Hi all
I want to invest in a decent soldering station, but having a bit of a tricky time. It's my first one, before I've just used and burned Homebase specials.
I can't seem to find a decent station with easily replaceable solder tips. That is, easy to find and aren't £30 for a set of three, only one of which I'll ever use.
So, can anyone in the UK point me in the right direction for a temperature controlled station with decently available chisel type tips?
I mainly will use it for guitar electronics (potentiometers, jacks, etc) and putting effects pedals together using larger caps/resistors etc.
I spent several decades without a temperature controlled soldering iron. During that time I soldered many smaller, finer, more temperature sensitive components than you mention. However, they were all through hole components.
The only reason I now have a temperature controlled iron is because I needed a small tip for surface mount devices which are thermally small and have small easily lifted pads on PCBs
For what you state you need, a traditional 25W iron is sufficient. Otherwise, have a look at something like
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-50w-solder-station-n78ar
Otherwise, have a look at something like http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-50w-solder-station-n78ar
It is not temperature controlled, just a dimmer inside. Also it is ridiculous junk which is even worse than many uncontrolled irons.
The temperature is controllable and it is more than sufficient for the stated requirements. You don't need a Rolls Royce or a Land Rover to go to the supermarket.
The temperature is controllable and it is more than sufficient for the stated requirements.
No, it's not controllable (unless +-100
oC is considered to be controlled). Regulating power is not the same as controlling the temperature. I have used such soldering iron and it was almost the worst iron I held in my hands ever (worse than this were only $2 Chinese irons).
Warm Up Time: 10 minutes
The temperature is controllable and it is more than sufficient for the stated requirements.
No, it's not controllable (unless +-100oC is considered to be controlled). Regulating power is not the same as controlling the temperature. I have used such soldering iron and it was almost the worst iron I held in my hands ever (worse than this were only $2 Chinese irons).
Warm Up Time: 10 minutes
I have one and the warm up time is
far less than that. I am entirely aware that heat != temperature. I am aware that there are far better irons than that. Indeed, I also have a temperature controlled iron and hot air gun. For the OP's stated requirements, I would probably use the cheap Maplin iron.
I am also aware that the OP is sensitive to cost and that that iron is more than sufficent
for his purposes. I make no comment about your purposes nor your budget - they are irrelevant.
Fitness
for purpose is a very important engineering concern. "An engineer is someone who can do for $1 what any fool can do for $10".
I should probably clarify a little more...
AS for purposes, most of my work will be around larger components. But I do intend to get into PCB work later on, be it making up some effects or arduino-related projects.
I'm not a complete newbie but I'm not a Professor of electronics either by a long shot. All of this is hobbyist.
I'm not particularly after bargain basement as a lot of tools I've used in the cheaper price bracket tend to subscribe heavily to the buy cheap, buy twice mentality. I have had a Maplin solder station before which was around the £40 mark but I just could not find replacement tips for it and nothing else seemed to fit. At least properly anyway - using random bits of metal to wedge a solder tip in place is really not a safe solution.
So as for budget, happy to spend about £100 on a decent station with the various paraphernalia (sponge, stand etc) that will last me. I just can't believe it's become so difficult to find something useful in the UK.
AS for purposes, most of my work will be around larger components. But I do intend to get into PCB work later on, be it making up some effects or arduino-related projects.
Deisngning and making PCBs are much much easier than when I started!
If you want fast turnaround then there's the homebrew "laser toner" techinque, which is just about good enough for double-sided 0.1" boards.
If you want several "proper" boards, then you can get 10off 5cm*5cm double sided PTH for £10 in 10 days.
Don't be put off by surface mount - unless you expect to do a lot of reworking. You don't need a reflow oven; with care the skillet technique works remarkably well. Reworking really needs a hot air gun so as to heat up all contacts simultaneously; both temp and airflow mut be controllable.
I'm not particularly after bargain basement as a lot of tools I've used in the cheaper price bracket tend to subscribe heavily to the buy cheap, buy twice mentality.
Sometimes that's a good strategy, e.g. when learning or because you are going to damage it sometime so there's no point in spending more than necessary (think non-stick frying pans!)
I have had a Maplin solder station before which was around the £40 mark but I just could not find replacement tips for it and nothing else seemed to fit. At least properly anyway - using random bits of metal to wedge a solder tip in place is really not a safe solution.
Sounds dreadful! I'm surprised you got anything to work like that! The Maplin tips are easily available on ebay.
So as for budget, happy to spend about £100 on a decent station with the various paraphernalia (sponge, stand etc) that will last me. I just can't believe it's become so difficult to find something useful in the UK.
I suspect that's the sour spot between "disposable" and "good". I found a £130 factory-return Tenma for half price, and had to repair a faulty joint in a connector. I haven't used it enough to have formed an opinion as to whether I would recommend it.
Perhaps you missed my post above?... Circuit Specialists are in Manchester UK
I did actually! Cheers for the tip.
It is not temperature controlled, just a dimmer inside. Also it is ridiculous junk which is even worse than many uncontrolled irons.
So why not go for Maplin's slightly more expensive 48W properly temperature controlled one?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-professional-2-line-lcd-display-solder-station-n34fbIt still looks good value (my nephew recently got one for beginner's use). Tips are cheap (£7 for 3) as are replacement irons. The cords are burn proof silicone - I grabbed one off ebay to convert my weller TCP to zero voltage switching (and relieve the current on the thermostat contacts).