Soldering iron (workstation?) suggestions

[Dan Linder]

I'm old-school and still have a soldering gun and soldering iron with a "chisel" tip (roughly 1/8" wide).  Recently, I got some samples from TI (this: http://www.mouser.com/ds/2/405/csd17551q3a-373084.pdf) and they are all small SMT MOSFETs that I thought I'd play with in an upcoming project.

I went to the local Radio Shack in Bellevue last weekend and found some SchmartBoard PCBs that break out the small SMT pins into thru-hole (something like this: http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=products_so&id=6).

Their videos suggest using a fine-tip soldering iron set at a specific temperature. Even if I get tips for my old iron, it doesn't have any setting for temp (plug it in and start soldering).

If I was going to ask for an early fathers day gift, what soldering iron should I put on my wish-list?  I've seen some good reviews on Amazon for the "936B SMD Soldering Iron" - http://amzn.com/B009PPXJOK - as well as the "X-Tronic Model 4010" - http://amzn.com/B0053491YO - which as a few more parts.

I don't do this all that often, so I'm leaning toward the sub-$50 range if possible, but as SMD is not going away I'd like to have something that will be usable over the long run.

Thanks!

Dan

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[David Knaack]

I've got the X-tronic 5040-XTS, which I suspect probably uses similar parts to that 4010. I'm pretty happy with it, it's a very good iron.

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