Need recommendation for Soldering Station
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
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Consistency is a good thing....unless you're consistently an idiot.
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.
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.
Well you can't go wrong with a Weller.
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!
Weller model WTCPT.
Darek
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
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.
Six Hakko 936 soldering stations and two Hakko 851 hot-air stations.
Mariss
Re: Need recommendation for Soldering Station
I am not profi in this topic, but why don't you buy here https://toolboom.com/en/mini-solderi...n-goot-px-601/ - much more cheaper?
Re: Need recommendation for Soldering Station
I bought one of these six months ago and it's going strong. Heats up in maybe 15 or 20 seconds. Turns the heat off if idle, and the temperature control works quite well. The readout is nice too, if you manage to pull the temp down it's nice to know it. My Weller lasted me 7 years, I decided to try this unit, and I actually like it better. I've used a number Hakko and Weller stations, and this one compares in my opinion. That said, I don't solder all day, maybe a few hours a week though. If I did solder more often, I'd probably have bought a brand unit, almost certainly a Hakko and not a Weller.
https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Solde...dering+station
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