Which soldering iron?

[bobsbeer]

I need to upgrade my soldering iron as my current one has bust. It was a cheapo one but did me for what soldering I have done up to now. As I will be doing some pcb stuff in the not too distant future I was wondering about this one? HERE 40w variable, £19.95 with free shipping.

Anybody got one? Is it worth the money?

 

[Antony]

Looks like a nice iron. My Cheapo Maplin one is still holding up strong.

 

[iceo]

I'd go for a 60w veriable one then you can do fine work but still have power to do bigger stuff if needed . and I fine the silverline irons/blades a bit soft bend to easy when hot

 

[godfrey]

this one I use


http://www.maplin.co.uk/60w-lcd-display ... ion-218050

 

[bobsbeer]

Ouch. I wasn't planning on spending that much. But I suppose you get what you pay for.

 

[godfrey]

got it half price a few years back
when they had it on offer

 

[bobsbeer]

Wrong time of year for bargains at the moment

 

[anthonyUK]

I think you can't go wrong with a Weller one.

http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/46352-wtcp-5 ... eller.html

You can pick them up on eBay quite reasonably.

 

[bobsbeer]

They are all over £200!!!!!! I want a reasonable one. :lol:

 

[anthonyUK]

Example - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-Solder ... 2eca23ef5c

 

[bobsbeer]

What's a rework station?

 

[godfrey]

rework ...... repairing .... fixing bad soldering

 

[bobsbeer]

I have never seen one. Only pictures. Neither have I used a hot air solderer. So I think I'll pass on those.

 

[Cyclops]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/48w-lcd-display ... tion-98133

I got this one, had to replace the element on it once, got the element from farnell for about £8

 

[bobsbeer]

The reviews on that one say much the same as you. This one is the same price but better reviews. HERE

But these are only 8 watts more than my example at the top and twice the price. What are you getting for your money? Apart from LCD's etc.

 

[Cyclops]

temp control, can use a lower temp if using it on pcb's etc.

 

[godfrey]

the LCD shows the exact temperature

although the one you posted first does have temp regulator
there is no way to know the operation temps unless you calibrate it
I hope your calibration sensor will do 500deg :hmm:

 

[bobsbeer]

The original one I posted is variable, but you can't see what temp. Is that a useful feature? I know for less than half the price it probably won't last a lifetime, but it may get me started.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

The Barnsley way is to warm a thin screwdriver up on't gas hob....

BB

 

[bobsbeer]

The Barnsley way is to warm a thin screwdriver up on't gas hob....

BB

:lol: :lol: Not too sophisticated in Barnsley then. :lol: