Need a new soldering iron - what models does anyone here use?

d_brennen

d_brennen

d_brennen

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Right, I've been dabbling with electronics for a while now and I’ve "outgrown" my two soldering irons. One is an Iroda butane model, which is great because you don't need to trail a wire about. The other is an Antex 25w basic iron.

Neither of these get hot enough for my liking and both use cheap and nasty tips that disintegrate at a worrying rate. Because of the lack of heat it means joints need reseating etc and a two second job quickly gets bodged and needs redoing, which is a pain.

I'm looking for a better unit, I've heard Weller are good but there is so many types! Not sure to get a station with heat controls or a stand alone iron? The tips I'd use most are between 1mm point and 3mm "spade" I guess you'd call it.

What would any electronics enthusiasts suggest? Don't want to break the bank either :p
 
I got a 50W adjustable temperature soldering station on ebay, about £20 I think it was with some extra tips. Does the job for pretty much anything I use it for.
 
It was an own brand, that big electronics shop starting with M. It stars out the name on here if I type it.

It's a decent iron, better than I was expecting. It's been going about 2 years now without fail.
 
Steve2000 said:
Similar. Mine's an older version that they don't have any more, it was about £40-50 to buy in the shop at the time.
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Thanks, I think I've found it on the bay

simulatorman said:
I use an Antex 18w.
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The Antex 25w I was using (same package as the 18w) isn't hot enough for IC work I find. I used a mates £500 kit (Ersa I think?) and it was a reveltion. A quick dab and next! Dont have £500 burning a hole in my pocket though and haven't the space for all the bits
 
Draper 40W here, quite basic but gets up to temp very quickly, and I found a bunch of useful tips (ends) on the shelf next to it :D, so there we go. I only use it for circuit bending and fixing things mind you, so tis hardly a professional bit of kit :).
 
I have the "48W LCD Display Solder Station" and it has lasted me for 4 years. I used it pretty much 4 hours a day for a fortnight and it never faltered. I do notice now that replacement tips are no longer available, so best off getting a different set!

Get a temp controllable one, you will need to spend money, but worth it!

I also have 2 gas irons as they are very handy for quick jobs.
 
I have two draper experts, one 12w for general stuff and one 50w for when i use cardas solder which needs 700 degrees.

Both have been excellent.
 
I've got an old Weller digitally controlled soldering station.

Had it for about 4 years now, and when I got it, it was decidedly 2nd hand! The casing is held together with strips of Duck tape, the plug for the tip where it goes into the base is wrapped with about a foot of electrical insulation tape to keep the wires in the right place, but, most importantly - it works, and works well!

All I need to do now is get some more tips (I've only got a very, very fine tip, it was originally used for SMT stuff, I typically don't do SMT).

I could also do with a basic gas-powered one, for stuff like splicing into wires within the car, where it's not really viable to drag out the Weller, and I just need "some heat" rather than "exactly 347 degrees" ;)
 
I use a mixture of Metcal or Pace irons at work, maybe a bit out of your price range but good irons, not to shabby with lead free also
 
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