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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Locke141 on June 13, 2016, 11:06:22 am

Title: What iron do you use?
Post by: Locke141 on June 13, 2016, 11:06:22 am
I know there are lot of threads on soldering irons but I know thing chanege. I'm looking ones on Alibaba as most all vender ship to where I'll end up over sea's.

I was looking at
this (http://s.aliexpress.com/2iQRfmey) one but am open to ones as high as $150.00.

Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: yotsuya on June 13, 2016, 11:14:04 am
Hakko. And I'll never use anything else.


*Cue comments on how the $5  Radio Shack special is just fine

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: harveybirdman on June 13, 2016, 11:16:43 am
With your budget I'd get a Hakko and then a separate knock off hot air station.

I have Yihuas (check out the electronics workbench thread) and they are surely serviceable but if you're willing to spend the money there is not reason not to go Hakko.
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: HaRuMaN on June 13, 2016, 11:32:24 am
Hakko. And I'll never use anything else.


*Cue comments on how the $5  Radio Shack special is just fine

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Sure is.  That's how I got my custom title, with my el-cheapo radio shack special. 

It's the technique, not the iron.

That being said, my Radio Shack one finally died after about 10 years of service so I picked up a Weller.
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: yotsuya on June 13, 2016, 11:32:53 am
Hakko. And I'll never use anything else.


*Cue comments on how the $5  Radio Shack special is just fine

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Sure is.  That's how I got my custom title, with my el-cheapo radio shack special. 

It's the technique, not the iron.

That being said, my Radio Shack one finally died after about 10 years of service so I picked up a Weller.
Aaaaaaand there it is.

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: BadMouth on June 13, 2016, 11:33:43 am
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,146521.0.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,146521.0.html)

EDIT: Toward the end of that thread, there is some discussion of the soldering/desoldering stations similar to the one you linked to.




Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: yotsuya on June 13, 2016, 11:34:21 am
Hakko. And I'll never use anything else.


*Cue comments on how the $5  Radio Shack special is just fine

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Sure is.  That's how I got my custom title, with my el-cheapo radio shack special. 

It's the technique, not the iron.

That being said, my Radio Shack one finally died after about 10 years of service so I picked up a Weller.
Although I will agree that technique is everything. I've done so much soldering in the past two years that I can now make money doing it. Remember to practice, kids! :cheers:

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on June 13, 2016, 12:18:26 pm
+1 on the Hakko.  I love mine.

DeL
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: Slippyblade on June 13, 2016, 01:09:31 pm
Yes, technique is important, but having a quality tool makes a HUGE amount of difference.  The Hakko gets to temp within a minute after being turned on and KEEPS the set temp.  Every cheap iron I ever had was literally plug in, go make a sandwich, come back and it *might* be up to temp.  Soldering a normal through hole lead was fine, but anything attached to a plane...  total ---smurfette---.
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: yotsuya on June 13, 2016, 01:32:28 pm
Yes, technique is important, but having a quality tool makes a HUGE amount of difference.  The Hakko gets to temp within a minute after being turned on and KEEPS the set temp.  Every cheap iron I ever had was literally plug in, go make a sandwich, come back and it *might* be up to temp.  Soldering a normal through hole lead was fine, but anything attached to a plane...  total ---smurfette---.
So getting the Hakko has cut down on your sandwich consumption, yes? :-)

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: Slippyblade on June 13, 2016, 02:43:52 pm
...Every cheap iron I ever had was literally plug in, go make a sandwich...
So getting the Hakko has cut down on your sandwich consumption, yes? :-)

Pfft, silly Yots.  I've just found OTHER reasons to go make a sandwich.  As if a person actually needs a reason...
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: yotsuya on June 13, 2016, 02:50:54 pm
...Every cheap iron I ever had was literally plug in, go make a sandwich...
So getting the Hakko has cut down on your sandwich consumption, yes? :-)

Pfft, silly Yots.  I've just found OTHER reasons to go make a sandwich.  As if a person actually needs a reason...
I herd dat!! :cheers:

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: CheffoJeffo on June 13, 2016, 03:48:37 pm
I've got a Solomon SL-30 and a Weller 51. Happy with both, but the Solomon is my regular iron.
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: pbj on June 13, 2016, 03:52:58 pm
I've had a Weller WESD51 since the 90s, and it was well used when I got my hands on it. 

I've replaced a couple of tips ($5) and one heating element ($15) and it's held up fine over many years of circuit work, spousal discipline sessions, and torturing of small animals.


Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: ChadTower on June 13, 2016, 03:59:27 pm



Nearly all Weller here too. 
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: Nephasth on June 13, 2016, 09:36:40 pm
My baby... One baaaad ---smurfette---...

(http://g03.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1vko8JpXXXXa3XVXXq6xXFXXXW/AY091-font-b-AOYUE-b-font-968A-3-in-1-font-b-rework-b-font-font.jpg)
Title: Re: What iron do you use?
Post by: Slippyblade on June 13, 2016, 10:33:44 pm
Tool porn!