Need advice on a good soldering iron for first timer

[bbhaag]

So this Saturday I go on layoff for two and a half months and was kicking around the idea of picking up a soldering iron to play around with. I was hoping some of you have some experience with this sort of thing because I'm a total noob.
What I would use the iron for was repairing older mainboards for 386 and 486 computers. Trying to desolder bulging caps and replace them or maybe even reflow traces. Also looking at repairing old peripherals like keyboards and such.

So this is the iron I was looking at. Hakko FX888D.
Is this a good iron for a beginner to learn on or is there another brand/model that would be better? Also would this model work for the intended use I want? I'm not to concerned about cost but was looking for a quality unit to learn on of that makes sense.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Funny I was going to recommend that Hakko myself. Just make sure to get it from a reputable electronics dealer. Amazon, Ebay etc is full of fakes so you don't know what you're getting. I got mine from a company called Abra Electronics. https://abra-electronics.com/solder...s/fx888d-hakko-soldering-station-fx-888d.html

 

[XavierMace]

I'm not sure why you think a product sold directly by Amazon is less reputable than some other etailer.

 

[Rumpltzer]

I have a Weller WES51, but that's just because it's what I learned on in undergrad, and that's what we had when I was in grad school. I've pretty much known nothing else.

For desoldering, you might consider an inexpensive desoldering iron. If not a desoldering device, then pick up some solder wick to help yourself out.

My research advisor in grad school was very much against the spring-loaded solder sucking devices. He felt that they'd atomize the molten solder and that it would be harmful to us. He made us throw them out. I'm not sure if there's any merit to this idea, but it's stuck with me.

 

[sdifox]

Weller WLC100

if you got more cash
WESD51
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WESD5...=1508896503&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=well+wesd51

 

[Jon-T]

I'm not sure why you think a product sold directly by Amazon is less reputable than some other etailer.

Amazon has a little problem with fakes.
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/08/amazons-chinese-counterfeit-problem-is-getting-worse.html

 

[XavierMace]

Amazon has a little problem with fakes.
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/08/amazons-chinese-counterfeit-problem-is-getting-worse.html

I think you missed my point. I specifically stated product sold DIRECTLY by Amazon. Every article I've read, including the on you linked to is about 3rd party sellers selling counterfeit products. I have't seen any confirmation of Amazon directly selling counterfeit items. But instead OP is being suggested to order from a hole in the wall shop. What makes you think they are any more trustworthy? Look up their address. Does their building really scream trustworthy electronics vendor to you?

People need to learn the difference between products sold on Amazon and sold by Amazon.

 

[Jon-T]

Amazon's commingling of inventory will mix their inventory with that sold by the third parties.

https://consumerist.com/2014/05/12/...gling-help-fake-products-fly-under-the-radar/

Part of the problem is with Amazon’s inventory system, critics say. Third-party sellers sign up to shill stuff through Amazon’s order-fulfillment services. All those products often get pooled together by bar code, regardless of whether they come from the brands themselves or other distributors. That way, Amazon can grab whichever product that’s ordered at the nearest warehouse to the customer.

That means even if you buy something that is technically sold by Amazon under the brand’s name, you might end up with a product supplied by a third-party merchant, which may or may not be the real thing. And that doesn’t make brands happy, because it makes them look bad to consumers who receive counterfeit goods.

 

[shortylickens]

PRC 2000

 

[shortylickens]

 

[ch33zw1z]

marked, may buy one in the future

 

[Thebobo]

Weller Portasol.

 

[PottedMeat]

Weller Portasol.

i have one of these with the striker and it's still really nice. far better than the bernzomatic micro torch.

also have a weller wd1 station for desktop use.

 

[purbeast0]

For a beginner iron I would go to Radio Shack and spend $10 or $15 on one.

 

[Red Squirrel]

A proper soldering station is better as it's temp controlled, but having a cheap "fire stick" does come in handy for field work too. Like sometimes you just want to solder something that is stationary so it would be a pain to lug the whole station there. So that said if you don't want to spend the money right away does not hurt to get a cheapy at first.

 

[Rifter]

Buy a Weller, not the cheapest option but worth it.

 

[lxskllr]

For a beginner iron I would go to Radio Shack and spend $10 or $15 on one.

That's all I've ever used. I don't solder enough to really justify something better, and it gets the job done.

 

[shortylickens]

For a beginner iron I would go to Radio Shack and spend $10 or $15 on one.

Your Radio Shack must be way different than my Radio Shack.
The last time I was in there all I saw was cell phones and cell phone cases.

 

[lxskllr]

Your Radio Shack must be way different than my Radio Shack.
The last time I was in there all I saw was cell phones and cell phone cases.

Do they even exist anymore? Mine's from RS, but I got it ~30 years ago when they still sold electronic hobbyist stuff.

 

[shortylickens]

I'm not sure why you think a product sold directly by Amazon is less reputable than some other etailer.

Their sellers frequently send you things you dont want. The wrong product. A broken product. 3 products when you ordered 10. Or 10 when you ordered 3.
The good thing is Amazon takes care of their customers even when the seller is a dickbag. So you're generally in good shape no matter what.

 

[rstrohkirch]

Any RS I've been too, that wasn't in a mall, has a section in the back with electronic hobby supplies which includes a few different soldering irons. Nothing of quality like this thread is asking for though.

 

[skull]

I have a Weller WES51, but that's just because it's what I learned on in undergrad, and that's what we had when I was in grad school. I've pretty much known nothing else.

For desoldering, you might consider an inexpensive desoldering iron. If not a desoldering device, then pick up some solder wick to help yourself out.

My research advisor in grad school was very much against the spring-loaded solder sucking devices. He felt that they'd atomize the molten solder and that it would be harmful to us. He made us throw them out. I'm not sure if there's any merit to this idea, but it's stuck with me.

That explains me, my pops would let me play with his soldering iron as a 7 - 8 year old kid. I'd melt up huge puddles of real lead solder and use the sucker on em too.

I'd always short resistors to watch em burn too. The more I think back I realize my dad possibly would of went to jail in this day and age. Smashing 22s with hammers, showing me how to hold a firecracker in my hand and light it, shooting bb guns in the basement. He always did make me wear safety glasses though. Good news is I'm still smart enough to keep up with the ppe. My kid will have to wear a respirator if he wants to play with lead and mercury.

 

[bbhaag]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm torn between the Hakko in my op and the Weller WLC100 that sdifox suggested. I have a couple days to decide but I do have another question.
Some of you suggested I go to Radio Shack and buy one but unfortunately the closest one to me is over 50 miles away one way. I know that RS sells capacitors, resistors, and such but is there a place online that might be a little more convenient for me? I hate to drive over 100 miles for just a few small parts. An online source would be much better.

 

[Red Squirrel]

For components, check out Digikey or Mouser. Though Ebay/Amazon etc works too if you're just messing around and don't care too much about quality/genuinty. (is that a word?) I often just go on Digikey and then order in small batches to have stuff on hand. If you do an order for over $200 then it's free shipping.

 

[sdifox]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm torn between the Hakko in my op and the Weller WLC100 that sdifox suggested. I have a couple days to decide but I do have another question.
Some of you suggested I go to Radio Shack and buy one but unfortunately the closest one to me is over 50 miles away one way. I know that RS sells capacitors, resistors, and such but is there a place online that might be a little more convenient for me? I hate to drive over 100 miles for just a few small parts. An online source would be much better.

Depends on how timely you need things and how much you are ordering.

This helps greatly as well.