Need recommendation for Soldering Station

[mxtras]

I have been contemplating replacing my two ancient Weller soldering irons with a soldering station and could use some advice. I have been looking around for a few days to educate myself at least a little but I am unsure of quality and of the features I might want to look for.

I am looking to round up a decent variable soldering station for relatively frequent use – maybe once or so a week – if you would consider that relatively frequent! Much of what I do is for terminating wire - 12Ga to maybe 22Ga, automotive and electronics.

I am looking to spend maybe $100-$150.

From my searches, I understand that the basic, good brand names are Weller and Hakko, right? Are there others in my price range that you could or would recommend? I have run into a few pretty nice looking stations, but I am not familiar with amny of the brands and I don’t want to pick up a brand that has poor reliability, poor performance or tips that are made from unobtainium .

I am thinking a 60-80 watt unit with several different tips would suit my needs. I would like a compact, quality unit with a digital temperature display and I think it should be regulating - is this right? Maybe the digital thing isn't necessary but it sure does sound like a handy thing to have - especially for boards.

I am hoping that those in the know will post what they would like to get if they don't already have one that they are perfectly happy with.

Thanks in advance.



Scott

[H500]

I have a hakko 900 for mostly smt boards. No display, but the temperature is controlled by a dial. We have a bunch of them in continuous work for the last 5 years without problem.

The thing I like most is that it heats up to working temp in 30-60sec. It's not that good for soldering 12ga wire. I use a big heavy brute for those jobs.

[radicooldude]

I have a Hakko936 esd (prevents static discharge when doing sensitive ciruit work), and I got it for $99. Best soldering gun i have ever used. I used a few wellers, and they are nice, but they dont heat up or keep the temperature steady as good as the hakko, for under $100.

[ViperTX]

Well you can't go wrong with a Weller.

[SRT Mike]

I solder hundreds of connections and components per day for the past 4 years. I've probably soldered millions of joints. The only station I like is my Metcal. yeah they are expensive, BUT, you can get the lower end Metal on eBay for way less than $100. Get the tips on eBay too for $5 for a 5 pack instead of $10-15/ea. The tips last almost forever - I also have 3 Weller irons and a bunch of lesser brands and I go through 5-6 tips for every Metcal tip. The best thing about the metcal is that it heats up in about 5 seconds to full temperature.

The Pace soldering stations are good too. Yeah I know metcals are $$$ but used they aren't!

[HillBilly]

Weller model WTCPT.

Darek

[PEU]

I have a goot RX-711AS and Im very satisfied, it has anti-static protection and digital display, there are a lot of tips available for it. (http://www.goot.co.jp/ENGLISH/catalo...1/RX701_1.html)

Also I heard a lot of good coments for the CSI unit (http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7508) main advantage? $50 price

My 2 cents (of peso)


Pablo

[unterhaus]

I have a soldering station from Weller, and it heats up instantaneously, but it was $1500.

It has desolder, solder, air solder for smt, and tweezers for smt. The intant on feature is really nice, I have to remind myself to wait until I need it to turn it on.

[Mariss Freimanis]

Six Hakko 936 soldering stations and two Hakko 851 hot-air stations.

Mariss