Would you recommend a good soldering iron ?

[freelinuxer]

Hello, modders.
My good old weller iron just died yesterday.
It was nothing fancy.. probably paid like ~30 bucks for it..

Now I need to get another to continue on this modding journey.
Would you recommend ...
- not-so-expensive
- has replacible tip (if possible).
- sharp tip (so that I can use it on microboard)

BTW, was not so lucky finding sharp tip either..

Need your !!
Thanks !

 

[Java_Az]

Here is a variable solder iron with quick change tips. I consider this brand to be good not great like wellers but they get the job done. 39 bucks shipped
Amazon.com: AOYUE 936 Soldering Station: Industrial & Scientific

extra fine tips Solder Iron Tip T-LB > Soldering Iron Tips - Conical Type > Soldering Stations > Main Section > SRA Soldering Products

 

[freelinuxer]

Here is a variable solder iron with quick change tips. I consider this brand to be good not great like wellers but they get the job done. 39 bucks shipped
Amazon.com: AOYUE 936 Soldering Station: Industrial & Scientific

extra fine tips Solder Iron Tip T-LB > Soldering Iron Tips - Conical Type > Soldering Stations > Main Section > SRA Soldering Products

It certainly looks great @..@
I wil look into it.
Thank you Java_Az.
From Tucson ? My friend owns a Japanese restaurant called Sakura.
great sushi if you are into it.

 

[Java_Az]

That iron should do you good variable heat helps a lot for stuff that sinks the heat like the outside of battery side atomizer connectors. Plus the smaller tips tend to require more heat then the bigger ones.

Pretty sure i have ate there before but looks like i wont be here long couple months and i am Colorado bound.

What Distro you run? I been pretty much running Linux Mint last two years. Going to be setting up a secondary machine with LinuxCNC on it to run my CNC router i am building.

 

[freelinuxer]

I am a commercial unix (AIX) kernel developer, and using ubuntu. tried mint/centOS/RedHat, but eneded up using ubuntu for several years. I feel it's lighter than others when installed minimal filesets. freemind, vim, cscope, tomboy, terminator. oh.. and vlc for watching movies. then, I am pretty much set for work considering most of my work happens on the servers over the wire. only bad thing... I can't play diablo. (I may be too old for it, but... can't help it)

 

[CraigHB]

My recommendation would be the Hakko FX-888 or the Weller WES51. Both are under $100. The Weller station has better availability for tips, but the Hakko station has a nicer stand with more features.

I have a WESD51 which is the WES51 with a digital readout. It's like $30 more for that feature and it's debatable whether it's worth the premium or not. For the Weller iron, I use the ETS conical tip and the ETH chisel tip. These are the finest tips and work well for PCB work with SMD (surface mount devices).

 

[jhonutz]

JBK the best in the world JBC - Soldering Stations - JBC Soldering and rework tools for electronics

 

[freelinuxer]

Thanks CraigHB and jhonutz !
:- )

 

[StrikeEagleCC]

Man, looking at these make me wonder what I've been missing using just my RadioShack irons all these years.

 

[CraigHB]

The problem with the cheapo soldering pencils is they're too hot for PCB work. Even the 25W pencils are too hot. You can easily overheat electronics components and circuit board traces. Though, they're okay for wires and leads. People get by with them for the most part, but it's much better when you can set the temperature. Also, soldering stations usually have a wide range of tips available. You usually need a finer tip than what comes with a cheapo soldering pencil.