Decent soldering tools...?

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PL1:
One thing to consider with the Hakko is that the default tip that ships with it is the T18-D16.
- It's a chisel tip so you get better heat transfer than a conical tip . . . but it's only 1.6mm wide, which is a little bit on the small side.

You may want some additional Hakko T18 series tips.
https://hakkousa.com/products/soldering/soldering-tips.html?series=68

Here's a package deal with an 888D and a variety of tips. (T18-B, T18-I, T18-K, T18-D16, T18-D24, T18-D32)
https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B010GGH9A6/

Also, check if the vendor is an authorized U.S. distributor so you know you aren't getting a knockoff station or tips.
https://hakkousa.com/storelocator/
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This flux pen works great and is very easy to clean up afterward. ;D
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008OC0E5M/

Scott

Vocalitus:
I have some random iron I got with a kit on Amazon and it works ok and has a temperature dial. I think the helping hands grips are a very good idea as well as a good stand. I got this one on Amazon.

On some youtube videos I see a lot of flux being used and not sure if I should get some flux paste or a flux pen. I bought some .6mm lead free solder and it works very well, but I see some people soldering trace connections with a extremely small tip with solder already on it. I suck at such work on use liquid wire glue for small traces such as TSOP connections (I posted about it somewhere else on here) which takes forever to dry but works very well.

One suggestion is to get a decent workstation for soldering that has all your tools available, lighted magnifying glass on a swing arm, and a proper soldering station. I see heat guns being used to loosen connections which is a great idea, but I am not sure it will damage the components surrounding. The hardest thing I found is the desoldering gun/pump. I could never get it to work properly so there must be a technique associated. I have some solder wick and that is another mystery on why I would use it as the stuff I solder uses small amounts as you are not supposed to tin the iron.

Any advice on the wick and the desolder pump would be appreciated.

bobbyb13:
Thank you (once again!) Scott for the Hakko unit link.
I'll have to find someone who will ship me a soldering pen too.

And then learn how to use it properly
Heheh

eds1275:
I have the Milwaukee M12 cordless soldering iron. It is fantastic in every way.

nitrogen_widget:
I bought a $10 60W adjustable off amazon to replace the unkown wattage radio shack iron i'd been using for ever.
It's great.
On my old one the copper tips would flex over time and would end up anything but straight.
I had to constantly file the tips because they would degrade almost every time i used them (could of been the heat and the type of solder maybe?)
I was also lifting traces off boards if I wasn't careful.

when you are a caveman who has been using square wheels anything round seems a dream. :)
I just went with a cheap replacement because there are so many stations out there i had no idea what to pick.
so I will be checking out all the suggestions here.

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