Low cost iron shootout

[EEVblog]

Is in the planning.
I have some of these already:
FX-888 at US$100
New Weller WE-1010 at US$135
Quick 3104 at US$140
Ersa Pico at US$155 (Amazon price, much more elsewhere, so maybe not a good choice?)

Any others? (maybe one more possible, don't want too many)
Say US$150 tops.

The new Pace one looks nice but it's $250.

[kalel]

What about that famous TS-100?

Of course, low cost is relative, but this one has been recommended on this forum to beginners so frequently, that I would like to see it featured with the "big names" you mentioned.

[EEVblog]

What about that famous TS-100?

Nope, mains stations only.

[Gyro]

That's shame given the availability of suitable laptop bricks. It would have been good to see a decent comparison of thermal performance against the others,  ... but it's your shootout, your rules.

[Muttley Snickers]

Rhino Tools in Sydney currently have a 60 watt soldering station on special for $70 down from $110, it looks similar to the desoldering station you reviewed years back, anyway it might be worth a look.

Rhino Tools.
https://www.rhinotools.com.au

[rea5245]

I get by just fine with the Weller WLC100 for US$40. I set the dial to 3 for most soldering or to 5 when I'm soldering onto a ground fill. I  can do SMT down to 0.5mm pitch. Maybe the WLC100, without a digital temperature display, is beneath contempt ( ) and maybe I'm clueless, but I honestly don't know why I'd need a more expensive iron.

- Bob

[kalel]

I get by just fine with the Weller WLC100 for US$40. I set the dial to 3 for most soldering or to 5 when I'm soldering onto a ground fill. I  can do SMT down to 0.5mm pitch. Maybe the WLC100, without a digital temperature display, is beneath contempt ( ) and maybe I'm clueless, but I honestly don't know why I'd need a more expensive iron.

- Bob

Good quality solder probably makes a bigger difference than the iron, but if all else is equal, some might be handier than others (beside temp control and display stuff, different handle shape, etc) - but that still doesn't have to mean you'll prefer a more expensive one (I never tried one with any kind of real price to it).

In fact, this shootout might show us some reasons why one can be better than another.

[cdev]

I'm pleased with the FX-888D so far. No need to keep riding the temp settings like I had to before. Which is nice. And it came with a basic chisel tip, not a conical which is also good because its my most often used tip.

I actually got the Fx-888D for $89 with free shipping from a big West Coast chain.

For that I really couldn't say no.  Going to spend some quality time melting solder later today, I hope.

[wraper]

What about that famous TS-100?

Nope, mains stations only.

Why wouldn't it fall under "mains station" description? It just requires PSU to be bought separately. It has the same power rating as FX-888D

[lem_ix]

The Ersa Pico costs about 165 euro here, cheapest Weller being the WHS40 ~ 125 euro and about 140 for the digital one. No Hakko distributor here so those are the cheapest big brand stations you can get. Only suggestion that comes to mind but is hard to find is Jovy iSolder 40. It's been mentioned around the forum a few times. I've seen a price of 120 euro or so.

http://www.jovy-systems.com/en/products/solder-stations/isolder-40.html

[asmi]

I use cheap-ass 852D+ combined iron+hot air gun station for over 2 years now with both leaded and lead-free solder. It's not just iron, but it's about $60 for the whole thing, so it fits the bill price-wise.

[Dan Moos]

A ton of of us use the Weller WES51. I for one would love to see it included so that I might see a direct comparison to those other irons do that I might know what, if anything, I'm missing out on.

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[lmaokore]

A ton of of us use the Weller WES51. I for one would love to see it included so that I might see a direct comparison to those other irons do that I might know what, if anything, I'm missing out on.

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The Weller WES51 is being phased out and being replaced by the WE-1010. The new Weller has much more power.

[bd139]

Quicko T12 on aliexpress. Quite frankly shits on my weller.

[Dan Moos]

If Dave included the old Weller, the direct comparison with the new (and the others) would help me and other owners decide whether it's worth upgrading.

