Anybody try the Chicago Electric 30W soldering iron from Harbor Freight? $4 coup

[Paul T]

I noticed Harbor Freight USA has a big savings on the soldering iron, $4 coupon is way down from the typical $16.99 price. 

Is this a good item if my purpose is simply to desolder components from old boards?  I'm tired of wearing out my good irons for this purpose.

[thm_w]

What "good" iron are you wearing out? You could use hot air for desoldering components.
This thing will just be total garbage.

[mikeselectricstuff]

If it's wearing out, it's not a good iron

This thing looks like cheap garbage

[Paul T]

Weller WTCP. I guess I need to know where I can get new tips?

[thm_w]

I don't know the best place to buy but Weller tips are very cheap: https://www.valuetronics.com/product/ptaa8-weller-soldering-tip-new (well you don't want this one its 800F)
The iron itself, its decent but these days you can get a lot better.

[BrokenYugo]

I grew up with a similar iron from Radio Shack, pretty terrible for anything but light duty single sided through hole stuff.

[Ian.M]

https://www.harborfreight.com/30-watt-lightweight-soldering-iron-69060.html
I don't need to use it or even handle it to see its a 30W 'firestick' with no temperature control and a pointy tip.  Also its got a two wire cord so the tip isn't grounded.  Back in the 70's that was regarded as a decent spec for an iron but 50 years of progress and increasing miniaturisation mean its almost useless for modern electronics.   It would do OK for splicing wires and soldering wires to tags etc. if the wire isn't too heavy gauge.   

I wouldn't chuck it out if it was a free gift, but your $4 would be much better put towards a new Weller TCP tip - PTAA7 if the existing one is looking pretty rough or as a spare, or a heavier one (but still ending '7' for 700 °F  ~370 °C ) to increase heat transfer for difficult joints if your existing tip is good. e.g. PTCC7 which is a 1/8" (3.2 mm) hoof tip.

[Paul T]

I think I will try the PTS7 tip for the small work I do.  Seems like it will fit the TC201 handle. 

I have the old radio shack irons and never use them.  The one that works off a 12V car socket is practically new.  I don't like the wedge tips and never reach for them.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I'll be doing less take-off and more building in the future. 

[Ian.M]

Beware of long thin conical tips with pointy ends! They are pretty much useless unless you are reworking 0402 or smaller SMD with no ground plane and skinny tracks, or soldering bodge wires to individual fine pitch TQFP pins.  See https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/how-are-therese-conical-pointy-soldering-iron-tips-supposed-to-be-actually-used/

[Paul T]

What’s a good balance?  I was looking on Amazon and the one I chose looked best.  I didn’t realize it has performance issues.  I can always return it unused.

[thm_w]

PTS7 is long, which means thermal transfer is poor. You'd only want a long tip if its necessary to get into a tight spot.
Its also pointed, which makes it hard to get a good surface area of the tip in connection with the lead or part you are soldering.

I don't know why you'd bother returning a $6 tip, just try it out, see if it does what you want. If not get a shorter style.
You can try the suggestion from IanM above.

[Paul T]

I think I will like the long conical for certain jobs.  The tip I removed was marked PTA. I’ll get one of those too in a future order and switch as needed.