soldering iron

[yzfguy]

I'm looking to buy a soldering iron for a guy who does lots of board
work.I have a ten dollar POS but I know they make fancy adjustable
temp ones. Can anyone tell me what is considered by those "in the
know" to be a really good one?

Thanks!

[Lloyd Olson]

Some day when I replace my $10 POS one, I'll get a nice Hakko. LTG :)

"yzfguy" <yzf...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:a9f0dc77-739e-4f04...@w19g2000yqk.googlegroups.com...

[yzfguy]

> > Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks, Lloyd! I guess the POS models do get the job done!

[Drewscruis]

On Nov 5, 10:06�pm, "Lloyd Olson" <l...@ssbilliards.com> wrote:

> > Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

i love my hakko equip, darn expensive tho. my runner up equip is my
weller iorn, which is decent too.

[Taylor-VA]

I use a Tenma, MCM regularly has sales on them.

[Taylor-VA]

here is a link http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/TENMA-21-7930-/21-7930

[dsup...@aol.com]

On Nov 5, 7:26 pm, Taylor-VA <taylorv...@gmail.com> wrote:
> here is a linkhttp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/TENMA-21-7930-/21-7930

Looks like the same one I use, and really really like.

Brian

[yzfguy]

thanks very much for all the ideas, guys

[yzfguy]

ok...for anyone still here: The weller looks like the one he has. /he
was saying the adjustable one he was looking at was a hundred bucks or
80 for just the handle part and no tip. The most expensive one I see
online is about 70 bucks and there are a million tip variations. Is
there a specific model that is suited for boardwork? I'm guessing a
fine tip for chip soldering?
Sorry for this rookie post!

[trickpony]

I also use this one, for pins and for other electronic (thru hole)
work. Never had a problem...Buy an extra "replacement" soldering iron
for 8 bucks and then you can just put a big tip on one (for ems and
such) and a smaller tip on the other.

[John Wart, jr]

If the guy does a lot of work, wouldn't he already have an iron, or have a
preference as to what to use?

I use a weller WES51 for board work. Works great. Looking to upgrade my old
Ungar UTC-300 to something for working on playfields soon, but haven't
decided to what yet.

"yzfguy" <yzf...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:a9f0dc77-739e-4f04...@w19g2000yqk.googlegroups.com...

[yzfguy]

> > Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

He has a weller that isn't adjustable and just took a job where he is
doing all kinds of work, so wants the adjustable temp... He casually
mentioned that he wanted an adjustable one but that it was expensive,
and I didnt want to ask too much, as I hope for this to be a surprise
gift, but at the same time I'd hate to buy a crappy one. Thanks again
for your patience with me here!

[John Wart, jr]

The thing I really like about my Weller is the fact that tips are readily
available in all shapes and sizes, and they aren't terribly expensive.

Whatever you choose, make sure that tips are readily available. If he's
gonna be using it a lot, they do eventually wear out. If you only use one
occasionally, it can take years to wear a tip out.

Another neat feature, if you can find it, is to get the base where the
handle sits when not in use to have a coiled metal scraper instead of a
sponge. Those work so much better than a sponge, and never need to be wet.

"yzfguy" <yzf...@optonline.net> wrote in message

news:2083a3ed-69fd-489f...@z41g2000yqz.googlegroups.com...

[GPE]

"yzfguy" <yzf...@optonline.net> wrote in message

news:c486ab45-d0b2-4e99...@p35g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can get a nice controlled temp Weller WES51 for about $90:
http://www.all-spec.com/products/Soldering_and_Rework%7CSoldering.Rework_Equipment%7CSOL-10/

I've got the WESD51 and love it. Fast heatup time and the tips last
forever.

Ed

[FortyTwo]

I have a hakko 936 and it works great.
fast heatup time, adjustible, good price (about 100 bucks)
a local electronics repair shop that i bring all my stuff thati cant
fix to primarly used this iron. he turns it on in the mourning and it
is on all day. the element lasts a couple of years in his shop. he
has had alot of wellers but they seem to burn out elements quickly
about every 6 months. my buddy had a temna it has a slow heatup
time. the hakko also has dozens of tips avalible.
for your money buy a hakko 936.

[5voltsr...@gmail.com]

I , too, own one of the Tenmas'. Works great.

[Dan Q very much]

I was lucky to find a guy selling used Hexacon Therm-o-Trac 1002's for
$20 each at a flea market. I picked out a clean one, but I wish I'd
bought all he had at that price! This was 20 years ago, though. Same
ones we used at Motorola.

[jackofdiamonds]

On Nov 6, 8:45 am, "5voltsrequi...@gmail.com"

I like the Weller wesd51 great for bench work,but you will still need
a portable "pencil' for under playfield stuff.Check out the Weller
sp23l.At 23 watts it's perfect for coils,switches and what not.Board
work or transformer/power supply stuff needs the higher wattage
wesd51.All the choices previously mention will work.It seems soldering
irons are as personal as toothbrushes!!Good Luck,Scott

[ScriptPirate]

I bought this one from RadioShack (I know)..
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3132686

Been very happy with it.. .If you have the sales folks got to their
super-secret parts database you can order from about 8 different tips
for about $2-4 each.

