Solder station mainly for electronics - recommendations sought

[James Harris]

My gas soldering iron has sprung a leak and I need to replace it but it
turns out that the range of choices these days is huge so I'd appreciate
some recommendations - either on specific products or on what to look
out for.

Usage would be occasional, mainly on PCBs and Veroboards.

My preference is a cheap temperature-controlled soldering station. But
there are still very many to choose from at astonishingly low prices.

Best match I've seen so far is what this person explained (though the
videos are lengthy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIab66EgfHM (936)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrUjhFUm8OM (936D, i.e. digital)

He spoke about things such as temperature control, temperature
calibration, tip grounding and inexpensive replaceable low-voltage irons
with standard fittings. But the reviews are a bit old now and I see
Yihua model numbers up to 939 - later, improved models?

Fast heat up, power efficiency and auto off would be nice to have to
keep running costs down.

On modern 936Ds the digital displays seem to have been replaced by a
dial - which would be OK if the temperature were easy to set accurately
and calibrate, and still well regulated.
For example, here's one on Ebay for £23:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256365970892.

But those are just examples. The basic query is: What would be a
low-price but reasonably good soldering station to go for?

As I say, recommendations would be most welcome!


--
James Harris

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <ur2juu$2isdf$1...@dont-email.me>, james.h...@gmail.com
says...

>
> My gas soldering iron has sprung a leak and I need to replace it but it
> turns out that the range of choices these days is huge so I'd appreciate
> some recommendations - either on specific products or on what to look
> out for.
>
> Usage would be occasional, mainly on PCBs and Veroboards.
>
> My preference is a cheap temperature-controlled soldering station. But
> there are still very many to choose from at astonishingly low prices.
>
> Best match I've seen so far is what this person explained (though the
> videos are lengthy):
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIab66EgfHM (936)
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrUjhFUm8OM (936D, i.e. digital)
>
> He spoke about things such as temperature control, temperature
> calibration, tip grounding and inexpensive replaceable low-voltage irons
> with standard fittings. But the reviews are a bit old now and I see
> Yihua model numbers up to 939 - later, improved models?
>
> Fast heat up, power efficiency and auto off would be nice to have to
> keep running costs down.
>
>
>

If you are only going to use it on PC boards and maybe once every 2
weeks or less I would spend a little more and get a hot air rework
station. They are on Amazon for about 60 pounds ( think that is what
that funny looking L is) . About twice the price of just the soldering
iron but you all so get a hot air gun that can be used on the SMD and
to install the heat shrink tubing. I have had one for about 10 years.
I do have a soldering gun for higher heat if I need it. The soldering
irons do heat up very fast compaired to the Weller irons I have used.

[John Larkin]

The Metcal units are fabulous. You can find used ones on ebay, and
there are 2nd source tips now. The tips last forever.

Metcal+Mantis really works.

[Theo]

In uk.d-i-y John Larkin <j...@997pothill.com> wrote:
> The Metcal units are fabulous. You can find used ones on ebay, and
> there are 2nd source tips now. The tips last forever.
>
> Metcal+Mantis really works.

+1. They use RF heating rather than a heating element. Probably beyond the
OP's budget but second hand might work. I've also seen projects to make a
DIY solder station (RF generator) to use the official handpiece and tips.

Bit surprised there aren't any knockoff Chinese clone RF soldering irons by
now. I see Hakko has the FX-100 series but I had a brief look around and
didn't see any no-brand RF irons.

Theo

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

I'm not sure the hassle of inductive heating is worth the effort vs. the modern soldering
irons where the tip and heater are a single integrated part

[john larkin]

The Metcals aren't inductive. They somehow use a ceramic heater
element that keeps to its Curie temperature.

[Lasse Langwadt Christensen]

Metcal would be very surprised to hear that

> They somehow use a ceramic heater
> element that keeps to its Curie temperature.

it is a coil with RF would around the tip, the eddy current in the tip heats it
just like an induction cook top. On the fixed temperature irons the curie temperature
of the tip material regulates the temperature, on the variable temperature irons they have
a temperature sensor an regulate the heating power, just like an iron with resistive heating

[Jan Panteltje]

On a sunny day (Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:28:14 +0000) it happened James Harris
<james.h...@gmail.com> wrote in <ur2juu$2isdf$1...@dont-email.me>:

>My gas soldering iron has sprung a leak and I need to replace it but it
>turns out that the range of choices these days is huge so I'd appreciate
>some recommendations - either on specific products or on what to look
>out for.
>
>Usage would be occasional, mainly on PCBs and Veroboards.

