Let's see your soldering station! (pics and poll)

[Dash Lashes]

Let's see your soldering station!

June 3, 9AM. beer just popped-open, not much in the way of plans to solder today (perhaps just a tinker here or there); here's my station:

Post a pic of yours!
Don't forget to VOTE!

Club interest?

-inspired by the "what beer are you drinking?" thread, i looked to see what beer i was drinking and saw a good opportunity to snap a "", as it (my station) "looks so cool today" . i primarily dwell at my station, so it's fun to share a part of my life w/ everyone on TB (from time to time)! stay cool folks! have a happy day off! peace _dash

 

[Dash Lashes]

i have a strip of about 300 color-changing LEDs wrapped around the neck of my swing-arm lamp, their colors influencing these otherwise raw photos. when im working, i change them to "safety orange", or sometimes just bright-white. and when im relaxing, i turn it to something else more mellow. they will strobe, fade, dance, and all sorts of cray-z junk lol - madness!

 

[throbbinnut]

Mine gets messy.

 

[JGR]

I solder on the bench to the left.

 

[B-string]

Thanks for reminding me I need to do some housekeeping

 

[Munjibunga]

Here's Mike Tobias installing a new pot in Norm Stockton's Saratoga at my bench. Then here's me installing a preamp in a customer's bass at the same bench.

 

[Feral Feline]

GREAT Idea for a Thread!

I was thinking of this very thing just this past weekend.

Thanks Dash Lashes, for increasing my solder GAS. I didn't vote, 'cause I'm not "in" as it were. I've got nothing to show in the thread, but wanted to see how I might "set up shop".

 

[beans-on-toast]

Here are a couple of shops to aspire to.

Leo Fender's workspace at G&L

Jess Oliver's home shop

​

 

[pravus]

Funny you should mention this. I just got one but it's sitting at the apartment office so this is the best I can do:

 

[Dash Lashes]

Funny you should mention this. I just got one but it's sitting at the apartment office so this is the best I can do:

View attachment 627771

when you get'er set-up, drop that photobomb!

 

[rodl2005]

Now I know why I ask YOU guys the tech questions! Great pics.

 

[sjrash]

I'm in the market for a new soldering iron/station. I used mine tonight to assemble a Hoffman Bias Checker. I definitely need to invest in a new one. I will be working on amplifiers, pcb's, and assembling small projects. What models do you recommend?

 

[CatSquare]

 

[B-string]

I'm in the market for a new soldering iron/station. I used mine tonight to assemble a Hoffman Bias Checker. I definitely need to invest in a new one. I will be working on amplifiers, pcb's, and assembling small projects. What models do you recommend?

Weller if you can swing the cash, variable temp is VERY handy. The Stahl has been a good iron so far even though the collar needs an occasional tightening. The Tenma I have not used the iron yet only the heated air for SMT work. Been solid so far!

 

[Dash Lashes]

some spares pulled from aside for a group shot: I wholeheartedly recommend the hakko in this pic. it's digital model FX888D. I dont use those "stick holders" in the picture though, because they are not as "ergo", for me, as my vintage one... heck, the vintage one idn't broke neither

 

[fdeck]

Here's the preamp factory. First, my little tool carousel, on a lazy susan bearing:

You can see the little GK combo amp, for testing preamps. Now, my soldering station:

Mine is one of the older Hakko units. The new ones with the yellow enclosures are the same basic technology. I still recommend this brand, but Weller is also good. Two things are important improvements over the basic Radio Shack / Home Depot model. First, the plated tip lasts a lot longer than bare copper because solder dissolves copper slowly. Second, temperature control, because it means that the heater can have a surplus of power to heat up quickly, but not exceed a decent soldering temperature.

You can see that I have my iron plugged into a timer. Today, Belkin makes a little outlet timer, so you don't have to assemble one. If you are in any way prone to leaving your iron turned on, the timer will greatly prolong the life of your tips.

 

[Dash Lashes]

wow - i really love my mic stand. i'd love to share this pic too! it's a table-top mic stand that fits spools of solder immensely well... i've had the stand since around 1998, when i dug it from under garbage in an antique store in seattle. i'll very likely use it unto i die (not even joking) _dash

 

[JimmyM]

Soldering station? What's that?

 

[sjrash]

Hakko is the brand I have been researching. The fx888d is the one in particular. I haven't seen them in any retail stores.

 

[CatSquare]

My diy articulating light/fan:
I built it out of a dead transformer, some "helping hands" parts, a spare switch, some speaker wire, an LED "light" (reclaimed LED, pen tube, resistor, heat shrink), and some 3d printed fan grills. I love this thing because I can get it in a tight spot to exhaust solder smoke away from my face, and get light on my work. That transformer is heavy enough to keep it from wobbling no matter how far out I pull the fan!