Soldering Iron station recommendations

  • Thread starter Thread starter Music&Chaos
  • Start date Start date
I love my Weller WE1010NA.
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griff10672 said:
it ain't a Hakko unless it's blue and yellow ......... this will be reported to the National Soldering Society
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The shop owner just agreed to give me all of his work. I figured if he saw the ol' blue and yellow - he may have the slightest of regrets....
 
Music&Chaos said:
The shop owner just agreed to give me all of his work. I figured if he saw the ol' blue and yellow - he may have the slightest of regrets....
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if he saw the blue and yellow ...... he would have known a true disciple of the Soldering Arts was present ...

you have been reported ......... please turn in your " Silver " Hakko
 
Music&Chaos said:
At 25w I doubt you will run into issues with it burning solder.
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We'll see the new Weller 30 watt pencil irons I got run so hot the solder burn right on the solder tip, and any flux just flashes off. I also picked up a Weller 60 watt for chassis work and it does the same damn thing. Pretty disappointing.

I figured since this US made one had replaceable tips I would try it out for the money for the jobs when the solder station lack or portability doesn't work.
 
harddriver said:
I happened to find a Made in USA 25 watt pencil soldering iron that has threaded replacement tips so I picked it up to try out. If it doesn't burn the solder like the new Weller stuff it will be a win. I will report back when I plug it in to tin the tip.

https://www.wlenk.com/product/25-watt-soldering-iron-2/
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I just got done tinning the solder tip on this solder iron and it heated up quickly and took solder like a champ and the solder flux did not flash off like the Wellers do. This iron's temps appears to be very stable and it is not running too hot like my new 30-60 watt pencil iron Weller's do.

I am quite happy with this Made IN USA iron and quality appears to be on par with my old Radio Shack pencil irons.:2thumbsup:\:D/ It's only $17 bucks and replacement tips are available. I think I will pick up a couple more of these just to have on hand.
 
harddriver said:
We'll see the new Weller 30 watt pencil irons I got run so hot the solder burn right on the solder tip, and any flux just flashes off. I also picked up a Weller 60 watt for chassis work and it does the same damn thing. Pretty disappointing.

I figured since this US made one had replaceable tips I would try it out for the money for the jobs when the solder station lack or portability doesn't work.
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What temp are you running them at?
 
Music&Chaos said:
What temp are you running them at?
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The temperatures are fixed from the factory when it comes to most pencil solder irons. 25 and 30 watt run anywhere from 700-800*F. I usually run my Hakko 936 at 750*F for my taste.

I'm just glad there is some decent USA made pencil irons still out there, they are just what I have alot of experience using so I am very comfortable with them, I still love my Hakko station alot too.
 
harddriver said:
The temperatures are fixed from the factory when it comes to most pencil solder irons. 25 and 30 watt run anywhere from 700-800*F. I usually run my Hakko 936 at 750*F for my taste.

I'm just glad there is some decent USA made pencil irons still out there, they are just what I have alot of experience using so I am very comfortable with them, I still love my Hakko station alot too.
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Just weird that temp is burning your solder is all.
 
Music&Chaos said:
Just weird that temp is burning your solder is all.
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The new Weller ones should not but they do...... so that tells me the irons are not regulating their temps at all and the temp are much higher than they should be. I tested two brand new Weller 30 watters and one 60 watter bought from True Value and they all were running way too hot, the flux would literally flash into flames when I tried to coat them with flux for tinning purposes. I will not purchase any more new Weller products at this point even though they have bee great for years.
 
harddriver said:
The new Weller ones should not but they do...... so that tells me the irons are not regulating their temps at all and the temp are much higher than they should be. I tested two brand new Weller 30 watters and one 60 watter bought from True Value and they all were running way too hot, the flux would literally flash into flames when I tried to coat them with flux for tinning purposes. I will not purchase any more new Weller products at this point even though they have bee great for years.
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Dave from EEVBlog did a video or two on a problematic Weller station he got, though it was a different issue. Too bad their new stuff doesn't seem up to snuff.
 
Matt300ZXT said:
Well, now that you have a new iron you have to do the customary "accidentally burning yourself" break in procedure. If you don't get it out of the way now, none of your projects will turn out successfully.
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I'll make sure to max the temp and grab it with my full hand.

I need my future work to go well.
 
I've always been and always had students grabbing the Weller WLC100/WTC100 for decades, but they don't seem to feel the same to me anymore, maybe because of dealing with ROHS complaint solder? I don't know. I keep almost pulling the trigger on the Haako FX88D, but haven't yet. Are you guys loving yours? Is it ok with ROHS solder?

Also, I always end up getting those copper afro things when I buy solder scukers from amazon. Are you supposed to use that instead of a wet sponge? I tried and I think I'm doing it wrong.
 
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