Recommendation for a good soldering iron....

[jcovercash]

So I have been soldering some small electronic componets lately and my soldering iron isnt quiet cutting it. I have a $12.00 Weller iron (Red one) from Home Depot... It works ok but then sometimes it doesn't.

Im not looking to spend ALOT but I just need a good reliable iron, that has a small tip that is under 15Watts.


What would you recommend.

Also whats a good site to get said item from? And anyone know of a good online store to buy LED's and Solder/Desoldering Braid?

Josh

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz
So I have been soldering some small electronic componets lately and my soldering iron isnt quiet cutting it. I have a $12.00 Weller iron (Red one) from Home Depot... It works ok but then sometimes it doesn't.

Im not looking to spend ALOT but I just need a good reliable iron, that has a small tip that is under 15Watts.


What would you recommend.

Also whats a good site to get said item from? And anyone know of a good online store to buy LED's and Solder/Desoldering Braid?

Josh

Wondering what you mean by sometimes doesn't work? Wellers are bargains for the price, you can't do much better without investing in a real soldering station, which is quite expensive. Are you using the right tip for the job?

-Chu

 

[bdjohnson]

i've bought leds from Mouser Electronic Supply i believe you can order online from them but if you want they will mail you a catalog.

 

[HiTek21]

I got a Hakko 936 Soldering Station from Fry's for 50 bucks. I use my stand alone weller 15w pencil way more though, its my dads old one from the 70's and it works great. He bought me this radio shack brand pencil that has different shafts with different resistance so you can buy the different shafts to get the different amounts of heat (25, 35, & 45 watts) You can get most of the supplies you need from Radio Shack. LED's I would try and get on Ebay, I bought a bag of 50 blue LED 4300mcd for 9.99 shipped.

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: HiTek21
I got a Hakko 936 Soldering Station from Fry's for 50 bucks. I use my stand alone weller 15w pencil way more though, its my dads old one from the 70's and it works great. He bought me this radio shack brand pencil that has different shafts with different resistance so you can buy the different shafts to get the different amounts of heat (25, 35, & 45 watts) You can get most of the supplies you need from Radio Shack. LED's I would try and get on Ebay, I bought a bag of 50 blue LED 4300mcd for 9.99 shipped.

Reply for CHU: I mean that sometimes it doesnt melt the solder as good as other times, its like the tip is dirty or not heating up good or staying 100% hot.... The tip also looks very dirty... I have been keeping it cleaned however. Can I take sandpaper and clean the tip up some?

For HiTek21: You mean the desoldering braid/solder? I have been using radioshack solder but didnt know if there was a better quality solder, i didn't know of the radioshacks brands quality. I also wanted to get it in a slightly larger quanity. I perfer not to get LEDS from radio or ebay, as They are advertised as quality LED but most of them are very dim from what I have read.


Josh

 

[jcovercash]

Also where can I get a cheapo Multimeter that can measure small voltages like 10 volts and lower.... and measure continuity.....


Josh

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: HiTek21
I got a Hakko 936 Soldering Station from Fry's for 50 bucks. I use my stand alone weller 15w pencil way more though, its my dads old one from the 70's and it works great. He bought me this radio shack brand pencil that has different shafts with different resistance so you can buy the different shafts to get the different amounts of heat (25, 35, & 45 watts) You can get most of the supplies you need from Radio Shack. LED's I would try and get on Ebay, I bought a bag of 50 blue LED 4300mcd for 9.99 shipped.

Reply for CHU: I mean that sometimes it doesnt melt the solder as good as other times, its like the tip is dirty or not heating up good or staying 100% hot.... The tip also looks very dirty... I have been keeping it cleaned however. Can I take sandpaper and clean the tip up some?

For HiTek21: You mean the desoldering braid/solder? I have been using radioshack solder but didnt know if there was a better quality solder, i didn't know of the radioshacks brands quality. I also wanted to get it in a slightly larger quanity. I perfer not to get LEDS from radio or ebay, as They are advertised as quality LED but most of them are very dim from what I have read.


Josh

I think it's because there are certain spots that are hotter than others.
My Soldering Iron is like that. There are cooler spots and the hot spots.

 

[HiTek21]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: HiTek21
I got a Hakko 936 Soldering Station from Fry's for 50 bucks. I use my stand alone weller 15w pencil way more though, its my dads old one from the 70's and it works great. He bought me this radio shack brand pencil that has different shafts with different resistance so you can buy the different shafts to get the different amounts of heat (25, 35, & 45 watts) You can get most of the supplies you need from Radio Shack. LED's I would try and get on Ebay, I bought a bag of 50 blue LED 4300mcd for 9.99 shipped.

Reply for CHU: I mean that sometimes it doesnt melt the solder as good as other times, its like the tip is dirty or not heating up good or staying 100% hot.... The tip also looks very dirty... I have been keeping it cleaned however. Can I take sandpaper and clean the tip up some?

For HiTek21: You mean the desoldering braid/solder? I have been using radioshack solder but didnt know if there was a better quality solder, i didn't know of the radioshacks brands quality. I also wanted to get it in a slightly larger quanity. I perfer not to get LEDS from radio or ebay, as They are advertised as quality LED but most of them are very dim from what I have read.


