Recommend a soldering iron/kit

[swink]

A little bit off-topic, but... am I over-interpreting the blurry shape, or is there a plastic dinosaur way off in the background?

lab operations director. it could be a T-rex

Spinosaurus is my best guess.

 

[Claymore]

The little brass wire tip cleaners are waaaaay better than the stupid sponge pads that come with most cheap irons. If your iron doesn't come with a brass wire cleaner, that should be your first "upgrade.

THIS. I used those sponges for years before I figured this out. Sooooo much better.

 

[fhm555]

the smoke from her burning flesh will set off the fire alarm.

what would a motherboard be doing in a lab with lapidary equipment?

Maybe a prop for an instructional vid on how not to solder?

 

[two fingers]

I like the Hakko a lot. It hasn't let me down in the 6 years I've had it. I really like that it has BOTH brass and a sponge.

 

[fhm555]

I've got a couple of Hakko bench top sets I used when I had a work bench dedicated to building electric r/c race cars, but for work on my basses the iron I use most is a 60W plain Jane with interchangeable tips. I've added a hot iron holder and a copper foil cleaner to my set up which takes all of five minutes to have ready to work. I also don't bother with any helping hands as I use a pair of mini needle nose pliers and a rubber band as my vise, and a couple of old dental picks as my third hand to hold wire in place while I heat it up. Tin both pieces you want to join then put a little extra solder on your iron and mash them together. If you are having trouble with slow heating, clean and re tin your tip and get some paste flux, especially if you are using small diameter rosin core solder, which you should be. You will also need some denatured alcohol and a brush to clean up the flux after the joint is finished. Cleaning the flux is not required but you will be so glad you did if you ever have to go back and work on that joint again.
If I was looking to replace my old (discontinued) Hobbico pencil iron I'd be going here to do it...

Hakko 60-Watt Red Soldering Iron-503F-V12ED/P - The Home Depot

And while I was ordering I'd get another flat tip and a couple conical tips, some way to hold the hot iron safely, and a tip cleaner of some sort. A damp sponge works but if it's too wet it will do more harm than good. The shredded foil cleaners are the best way to go but cost a little more.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

I've got one similar to:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] $30 for a temperature-adjustable iron with stand.
It's been my go-to iron for a longtime. I've given several away to folks just starting out, or needing to move up from a simple non-adjustable iron.
You need two other things for use and maintainence; a tip cleaner (brass mesh), and tip tinner (tinner is a mix of an agressive flux and powdered solder, it will restore the ability of the tip to be wetted by solder). Over time, the tip will oxidize more than just wiping on a damp sponge can clean. If you're going to solder to any sheet metal or pot bodies, I reccomend some liquid flux (you can put it on with a q-tip), availabe from Hobby Lobby where they have stained glass supplies.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

1k for a soldering station????
A little overkill for a beginner perhaps????

I will admit the handiness of the surface mount soldering device would be great if working on that kind of thing.

And yeah I think you might be right on Spinosaurus!
Dirk

 

[CGremlin]

i'm a big fan of butane fired soldering irons

I have a WES51 that I use for most general soldering, and an X-tronic combo iron/hot air station for SMT work, but my butane iron gets 95% of the automotive work. If I'm out having to do something on the truck in the driveway, it's extremely convenient not to have to drag out 40 feet of extension cord and find a place for the controller on the Weller to sit.

 

[MrLenny1]

Weller solder stations.

 

[AudioTaper]

1k for a soldering station????
A little overkill for a beginner perhaps????

I will admit the handiness of the surface mount soldering device would be great if working on that kind of thing.

Yeah, it's a bit nuts, I paid about 1/6th of that with a few extra tips.

What's the difference between a $30 iron from Amazon and this? They both get hot, right?

Yeah, but it's the same difference between a $99 Pbass on Amazon and a Fodera. They both make sound, right?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If that iron was at soldering temperature, I don't think she would be holding it like that for long!

I once witnessed the guy I mentioned (an expert solder and electronics guru), have a brain fart and pick up, with thumb and index finger pinch, a pen soldering iron he "thought" was off. There was a puff of white smoke an instant before his howl of agony, he got something like a severe 2nd or minor third degree burn before he dropped it. I've burned myself slightly a few times, and accidentally melted a few wires. These irons get truly blazing hot!

 

[Inky13]

I know it’s an old thread but I thought I’d give it a shot.
I have a few projects that require soldering but my iron isn’t up to the task. It’s 30 watts and doesn’t even melt the old solder.
When I get a new iron, should I get more power or will the newness make up for it?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Within reason, more watts is better, but unless you do this all day, every day, or have a huge project like building your own amp, something like the 40 watt Weller WLC100 is plenty powerful.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

I know it’s an old thread but I thought I’d give it a shot.
I have a few projects that require soldering but my iron isn’t up to the task. It’s 30 watts and doesn’t even melt the old solder.
When I get a new iron, should I get more power or will the newness make up for it?

The advice in post #2 here still applies. Temperature control is what you want to have an iron that performs well.

 

[Inky13]

Within reason, more watts is better, but unless you do this all day, every day, or have a huge project like building your own amp, something like the 40 watt Weller WLC100 is plenty powerful.

Might be a bit out of my budget, but I’ll look into it. Solid advice.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Act quick! You can find a good deal on solder, irons, and tools at All Electronics allelectronics.com . Act quick! They're going out of business at the end on August!

 

[Inky13]

Picked up a 60 watt Weller. Should work nicely.