for EU pricing, so you'll likely have to increase your budget a bit to get it (if you're dead set on new or can't be patient enough to find a good used station).Realistically though, the best way to try and accomplish this is buying used IMHO.

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2014, 10:45:48 pm
content: One more question. i have found a guy who is selling Weller PU 81, if he drops price little bit more i will go to his place for inspection, what would you sudgest me to look for before i decide for purchase?Once agin, big thank you to everyone who helped me

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2014, 12:46:28 am
content: Quote from: Electric flower on April 17, 2014, 10:45:48 pmIs it just the power unit (base), or is it the entire station?PU81 = baseWSP80 = iron (WP80 will also work; just slightly newer design)WS81 = entire station (base, iron, stand)As a bare minimum, you'll need the iron and base, and make sure it works (new iron is ~140EUR). The stand would be nice, but worst case, you can pick one up separately fairly reasonably (example). Probably get one even cheaper from eBay.As a reference, the entire station sell for ~210EUR new (pricing from de.farnell.com). Tips are the LT series, which are still being manufactured, so no problems there.

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2014, 06:39:02 am
content: it's entire station