Recommend me a soldering iron

[cyndicate]

I have a peice of crap $4 one from Radio Shack and I always tend to fuck things up when soldering when using it Going to swap out some pick ups later tonight and was thinking a good soldering iron would be helpful. Any suggestions if price isn't really a issue?

 

[stratotone]

I have a peice of crap $4 one from Radio Shack and I always tend to fuck things up when soldering when using it Going to swap out some pick ups later tonight and was thinking a good soldering iron would be helpful. Any suggestions if price isn't really a issue?

I just bought a cheap weller from Mouser - was around $60, has a temp control, it's a base with a 'pencil' soldering iron you plug into the side. Looks ok for the $... and a hell of a lot better than RS stuff.

BTW, Radio Shack sells a base soldering station for $20ish that has a high and low setting, and is kinda attractive. DON'T BUY IT. You can't get the freakin' soldering iron tips for it very easily... real pain in the ass. I'd do the Mouser thing as it's really hard to find a decent iron locally... everything is a $10 'pencil' or a huge-ass soldering gun. Or those 'cold iron' things. ugh.

Pete

 

[K-Bizzle]

For a hobbyist I think this isn't a bad choice.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/21-3475

 

[cyndicate]

I have a peice of crap $4 one from Radio Shack and I always tend to fuck things up when soldering when using it Going to swap out some pick ups later tonight and was thinking a good soldering iron would be helpful. Any suggestions if price isn't really a issue?

I just bought a cheap weller from Mouser - was around $60, has a temp control, it's a base with a 'pencil' soldering iron you plug into the side. Looks ok for the $... and a hell of a lot better than RS stuff.

BTW, Radio Shack sells a base soldering station for $20ish that has a high and low setting, and is kinda attractive. DON'T BUY IT. You can't get the freakin' soldering iron tips for it very easily... real pain in the ass. I'd do the Mouser thing as it's really hard to find a decent iron locally... everything is a $10 'pencil' or a huge-ass soldering gun. Or those 'cold iron' things. ugh.

Pete

Cool thanks for the heads up I guess anything would probably be better than what I currently have. Hoping to get one that holds the stupid iron, I ended burning myself last time since it didn't have a stand or a holder for it Are the "gun" type ones with a trigger any more better than one without?

 

[cyndicate]

For a hobbyist I think this isn't a bad choice.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/21-3475

Looks kind of like the ones they sell at Fry's around here.. Is there any specific solder I use when soldering? Also in regards to wattage, what is one that is just right for doing basic stuff like soldering pickups or maybe even building a amp in the future?

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

Hakko 936...

I did my Metro build with it. I love it!

-Joe

 

[jonny toetags]

Weller, Hakko....can't go wrong with either.
It's better to spend more up front and get a decent one though, imo.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Hakko 936...

I did my Metro build with it. I love it!

-Joe

+1 best bang for the buck out there imo.

 

[JTyson]

Would be careful, not to get one that is too powerful, for the job your doing. Havent seen night and day difference between brands, I did finally figure out that you have to keep the tip very clean, whatever you have! Keep a small file on hand, and remove deposits between each application. This has helped me more than anything else, regardless of wich iron I happened to be using. Once the tip is dirty, it wont transfer heat properly. You probably already knew this, everyone seemed to know this but me!! Had to ruin some things that really mattered before I found this out!

 

[blackba]

I have a $100 Weller, can't remember the model number. It has a nice temp control. It works very well and is easier to solder with than the cheap soldering iron I had from Parts Express.

Flux and a sponge helps keep the tip clean.

I just recently got a spool holder for the solder, that has been handy. I use my soldering iron at least once a week.

 

[Copperhead]

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

This place is 1/4 mile away from my shop. Best bang-for-the-buck IMO. I've had one of these for a couple years.

 

[Gino]

METCAL. Yeah, you'll spend $400 right now but you'll never have to buy another iron again for the rest of your life.

 

[duesentrieb]

The key is to use the correct temp with the correct tips and solder. Then the stuff will last forever.

Lead-free, Weller WS81, 350°C setting, almost two years (and maybe 6 or 7 full amp builds) - and still the first tip.

 

[guitarslinger]

Weller WES-51.

Same Iron I used on two Egnater Seminar Heads.

Best $100 I've ever spent.

 

[blackba]

Weller WES-51.

Same Iron I used on two Egnater Seminar Heads.

Best $100 I've ever spent.

That's the model I have, thanks for jogging my memory. Nice soldering iron, we have a number of that weller model at work too....

 

[stratotone]

BTW, Radio Shack sells a base soldering station for $20ish that has a high and low setting, and is kinda attractive. DON'T BUY IT. You can't get the freakin' soldering iron tips for it very easily... real pain in the ass...

That's the one I've been using for years. Works for me!?!?!?

It works fine, but Radio Shack doesn't have the soldering tips available. You can't get them from the store. Can't buy them off the website. Supposedly you can do a special order... just pisses me off that they can sell this as a current product and not make it a little easier to order parts that will wear out eventually.

Pete

 

[Jordon]

Weller WES50 or WES51P. About $110, and well worth it.

Adjustable temp control - BIG deal, especially when using new RoHS pB free solder.

guitarslinger beat me to it, but yes, it's a badass iron. I use them for PCB soldering at work. Just make sure you get some rosin and keep that sponge nice and moist. Keep your tips clean.

BTW, I keep the temp on my WES50 at work at around 750 degrees to work with that RoHS lead-free shit solder. Gotta keep that temp high so you're not sitting on the PCB's for more then a couple seconds. That's the kinda heat where you smell it before you feel it

 

[cyndicate]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, looks like Weller is a popular brand around here, I'll try to look for that.

Main issue with my old peice of crap one was I didn't really keep the tip clean because I was a noob, and just recently knew about that, so now I need a new one

 

[cyndicate]

Well I went to Fry's last night to finally pick up a Iron, grabbed a Hakko 936. I also saw the Weller WES-51 there for $10 more, any reason to get the Weller instead of the Hakko? I am going to finally swap out my bridge pup in my strat and rewire my d13 cab

 

[kannibul]

I have a peice of crap $4 one from Radio Shack and I always tend to fuck things up when soldering when using it Going to swap out some pick ups later tonight and was thinking a good soldering iron would be helpful. Any suggestions if price isn't really a issue?

I just bought a cheap weller from Mouser - was around $60, has a temp control, it's a base with a 'pencil' soldering iron you plug into the side. Looks ok for the $... and a hell of a lot better than RS stuff.

BTW, Radio Shack sells a base soldering station for $20ish that has a high and low setting, and is kinda attractive. DON'T BUY IT. You can't get the freakin' soldering iron tips for it very easily... real pain in the ass. I'd do the Mouser thing as it's really hard to find a decent iron locally... everything is a $10 'pencil' or a huge-ass soldering gun. Or those 'cold iron' things. ugh.

Pete

I have that hi/low, and yeah, the tips are somewhat non-existant.

I just use my trusty 40w irons....I had one blow out once. That was fun!