I have been using this now for 20 years or more:
https://panteltje.nl/pub/soldering_iron_LCD_display_IMG_5456.JPG
probably no longer available, 3 adjustable temperature presets.

Never failed, tips last many years too, just 2 new tips in all those days.
Used a lot, last time was 2 days ago.

[Klaus Kragelund]

I use Thermaltronics, which is a cheaper variant of the Metcal.

Also Weller MLR-20 and a cheap heat flow 8586D+

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005003834194938.html

With that you get both regular iron and heat flow. But it's not super quality.

[Phil Hobbs]

Looks like the original sponge, too. ;)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs



--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC /
Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics

[Joe Gwinn]

On Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:05:30 -0800 (PST), Lasse Langwadt Christensen

The patents tell the story. These are all expired.

US 4256945, US 4695713, and US 4626767 .

Use Google Patents to get copies.

Joe Gwinn

[ehsjr]

Until you really need a high-end soldering station, this $12.98
kit on Amazon will work fine for you:
https://www.amazon.com/Liouhoum-Auto-Sleep-Adjustable-Temperature-Thermostatic/dp/B08PZBPXLZ

LCD, adjustable temp, fast heat up etc.

There are others similar to that one, too, that
should be ok.

Ed

[whit3rd]

> >of the tip material regulates the temperature,...g

> The patents tell the story. These are all expired.
>
> US 4256945, US 4695713, and US 4626767 .

Yeah, the last one is interesting reading

<https://patents.google.com/patent/US4626767A/en>

but the prose style is somewhat... stilted.
And, there's an amusing jumble of symbol handling
blodges, where the greek letter mu is spelled three different
ways; will we ever have AI powerful enough to fix the
stupidquotes bug?

I once did a lovely soldering job with a twisted-house-wire tip on a
clotheshanger wire handle heated by a propane flame... total investment
of about $2 (for the ounce of solder).

[Harry Bloomfield Esq]

On 21/02/2024 19:59, ehsjr wrote:
> Until you really need a high-end soldering station, this $12.98
> kit on Amazon will work fine for you:
> https://www.amazon.com/Liouhoum-Auto-Sleep-Adjustable-Temperature-Thermostatic/dp/B08PZBPXLZ
>
> LCD, adjustable temp, fast heat up etc.

No good in the UK - it's 110v, UK is 240v.

[ehsjr]

Good observation. But consider the last line of my

post which said:
"There are others similar to that one, too, that
should be ok."

The point is that for only occasional use as the OP
described, there's no need for anything top of the
line or high end. Get a cheap one that will do the
job and use it until you need something a lot better.
It'll be a big upgrade from a gas soldering iron he's
been using.

Anyway, check out ebay.co.uk - you'll find many to
choose from similar to the one I mentioned.

Ed

[Jan Panteltje]

On a sunny day (Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:40:14 -0000 (UTC)) it happened Phil Hobbs
<pcdhSpamM...@electrooptical.net> wrote in
<ur4uft$35sh6$1...@dont-email.me>:

>Jan Panteltje <al...@comet.invalid> wrote:
>> On a sunny day (Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:28:14 +0000) it happened James Harris
>> <james.h...@gmail.com> wrote in <ur2juu$2isdf$1...@dont-email.me>:
>>
>>> My gas soldering iron has sprung a leak and I need to replace it but it
>>> turns out that the range of choices these days is huge so I'd appreciate
>>> some recommendations - either on specific products or on what to look
>>> out for.
>>>
>>> Usage would be occasional, mainly on PCBs and Veroboards.
>>
>> I have been using this now for 20 years or more:
>> https://panteltje.nl/pub/soldering_iron_LCD_display_IMG_5456.JPG
>> probably no longer available, 3 adjustable temperature presets.
>>
>> Never failed, tips last many years too, just 2 new tips in all those days.
>> Used a lot, last time was 2 days ago.
>>
>>
>>
>Looks like the original sponge, too. ;)

It is, I NEVER use a wet sponge or any water on the tips,
just rub any stuff off with a piece of napkin.

