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Thread: Soldering Iron/ Station - what are you using?

  1. 02-12-2013, 12:26 #1
    Lace'd Taste's Avatar
    Lace'd Taste
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    Default Soldering Iron/ Station - what are you using?

    Hi all,

    So Santa have kindly offered to get me a soldering iron this year which means i can stop sneaking into me mates room to borrow his every couple of days. I was wondering what are people here are using and if they have any recommendations? I like the Weller irons and it's a shame they don't do the WES51 in the UK cos it looks fairly decent. Variable temp isn't really an issue but something temperature controlled would be nice. Here's a few I'm looking at on eBay (don't mind them being used):

    Weller PS-3D 45W http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-PS-...item43c1c7ced3
    Weller WS81 95W http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELLER-531...item43c29afbe7
    Weller WTCP50 45W http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-sol...item3388395c94
    Weller WTCP51 50W http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELLER-WTC...item2ecc51f553
    Weller 60W http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-60W...item43c22600d9

    Also this on Amazon although in has mixed reviews in some threads: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-Whs40...dering+station

    I've read 30W - 40W is already high for electronics so are these too much for working on PCBs or would they be ok but have to work faster?

    Cheers

    Jayson
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  2. 02-12-2013, 12:28 #2
    Ali Tait's Avatar
    Ali Tait
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    I've used one of these for the past couple of years, very happy with it -

    http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-profes...-station-n34fb
    “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”

    Hunter S Thompson
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  3. 02-12-2013, 14:53 #3
    Lace'd Taste's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ali Tait View Post
    I've used one of these for the past couple of years, very happy with it -

    http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-profes...-station-n34fb
    How much are spare tips for that one? Do they sell the tips in store?
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  4. 02-12-2013, 15:15 #4
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    Buy the Weller WTCP51 and forget ever having to buy another for 20 years. I've been using one now for ages and it's the best soldering station I've ever used. You get temperature control from the purchase of various tips which according to their individual composition/magnetic properties, determine soldering temperature. Weller have a chart for these and there's loads of tips available, all reasonably priced and which will last years.

    Avoid soldering stations with complex digitally controlled temperature control. I've been through a few of them and none were much cop, plus they all failed within the first few years of use.
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  5. 02-12-2013, 16:21 #5
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    the Weller WTCP51 50W is perfect for pretty much all you need to solder…
    Francois, Bergerac, France
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  6. 02-12-2013, 16:25 #6
    istari_knight
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    Weller, accept no imitations

    I've used one of these nearly every day for 8 years... It was being used long before I bought it & will probably still be soldering away when I'm dead

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  7. 02-12-2013, 17:00 #7
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    The Weller is good but personally I prefer Antex and have used them for decades...
    Arkless Electronics-Engineered to be better. Tel. 01670 530674 (after 1pm)

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  8. 02-12-2013, 17:31 #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lace'd Taste View Post
    How much are spare tips for that one? Do they sell the tips in store?
    Yep, here-

    http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/spare-48w-...ron-tips-n72cw
    “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”

    Hunter S Thompson
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  9. 02-12-2013, 18:12 #9
    awkwardbydesign
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    I bought this one recently. I had a cheaper Maplin one for several years, but this is better. Good enough for me, at least. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/60w-profes...otection-a55kj

    But I also have a 200w iron for speaker cables!
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  10. 02-12-2013, 18:18 #10
    vinylspinner
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    Plus one for the Weller. may even have a spare base unit if anyone interested, will just need the iron.

    regards
    Nigel
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