Vince

[Oryk Zinyo]

> I bought this one from RadioShack (I know)..http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3132686

>
> Been very happy with it.. .If you have the sales folks got to their
> super-secret parts database you can order from about 8 different tips
> for about $2-4 each.
>
> Vince

Or you can go to the manufacturer's webpage and order replacement
parts:

http://www.ntscope.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MTC&Product_Code=AT201D

OZ

[pinballlooking]

I use WESD51 for board work and then I use a manual variable temp for
coils and under playfield work. Then I use Hakko 808 for disordering.
This works great for me.

--
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[pinballlooking]

pinballlooking;1029238 Wrote:
> I use WESD51 for board work and then I use a manual variable temp for
> coils and under playfield work. Then I use Hakko 808 for disordering.
> This works great for me.

That should have read
Then I use Hakko 808 for desoldering.

[pinballlooking]

Whatever soldering iron you get one of these
http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bin/scripts/product/0460-0464/
Hakko 599-029 �Cleans soldering tips better than conventional sponges�
It work great for cleaning soldering irons.

[yzfguy]

On Nov 6, 3:36 pm, pinballlooking <pinballlook...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Whatever soldering iron you get one of thesehttp://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bin/scripts/product/0460-0464/

I can't believe how many of you guys answered me, thank you all so
much for all the information.

[Hammer5550]

On Nov 6, 3:26 pm, pinballlooking <pinballlook...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> pinballlooking;1029238 Wrote:> I use WESD51 for board work and then I use a manual variable temp for
> > coils and under playfield work. Then I use Hakko 808 for disordering.
> > This works great for me.
>
> That should have read
> Then I use Hakko 808 for desoldering.
>

My setup exactly, great minds think alike! Once I finally broke down
and bought a good soldering station (WESD51) I was in heaven, no more
cheap pencil for me. The Weller also has a ton of tips at decent
prices, and almost every supplier sells them. If you are thinking
about the Weller check their website they sometimes run rebates, and I
bought the WESD51 (the 'D' meaning Digital) for the same price as the
standard analogue WES51 station.

[pinwiz69]

Got this one for about half the price of equivalent Weller

http://www.marcospecialties.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=77-STSS

and it performs identically.

[GPE]

Yes, about half price but certainly doesn't perform identically.
But for most here... it just doesn't matter.

Ed

"pinwiz69" <pinw...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ccebf066-ea17-4de8...@l13g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...

[pinballocd]

+1 On the Weller (WESD51). I love mine!!!

[Rob Keller]

In article
<63e42ae5-61e0-437e...@k17g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>,
pinballocd <ovr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I splurged for a metcal. Worth every penny. If you have the means, I
wouldn't hesitate.

rob

[RonKZ650]

On Nov 12, 7:31 pm, Rob Keller <use...@robkeller.com> wrote:
> In article
> <63e42ae5-61e0-437e-aea4-193cd3798...@k17g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>,

> rob- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

Once you get the metcal you will not go back to cheap irons. I bought
my metcal system on ebay for $50 and it's fabuloso. Anyone who doesn't
know or understand, metcal is not adjustable, you buy the tips that
regulate to what temp they are rated for, For the most part 600 or 700
degree tips are used. Tips heat in under 10 seconds and regulate at
that temp regardless of load. Try that on the weller WESD51. My guess
(haven't ever seen the system) is that you set the tip to 700 degrees
first connection soldered it drops to 675, second to 650 ect. Not able
to keep up with demand most likely. This is where cheaper solder
stations lag, where a lot of soldering is done quickly or solder high
masses that take the heat out of the tip faster than it can heat. I
used to have 2 industrial Weller irons going at all times, so in
soldering a lot of high mass steel, one iron tip would be too cool to
continue soldering so I'd switch to the other as the first reheated
and so on. I was going through 2 or 3 tips a month on the Wellers.
Have yet to burn a metcal tip after 2 yrs use. More than paid for
itself many times over.

[surgeonB]

> itself many times over.- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

Bought one on sale off the internet a few years ago, after reading a
post by you I believe. The Metcal/OKI soldering station is awesome.
Heats up faster and regulates temps as you state above and much better
than the Radioshack one I had or the Weller my friend has. It may
cost more and may be overkill, but they are better tools. thanks for
the tip!!

[GPE]

"RonKZ650" <RonK...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:3b717a7d-0005-4ebb...@k17g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apparently, you haven't used a WESD51 solder station.
Equally fast heatup, holds the temp and still on the first tip after 4
years. I have done LOTS of complete board assemblies using the corrosive
waterclean flux - tip is still like new. Only time the tip temperature
drops is when soldering the pegs on large 529802 heatsinks - and it drops by
less than ten degrees.

Ed