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[asmi]

If Dave included the old Weller, the direct comparison with the new (and the others) would help me and other owners decide whether it's worth upgrading.

What's the point of upgrading? It's an iron. Either it works, or it doesn't. Higher power means the iron will heat up a bit faster. Like 2 seconds faster. Is it worth fretting over?

[wraper]

If Dave included the old Weller, the direct comparison with the new (and the others) would help me and other owners decide whether it's worth upgrading.

What's the point of upgrading? It's an iron. Either it works, or it doesn't. Higher power means the iron will heat up a bit faster. Like 2 seconds faster. Is it worth fretting over?

Power as such does not mean that much by itself alone, and higher power does not mean faster heat-up time. 2 irons may have same power but performance different like day and night, and 10 times different heat up time.

It's an iron. Either it works, or it doesn't.

[xygor]

I would love to see how these two fare in the lineup:
Edsyn 951SXE Soldering Station with Analog Display (US $145)
Aoyue 2930 Programmable Digital Soldering Station (US $72)

[Dan Moos]

I would love to see how these two fare in the lineup:
Edsyn 951SXE Soldering Station with Analog Display
Aoyue 2930 Programmable Digital Soldering Station

Wraper, anyone who has done any amount of soldiering knows "either it works it it doesn't" is a gross simplification. If that were the case, what's the point of the shootout, and thus why would you even care to comment?

I have an iron (WES51) that I am mostly happy with. That said I was mostly happy with it's preticesor, a 60 watt pencil iron from radio shack. I didn't realize what I was missing until I got the Weller. The RatShack iron "worked", so by your assessment, a desire to see it compared to something similar but better would be pointless. It clearly isn't.

Dave can do whatever he wants, but i'd love to see an iron that half the hobbiest here possess compared to the current crop of similarly priced tools. It would help me know if the grass is greener on the other side, or not.

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[Dan Moos]

I would love to see how these two fare in the lineup:
Edsyn 951SXE Soldering Station with Analog Display
Aoyue 2930 Programmable Digital Soldering Station

Wraper, anyone who has done any amount of soldiering knows "either it works it it doesn't" is a gross simplification. If that were the case, what's the point of the shootout, and thus why would you even care to comment?

I have an iron (WES51) that I am mostly happy with. That said I was mostly happy with it's preticesor, a 60 watt pencil iron from radio shack. I didn't realize what I was missing until I got the Weller. The RatShack iron "worked", so by your assessment, a desire to see it compared to something similar but better would be pointless. It clearly isn't.

Dave can do whatever he wants, but i'd love to see an iron that half the hobbiest here possess compared to the current crop of similarly priced tools. It would help me know if the grass is greener on the other side, or not.

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Sorry for quoting the wrong post here. Tapatalk on  my phone is not one of my better skills!

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[wraper]

Wraper, anyone who has done any amount of soldiering knows "either it works it it doesn't" is a gross simplification. If that were the case, what's the point of the shootout, and thus why would you even care to comment?

Didn't you mean asmi?

[Dan Moos]

Wraper, anyone who has done any amount of soldiering knows "either it works it it doesn't" is a gross simplification. If that were the case, what's the point of the shootout, and thus why would you even care to comment?

Didn't you mean asmi?

Oops. Yup. Sorry!

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[David Hess]

A ton of of us use the Weller WES51. I for one would love to see it included so that I might see a direct comparison to those other irons do that I might know what, if anything, I'm missing out on.

The Weller WES51 is being phased out and being replaced by the WE-1010. The new Weller has much more power.

I was going to say the same thing about including the WES51/WESD51 but if the WE1010 is replacing them, then that answers that.

Wraper, anyone who has done any amount of soldiering knows "either it works it it doesn't" is a gross simplification. If that were the case, what's the point of the shootout, and thus why would you even care to comment?

I have an iron (WES51) that I am mostly happy with. That said I was mostly happy with it's preticesor, a 60 watt pencil iron from radio shack. I didn't realize what I was missing until I got the Weller. The RatShack iron "worked", so by your assessment, a desire to see it compared to something similar but better would be pointless. It clearly isn't.

