I want to get a soldering iron, will be used for electronics and melting heat set inserts into 3D prints.
Will something like this be ok?
Will something like this be ok?
Basic soldering iron
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Soldato
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I don't do much soldering but my top tip is to get one with a rubber power cord, rather than plastic.
I've got a cheap soldering iron which works fine but the plastic lead really does interfere when trying to hold the iron dead steady.
Apparently the rubber lead is much better for this.
The one you linked to looks a bit shiny and plastic.
I've got a cheap soldering iron which works fine but the plastic lead really does interfere when trying to hold the iron dead steady.
Apparently the rubber lead is much better for this.
The one you linked to looks a bit shiny and plastic.
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One the guys on the forums swears by this as a really good cheap one (and he does a LOT of soldering)…
Soldato
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I bought a TS101 a while back and its brilliant. I even just got a heat inset tool for my 3D print stuff as well.
I used to try various electric soldering irons, never got on with them
years ago when i was building quadcopters i used to have (and i still have in the loft) a small gas powered soldering iron, about the size of a thick pen
fill it with lighter fluid, light it and go
years ago when i was building quadcopters i used to have (and i still have in the loft) a small gas powered soldering iron, about the size of a thick pen
fill it with lighter fluid, light it and go
Man of Honour
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I got a basic kit from Lidl for £7.99 and it does the job nicely. That's for both soldering and inserts too.
Had the use of one of these at my last job, was a great bit of kit and definitely on my list of thing I want to buy, failing that I'd definitely go temperature control station rather than a simple iron.
Soldato
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I've got a YiHua 937D, was about £35 on ebay and works very well.
Silicone power cord you mean, like those you get on good quality power tools. I'd agree as the cord being stiff and inflexible is really irritating to use especially for a soldering iron if you're doing a lot of tiny electronics with it. However the cheapy Amazon one seems like it'll do the job for what the OP wants, it's not great but for £20 not much to expect.
I have absolutely no idea about using these for 3d printing but from my pretty extensive bang:buck researching on temp controlled stations this (actually, a larger version of this, not the mini, but I think it'll do the job) came out on top a few years ago https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000055007842.html
Great until you burn yourself on the vent
I’ve got 2 Antex soldering iron which are good for the smaller jobs and a hot air station which is an Aliexpress cheapie which has worked fine.
Checking the ones linked here, how things have moved on and that Aliexpress iron does good good.
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Soldato
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I'm not a soldering expert but I find myself soldering the odd thing. I started with a £5 iron with no temp control, then moved to a basic £15ish soldering station which had a temperature control but still a cheap iron wit small tips.
I needed to solder a component to a PCB which absorbed a lot of heat and I couldn't manage it with my station so I upgraded to a rework station from Amazon which was around £50/£60. I assume it's a generic peocit sold unused different brands. It looks very similar to the YiHua 937D recommended above but with hot air.
Id highly recommend it, or just the iron as above, as the temperature control is so much better and the proper soldering "bits" seem to conduct the heat so much better than the small "tips"
I needed to solder a component to a PCB which absorbed a lot of heat and I couldn't manage it with my station so I upgraded to a rework station from Amazon which was around £50/£60. I assume it's a generic peocit sold unused different brands. It looks very similar to the YiHua 937D recommended above but with hot air.
Id highly recommend it, or just the iron as above, as the temperature control is so much better and the proper soldering "bits" seem to conduct the heat so much better than the small "tips"
Great until you burn yourself on the vent
I’ve got 2 Antex soldering iron which are good for the smaller jobs and a hot air station which is an Aliexpress cheapie which has worked fine.
Checking the ones linked here, how things have moved on and that Aliexpress iron does good good.
Yeh i have done this a few times it hurts
i love the blow torch attachment on them though
I bought mine from maplins when they were alive as a shop (RIP)
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Mine is also from Maplins, still have the tube of solder it came with. Last time I used it was to repair the heater resistor matrix in my wife’s and neighbours Honda Civic as they both had the same blower motor issue.
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I've ordered this as it's got in the heat set inserts that's my current need
https://amzn.eu/d/2HpamRX
Looks like it might come with a soldering tip, will give that a go.
https://amzn.eu/d/2HpamRX
Looks like it might come with a soldering tip, will give that a go.
You could probably get that off aliexpress/temu, I seem to have the same iron but bought from Temu a few months back. Can't comment on longevity as I only use it occasionally for odd things but it has been great. Heats up quick, decent wattage and temp adjustment is good although no idea if accurate.
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