What should I Buy - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ehcaes
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2011, 12:51:33 am
content: Looking at getting a new soldering iron or station I need for general hobby use and some PCB repairs, portability would be a bonus but not essential am I best with a hakko station or a portasol super pro gas iron? What benefits does a station have over a gas iron besides temp display and control the portable portasol has this but its just a little dial, I figure however i could measure temps along the dial and mark accordingly if i had 2. Yes leaning towards the portable side of things, would be great to use onsite and less time to heat up, however if its much better to have a station then a station I guess it is.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2011, 01:50:29 am
content: Why choose between them? You need both. Actually, you can never have too many soldering irons.You can't go wrong with a Hakko FX-888 on the bench. It's just brilliant. It's latest trick for me was soldering a wire inside a banana plug. Using a big tip touching the outside the Hakko heated the whole banana plug to soldering temperature so that the solder melted on the inside where the wire was.I have a Portasol gas iron and it is really nice, but it is not a substitute for a Hakko. I also have a Hakko FX901P battery iron and that also is a good portable iron. I run it off rechargeable NiMH batteries since putting alkalines in it is just foolish.

author: ehcaes
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2011, 04:42:36 am
content: Choosing between them... not really just had an idea that from what ive read in a few places gas irons arent that great and im a bit of a all in one neat freak. Less I have to carry the better. Went ahead today anyway and got the hakko fx888 you suggested for the bench cant believe they didnt have the tips, any suggestions on a good place in oz thats a 1 stop shop for this and flux, solder, components just all the basic stuff but only good quality?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2011, 06:38:16 am
content: Quote from: ehcaes on September 12, 2011, 04:42:36 amSorry, can't help you with Oz. You'll need an Ozzian for that. Here in the US I can get most of the basic supplies from Fry's.

author: Precisiontools
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2011, 09:54:01 am
content: Quote from: ehcaes on September 12, 2011, 04:42:36 amCould try Oritechhttp://www.oritech.com.au/or Mektronicshttp://www.mektronics.com.au/

author: Devian
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2011, 10:22:12 am
content: How about Aoyue 968 or Kada 852D+? They are not expensive and I think they can meet your demand.

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2011, 06:16:12 am
content: Hakko FX888 is recommended and is one of the best soldering irons i had (including the Weller WX2 crap). However a gas iron is very appreciated and needed when you need to solder something outside your bench. I have a Dremel gas soldering iron and i can say it payed itself about 50 times!

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2011, 04:20:36 pm
content: I also have a Dremel and find it amazing! Money well spent.