Soldering Iron

Can't go wrong with a hakko! 

I tend to not be a brand pusher anymore; quality can change too quickly if a company changes hands today. But I would research and spend the extra for a good digital, adjustable, station and maybe even one with swappable tips if offered. Then you'll be covered no matter the subject. Save the old ones for "dirty" or heavy work to help keep it clean for finer stuff.

If you search for "soldering station" there is a detailed thread on the subject with lots of recommendations.  

I have the Hakko FX888D, and I'm quite happy with it's performance.  It has all the things that ADRIATIC suggests.  I also bought the calibrator on eBay.  I bought the Hakko FG-100 on eBay, the Celsius model was really cheap. The calibrator is very useful to insure the iron is indeed at the temperature you set it to, and you can also calibrate it to be accurate.  I have a second handle also, I keep a different style tip in that one for quick changes, no waiting for the other one to cool.

Here's a Chinese clone of the calibrator for a killer price, should be more than sufficient.  eBay #: 182311485377

I've used the Wellers for over 50 years, I still have a 50 year old one with fixed temp tips. The ones I have now are the Weller WES51 which has a dial knob to adjust temperature and interchangeable tips. I use 3 different tips from fine to somewhat broad. The tip heats up in less than one minute. The unit automatically shuts off after about one hour of non use. And it's ESD safe.

Hakko, is the standard today.  Over thirty years in the Electronics/Avionics industry and I've used them all.  Hakko are the only ones that stand up with a lot of use.

I like the fact that I can calibrate my Hakko, it's amazing how far off the digital reading can be.  When I got the Hakko, the calibration was off around 40F from the indicated reading.  Not fatal, but certainly not optimal. 

I had a Weller with the fixed temperature and interchangeable tips for around 30 years, it worked fine, but it was time for an upgrade.

superwarp1 posted:

Hakko, is the standard today.  Over thirty years in the Electronics/Avionics industry and I've used them all.  Hakko are the only ones that stand up with a lot of use.

I kind of want to try one, but I'm stuck waiting for these Wellers to fail so I can get one.

I like the Hakko dishwashing scrounge that cleans the tip. It works very well. I have one in a weighted metal container that was originally meant to be an ashtray. I got it at the Dayton Ham Fest.

Chuck, I waited for my Weller to die for years, so I finally just bit the bullet.

I've been using a ZD-929C soldering station for about fours years now and it's worked very well. I didn't buy mine for MPJA but I did pick up a complete additional handle and some extra tips along with  some speakers and other items.  Here a link to a site where you can pick one up for a reasonable price: http://www.mpja.com/Solder-Sta...roductinfo/15845+TL/    They have a bunch of other goodies that fit in with our hobby too, check them out.

Like GRJ I picked up calibrator to check the tip temp. 

Along with others above, I would also recommend the Hakko FX-888D (GRJ's link above). I got one 2-3 years ago and it is very nice. If I remember correctly, I got it on Amazon (could have been ebay?) with an assortment of several tips and maybe another accessory or two. I think it was around $125 with all the extras included or about $80-$90 or so by itself. May have gone up some since then? 

Quality could change overnight, and you can't beat knowing your temp is spot on, but at home, I'm still use my first iron, a Weller. I also still use my Grandfathers gun from the 50s or 60s, also a Weller....I did have to change the tip a year or two ago, so the extra from the original box is now in use.

   With my luck I'll be 80, need another tip, and the threads will be changed or something

I keep a second, bigger gun as backup, a late 60s JC Pennies 200-260w I suspect is a Weller in disguise, and 25w, 30w, 40w, 50w, & 60w pen irons of brands unknown, though I suppose I could try looking. Oh yea, there's a monster "pen" about a foot long and a pound or two for car radiators or plumbing were a torch can't go. The cloth cord dates that to the 40s, maybe earlier.

I use an infrared thermometer gun , 2° accuracy is good enough for my PW stuff....like I ever bothered . On work for others, I don't mess around; but my own? I like kludge (and the word is now a fav )

I have used a Weller with fixed temp tips forever, but I recently bought a NOS Hakko 928 for about 70 bucks. Brand new in the box. It has two irons, one regular, and one fine, each with its own temp control. So far I love it. Works just great.

Rod