General > Buy/Sell/Wanted

What should I Buy

(1/2) > >>

ehcaes:
Looking at getting a new soldering iron or station I need for general hobby use and some PCB repairs, portability would be a bonus but not essential am I best with a hakko station or a portasol super pro gas iron? What benefits does a station have over a gas iron besides temp display and control the portable portasol has this but its just a little dial, I figure however  i could measure temps along the dial and mark accordingly if i had 2. Yes leaning towards the portable side of things, would be great to use onsite and less time to heat up, however if its much better to have a station then a station I guess it is.

IanB:
Why choose between them? You need both. Actually, you can never have too many soldering irons.

You can't go wrong with a Hakko FX-888 on the bench. It's just brilliant. It's latest trick for me was soldering a wire inside a banana plug. Using a big tip touching the outside the Hakko heated the whole banana plug to soldering temperature so that the solder melted on the inside where the wire was.

I have a Portasol gas iron and it is really nice, but it is not a substitute for a Hakko. I also have a Hakko FX901P battery iron and that also is a good portable iron. I run it off rechargeable NiMH batteries since putting alkalines in it is just foolish.

ehcaes:
Choosing between them... not really just had an idea that from what ive read in a few places gas irons arent that great and im a bit of a all in one neat freak. Less I have to carry the better. Went ahead today anyway and got the hakko fx888 you suggested for the bench cant believe they didnt have the tips, any suggestions on a good place in oz thats a 1 stop shop for this and flux, solder, components just all the basic stuff but only good quality?

IanB:

--- Quote from: ehcaes on September 12, 2011, 04:42:36 am ---any suggestions on a good place in oz
--- End quote ---
Sorry, can't help you with Oz. You'll need an Ozzian for that. Here in the US I can get most of the basic supplies from Fry's.

Precisiontools:

--- Quote from: ehcaes on September 12, 2011, 04:42:36 am --- ...any suggestions on a good place in oz thats a 1 stop shop for this and flux, solder, components just all the basic stuff but only good quality?

--- End quote ---

Could try Oritech http://www.oritech.com.au/  or Mektronics  http://www.mektronics.com.au/

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page