There is a huge difference between a non-temperature controlled iron and a temperature controlled iron.  But the difference between a 50 watt WES51/WESD51 and 70 watt WE-1010 is going to require a fine test to discern if they use the same tips which appears to be the case.

[asmi]

anyone who has done any amount of soldiering knows "either it works it it doesn't" is a gross simplification. If that were the case, what's the point of the shootout, and thus why would you even care to comment?

How is it so? If your existing iron works for you, what's the point to change it?

[sreeb]

If you have access to amazon and want cheap then this:

https://smile.amazon.com/Weberdisplays-Soldering-Sigma-850-Calibration/dp/B01DSB2A96/ref=cm_wl_huc_item

Updated:  This has digital control, uses Hakko T12 cartridges, and costs US $25 with amazon prime delivery.

[ChunkyPastaSauce]

Aoyue is a popular low cost brand.


https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-9378-Programmable-Digital-Soldering/dp/B00BSW69LI

 $90 usd

or

https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Programmable-Soldering-Switchable-Configurable/dp/B00BTQ0CW0/

$75

[janekm]

Maybe a bit cheap for this shoot-out, but this one does look like a reasonable beginner item for those in the US: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14456

[Bud]

@EEVblog please consider including ergonomics of the irons and stands in the review.

[Yellofriend]

I bought an Atten ST-80 for about US$120 direct in China.

I like that you can set 3 temperatures and that when you manually change a temp it jumps by 5°C, so you don't have to press forever.

I also like that is has a sleep mode that you can program, if the handset ain't moving for the time you set it goes to 150°C

It uses standard Hakko #900 type solder tips, so you get cheap tips too (quality varies a lot though if you don't buy original Hakko)

Not so good: heat up time is about 30 Seconds.

I am considering a DIY iron with a Weller tip, that heat up in 3 Seconds, like this one:  https://debugginglab.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/soldering-station/

[kalel]

Maybe a bit cheap for this shoot-out, but this one does look like a reasonable beginner item for those in the US: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14456

Is that one temperature or power controlled? It seems really affordable. I guess it should also be on Ali/eBay.

[HwAoRrDk]

Is that one temperature or power controlled?

I would assume not. That Sparkfun page describes it only as "adjustable-temperature".

[janekm]

Is that one temperature or power controlled?

I would assume not. That Sparkfun page describes it only as "adjustable-temperature".

I believe that's to distinguish it from non-adjustable but temperature-controlled irons (relatively common in these plug-in types). Temperature-controlled is a pretty standard feature now in that class of iron. But none of the descriptions are entirely clear on that, so it would be perfect if Dave were to review it and tell us for sure 

[SimonD]

What about this one :

Xytronic Industries LF-2900 SOLDERING STATION LCD Touch Display

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Xytronic-Industries-LF-2900-SOLDERING-STATION-LCD-Touch-Display-/162733460750
and re branded as : (in Europe)

it's about 120 US$

[thm_w]

Quicko T12 on aliexpress. Quite frankly shits on my weller.

Yep, would destroy all of these irons for less than half the price with plenty of tips.
Downside is mains risks, QA will not be up to par, and the supplied handle style is just bad (although it looks like they offer a bundle with the "good" handle here!). Would also need a stand to go with it.

Some criticism on the pico: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/ersa-icon-pico-vs-icon-nano!-is-esd-protection-important-soldering-station/msg448964/#msg448964

[kelchm]

I’d like to see the TS-100 included as well.


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[cdev]

I bought my Hakko 888D in the USA and it came with a nice chisel tip.

So so far I have not had to buy any extra tips.

Also, for people who want a timer, you can find mechanical countdown timer switches at any hardware store (they are mandated for use with jacuzzis so people aren't turned into "people soup" in there.) and use them with your solder station if you want automatic turn off.

Just put it in a box with a power outlet on it.

[MacMeter]

Just bought a TS100 and a 24 volt PS to get the full 65w output. Is there a link to this shootout, I missed it.

[VEGETA]

I think Yiuha 908D is good to include. I have it and it works really nice.