<$50 decent soldering station

[Akathisia]

Help me out folks, in a fit of intense rage my $10 radioshack iron got Kobe'd into the trash can. Where should I go next. I don't want to spend more than $50 on a station and was eyeballing the Weller WLC100. Any recommendations?

Also what is a good all around reliable solder... I hear Kester mentioned, where do you buy yours and what flavor?

 

[slowpogo]

People seem to like the Circuit Specialists station:

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

One thing it has over the Weller (besides being cheaper) is that it's ESD safe. It can also use Hakko tips, and looks nicer too, IMO.

 

[fortney]

I bought the Solomon model-$39-very good-from them. The one posted here looks very good too.

Solder with lead is available from Digikey, unless they have run out.

F

 

[jamess71]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowpogo /img/forum/go_quote.gif People seem to like the Circuit Specialists station: http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307 One thing it has over the Weller (besides being cheaper) is that it's ESD safe. It can also use Hakko tips, and looks nicer too, IMO.

I bought the CS digital station. I like it. I didn't know I could use Hakko tips? anybody have a good online source for them?

James

 

[zigzag]

Another one you might consider is the Xytronic 379. I love mine and the new tip cleaner is awesome.

http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/379.html

 

[Chu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowpogo /img/forum/go_quote.gif People seem to like the Circuit Specialists station: Circuit Specialists Inc. - CSI Deluxe Station w/Analog Display (CSI-STATION1A) One thing it has over the Weller (besides being cheaper) is that it's ESD safe. It can also use Hakko tips, and looks nicer too, IMO.

I was about to drop a bill on the Hakko 936, but that looks like a wonderful alternative since the main attraction for me was the exceptional reviews the tips for the 936 were getting. Any idea what differences exist besides the price?

As for hakko tips though, my soldering experience up to now is CMoys built with radio shack nail tips, and I was wondering what Hakko tips specifically are good for audio DIY work. People keep suggesting to go with the chisel tips, but there are many different ones!

Link to tips.

 

[Pars]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was about to drop a bill on the Hakko 936, but that looks like a wonderful alternative since the main attraction for me was the exceptional reviews the tips for the 936 were getting. Any idea what differences exist besides the price? As for hakko tips though, my soldering experience up to now is CMoys built with radio shack nail tips, and I was wondering what Hakko tips specifically are good for audio DIY work. People keep suggesting to go with the chisel tips, but there are many different ones! Link to tips.

Do a search, as IIRC there were some impressions of the Circuit Specialist iron. If I remember right, they said the handle runs hotter than the Hakko does.

For tips, a small chisel tip is what I use (the stock Hakko from the 907 medium iron... 1.2-1.3mm maybe?). I also have a larger chisel tip and a smaller one... the larger one is useful for soldering on ground planes, etc. The smaller one is good for SMD parts, although the stock one is fine as well.

 

[nysulli]

like pars, i have 3 different size chisel tips depending on the job, for smd work i use the smallest or the factory default, cables the middle sized one that came with the iron works great, and for larger jobs like say the larger pins of heatsinks, or tube sockets, the large chisel works best

typical sized thru-hole components really work best with the standard sized chisel as well, but depending on space, like on a mini^3, the smallest chisel still does perfectly well

specifically, their sizes

0.8mm chisel
1.6mm - what comes with the iron
3.2mm for the bigger jobs

edit: i didn't see some of the tips on the hakko link, i purchased them with the iron from all-spec

 

[Chu]

Thanks for the advice nysuli.

Apparently those tips don't come up on the 936-13 page (the "large" iron) but they do on the 936-12 page (the "medium" iron), link here. I wonder if this means not all "936 compatible" tips are compatible with all three versions?

 

[nysulli]

that might be it, as far as i can remember the majority of head-fiers that own the 936 have the 936-12