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Soldering Iron.... suggestions?
Topic Started: Jul 15 2015, 12:43 PM (1,319 Views)
Coche Blanco
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What are you weirdos using to do your soldering?
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

I usually use a Weller soldering gun. I have a regular soldering iron as well.
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doviatt
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20 year old Weller soldering station. WES51
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MR Bill
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I use a 25 watt pencil iron.
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arudlang
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Andrew

For 12 automotive? Just the cheapest McCheep $4.99 iron you would find at a radioshack (if there were any radioshacks left... :whistle )
Doesn't take anything special for 12v car wiring :cheers
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Coche Blanco
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arudlang
Jul 15 2015, 01:33 PM
For 12 automotive? Just the cheapest McCheep $4.99 iron you would find at a radioshack (if there were any radioshacks left... :whistle )
Doesn't take anything special for 12v car wiring :cheers
Yeah it won't be for the car, so I guess I should have mentioned that.
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geogonfa
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If your near a sears...Weller Professional Soldering Gun Kit
range 41.95-90.00 or even a cheapo from harbor freight...http://www.harborfreight.com/180-watt-industrial-soldering-gun-61170.html...a little under powered but does the job
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macuserman
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This is the one I use.

click here

Might be a bit overkill for some people, but I do a lot of soldering and I really like this one. I've used quite a few different brands and this is my favorite by far. Next best is probably Xytronic really like their stuff, very well made, but less bang for the buck. http://www.vetco.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13616&gclid=CJ7IlpLq3cYCFUQSHwodSaUMrg

Truth is unless you do a lot of soldering, anything that will melt the solder will work.

Link shortened by MMM to correct the forum appearance.
Edited by Metromightymouse, Jul 17 2015, 06:36 AM.
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Daox
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macuserman
Jul 15 2015, 02:07 PM
Truth is unless you do a lot of soldering, anything that will melt the solder will work.
This is what I've found to be true. I've seen guys recommend the specialized soldering units. Hot air is nice if you're doing surface mount stuff, but not many do. I've made due with a radioshack weller 25W for years, even on smaller electronics stuff it seems to do fine. I have a couple different tips ground for it to better do whatever I'm working on though.
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Silver2K


If you are just going to solder wires, a cheap radio shack iron will do ($5). I have a few of those. If you are going to solder chips, you want something better, something with a fine tip and constant temperature or temperature control. I bought a Weller on sale at Fry's for about $100 8 years ago. Some magnetic mechanism keeps the tip at constant temperature. It worked well for me on surface mount chips.
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rmcelwee
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macuserman
Jul 15 2015, 02:07 PM
This is the one I use.

Might be a bit overkill for some people, but I do a lot of soldering and I really like this one.
Hey, my birthday is coming up (well, at the end of February) and I would love to have that Aoyue. Just saying...


What do you know about these cheap units? I wouldn't use it that much so I really can't justify spending $300 on something.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Air-Gun-Solder-Iron-Welder-ESD-2in1-898D-Soldering-Rework-Station-W-Nozzles/201359202649?

Edited by MMM to correct forum appearance.
Edited by Metromightymouse, Jul 17 2015, 06:50 AM.
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macuserman
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rmcelwee
Jul 16 2015, 01:37 PM
macuserman
Jul 15 2015, 02:07 PM
This is the one I use.

Might be a bit overkill for some people, but I do a lot of soldering and I really like this one.
Hey, my birthday is coming up (well, at the end of February) and I would love to have that Aoyue. Just saying...


What do you know about these cheap units? I wouldn't use it that much so I really can't justify spending $300 on something.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Air-Gun-Solder-Iron-Welder-ESD-2in1-898D-Soldering-Rework-Station-W-Nozzles/201359202649?
All I have to say about that is make sure that the cheap knockoff brand units have a default safety switch in them that kills the heat if left on for awhile unattended. I had one of those, not that exact one, but one like it that I lent to a friend and it burst into flames because he walked away and left it on for a couple hours. :smackface One reason why I really like the Aoyue units they have safety features built in and I feel safe using them.

Another approach is to just not lend your stuff to idiots, and remember to turn it off when you are finished. :thumb
Edited by Metromightymouse, Jul 17 2015, 06:59 AM.
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t3ragtop
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Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker

for any soldering on printed circuit boards i use a 17 watt weller pencil or an adjustable heat soldering station.

i also have small and large weller dual heat soldering guns. the small one is 60/120 watts and the larger one is 115/230 watts.

if you are building boards you should not use anything more than the 17 watt pencil as higher wattage/ heat soldering untensils tend to fry the copper traces loose from the boards. :smackface
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Coche Blanco
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Spent about $25 on this bad boy. Should be getting here next week some time...

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http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=69398

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t3ragtop
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Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker

nice. ;)
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