That is why I can still use the same tips over and over again.
But an other secret (do no tell anyone)
I use atomic number 82 together with tin as solder.

BTW stop spamming and panteltje.com has not existed for some time now
One more an you are in the company of others in my filter never to be seen again.
nothing lost asshole.
Your contributions are next to zero here anyways.

[Phil Hobbs]

Have a nice day!

[James Harris]

On 20/02/2024 18:19, Theo wrote:
> In uk.d-i-y John Larkin <j...@997pothill.com> wrote:
>> The Metcal units are fabulous. You can find used ones on ebay, and
>> there are 2nd source tips now. The tips last forever.
>>
>> Metcal+Mantis really works.
>
> +1. They use RF heating rather than a heating element. Probably beyond the
> OP's budget but second hand might work. I've also seen projects to make a
> DIY solder station (RF generator) to use the official handpiece and tips.

Thanks for the feedback from everyone. I eventually went for a 45W 937D
like this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldering-Station-Welder-Rework-Repairing/dp/B074Z84TDL

Amazon UK show it as £46 but some of the sellers on Ebay were selling at
£29 so I bought one of those.

Apparently a few years ago the 60W 937D+ could be bought off Ebay for
the same price, but no longer.

In case it helps someone else, here are some others worth mentioning.

https://cpc.farnell.com/multicomp-pro/mp740841-uk/soldering-station-with-holder/dp/SD02936
is at £18 + postage but that may be an economy too far.

https://cpc.farnell.com/multicomp-pro/mp740842-uk/soldering-station-lcd-with-holder/dp/SD02937
at £26 + postage

For some stations it may be the power rather than the temperature which
is regulated, such as for some even cheaper ZD-99s as mentioned at
https://chinese-electronics-products-tested.blogspot.com/p/zd-99-soldering-station-tested.html,
though they still sound good value.


--
James Harris

[James Harris]

On 22/02/2024 03:53, ehsjr wrote:
> On 2/21/2024 5:11 PM, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
>> On 21/02/2024 19:59, ehsjr wrote:
>>> Until you really need a high-end soldering station, this $12.98
>>> kit on Amazon will work fine for you:
>>> https://www.amazon.com/Liouhoum-Auto-Sleep-Adjustable-Temperature-Thermostatic/dp/B08PZBPXLZ
>>>
>>> LCD, adjustable temp, fast heat up etc.
>>
>> No good in the UK - it's 110v, UK is 240v.
>
> Good observation. But consider the last line of my
> post which said:
> "There are others similar to that one, too, that
> should be ok."

Yes, recommendations from elsewhere were fine. I can translate!

>
> The point is that for only occasional use as the OP
> described, there's no need for anything top of the
> line or high end.  Get a cheap one that will do the
> job and use it until you need something a lot better.
> It'll be a big upgrade from a gas soldering iron he's
> been using.

Am curious at this. Why would such an electric iron be an upgrade from a
gas one? Until it sprang a leak by gas iron was very convenient and
heated up quickly.


--
James Harris

[Theo]

In uk.d-i-y James Harris <james.h...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Am curious at this. Why would such an electric iron be an upgrade from a
> gas one? Until it sprang a leak by gas iron was very convenient and
> heated up quickly.

I don't use a gas iron, but the main thing is temperature control. The
basic irons, and maybe the gas too, are power limited - the iron puts out
maybe 25W no matter what it's doing. With a temp controlled iron the tip
can sense if the tip is too hot or cold and adjust the power (which can
usually go a lot higher when called for - 60W+).

eg if you're trying to solder a big metal thing, when you touch it the iron
will suddenly go cold and the solder will solidify too fast. With a temp
controlled iron it'll spot that and ramp up the power so that it keeps the
temperature more constant. Result is you make better solder joints because
you use the solder at its appropriate working temperature, rather than cold
joints because the solder didn't melt properly or the flux didn't activate.

Theo