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Soldering Iron
Ken Layton:
For standard soldering, Weller is great. I also have a Weller Portosol butane powered iron. I used it so much at the drive-in theater I used to work at that I wore the iron out. It was perfect for soldering the drive-in speakers outside since I was so far away from a power source.
Unfortuneately, Weller has stuck their name on the cold heat unit now. Check out MCM Electronics (www.mcminone.com) stock number 96-2140.
MCM also has # 96-1085 Portosol, 96-055 Pyropen, and 96-480 self-igniting Pyropen. Check out the excellent # 21-4525 Wahl "Iso Tip" battery powered soldering iron. I used one at my former employer and it was a good iron. I wore that one out too.
MikeDeuce:
--- Quote from: Ken Layton on April 12, 2006, 11:02:29 am ---Check out the excellent # 21-4525 Wahl "Iso Tip" battery powered soldering iron.
--- End quote ---
I picked up the iso tip at a local lowes in a pinch when I couldn't find economical replacement tips for my other butane iron... and just a warning, before you leave the store make sure the tip stays on securely. Mine had too much slop in it and the entire heating element fell off before I could even use it. I'm just glad it didn't fall into my lap or something silly :dizzy:
Definitely looking to move on to a butane weller because they seem to have the largest online presence for replacement parts.
I don't even use corded irons anymore.
Ken Layton:
Yes the Weller Portosol is very easy to get tips and parts for.
While the Isotip battery powered unit is pretty good, the tips are delicate. I ended up making a tip protector 'sleeve' out of a piece of PVC pipe so that I could put the iron in the toolbox and not get broken from the banging around. I found this iron got plenty hot to solder pinball coils perfectly fine.
Buddabing:
So what sort of wattage should I use for coils? I have 10, 25, and 40 watt irons (Radio Shack) and I don't want to get the leads too hot or damage the coils?
I've found that the lower powered irons will only work with brand new tips.
Q*Bert_OP:
Right now, i am using a Hakko 936 on my work bench...
I got mine from( http://www.kiesub.com/ ) Just search for hakko 936...they're less than $80 right now!!!