Josh

I wouldn't sand the tips down, i tried filing one of my old tips and it was ruined. I would just throw it away and go buy a new one. You should always clean your tips and retin them before you turn it off, it will oxidize and ruin the tip. The LEDs I got on Ebay aren't too bad, especially 50 for 10 bucks.

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: HiTek21

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: HiTek21
I got a Hakko 936 Soldering Station from Fry's for 50 bucks. I use my stand alone weller 15w pencil way more though, its my dads old one from the 70's and it works great. He bought me this radio shack brand pencil that has different shafts with different resistance so you can buy the different shafts to get the different amounts of heat (25, 35, & 45 watts) You can get most of the supplies you need from Radio Shack. LED's I would try and get on Ebay, I bought a bag of 50 blue LED 4300mcd for 9.99 shipped.

Reply for CHU: I mean that sometimes it doesnt melt the solder as good as other times, its like the tip is dirty or not heating up good or staying 100% hot.... The tip also looks very dirty... I have been keeping it cleaned however. Can I take sandpaper and clean the tip up some?

For HiTek21: You mean the desoldering braid/solder? I have been using radioshack solder but didnt know if there was a better quality solder, i didn't know of the radioshacks brands quality. I also wanted to get it in a slightly larger quanity. I perfer not to get LEDS from radio or ebay, as They are advertised as quality LED but most of them are very dim from what I have read.


Josh

I wouldn't sand the tips down, i tried filing one of my old tips and it was ruined. I would just throw it away and go buy a new one. You should always clean your tips and retin them before you turn it off, it will oxidize and ruin the tip. The LEDs I got on Ebay aren't too bad, especially 50 for 10 bucks.

So your saying before im done clean the iron and cover the tip in solder and let it stay there till i use it next time?


Josh

 

[CrazyDe1]

ALl the companies around here use Metcal's

I won't use any other soldering iron as it won't heat up fast enough or get as hot...

 

[HiTek21]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: HiTek21

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz

Originally posted by: HiTek21
I got a Hakko 936 Soldering Station from Fry's for 50 bucks. I use my stand alone weller 15w pencil way more though, its my dads old one from the 70's and it works great. He bought me this radio shack brand pencil that has different shafts with different resistance so you can buy the different shafts to get the different amounts of heat (25, 35, & 45 watts) You can get most of the supplies you need from Radio Shack. LED's I would try and get on Ebay, I bought a bag of 50 blue LED 4300mcd for 9.99 shipped.

Reply for CHU: I mean that sometimes it doesnt melt the solder as good as other times, its like the tip is dirty or not heating up good or staying 100% hot.... The tip also looks very dirty... I have been keeping it cleaned however. Can I take sandpaper and clean the tip up some?

For HiTek21: You mean the desoldering braid/solder? I have been using radioshack solder but didnt know if there was a better quality solder, i didn't know of the radioshacks brands quality. I also wanted to get it in a slightly larger quanity. I perfer not to get LEDS from radio or ebay, as They are advertised as quality LED but most of them are very dim from what I have read.


Josh

I wouldn't sand the tips down, i tried filing one of my old tips and it was ruined. I would just throw it away and go buy a new one. You should always clean your tips and retin them before you turn it off, it will oxidize and ruin the tip. The LEDs I got on Ebay aren't too bad, especially 50 for 10 bucks.

So your saying before im done clean the iron and cover the tip in solder and let it stay there till i use it next time?


Josh

You should actually buy a small can of tip cleaner from Radio Shack it has some kind of flux & solder in a little can. Once you're done you just roll your tip in this waxy stuff and it will clean and retin the tip. all you have to do is make sure it has a light coat of tin and turn it off.

 

[jcovercash]

Ok thanks, Ill keep this in mind. Im modding xboxs and just need a decent iron to do it with.

Josh

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz
Ok thanks, Ill keep this in mind. Im modding xboxs and just need a decent iron to do it with.

Josh

15W is MORE then sufficent for this. Those 30 gauge wires are a B**** though.

 

[Colt45]

I use a hakko at work. metcal is common too

at home i usually use a crappy weller.. which is good for most fool uses, 'cept SMT
my biggest complaint about the cheap irons is that theyre too fuckin' long. so you dont stay as steady, and harder to rest your hand and still get a good angle

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: Colt45
I use a hakko at work. metcal is common too

at home i usually use a crappy weller.. which is good for most fool uses, 'cept SMT
my biggest complaint about the cheap irons is that theyre too fuckin' long. so you dont stay as steady, and harder to rest your hand and still get a good angle

second the hakko idea, they were regarded top notch when i was in the market for a soldering iron. no personal experience with them tho.

 

[BadNewsBears]

Ok going a little off topic here.
I am rewiring the rear end of my truck. I know what I am doing, but I just suck at soldering. I am soldering 14 gauge wire together, and I cant get the solder to stick to the wire, it just beads right off!!!!!! I need some soldering 101.

 

[HiTek21]

Originally posted by: Munchies
Ok going a little off topic here.
I am rewiring the rear end of my truck. I know what I am doing, but I just suck at soldering. I am soldering 14 gauge wire together, and I cant get the solder to stick to the wire, it just beads right off!!!!!! I need some soldering 101.

You need to clean the wires before you solder them, they're probably all oxidized. Get a wire brush and try to clean it off as best as you can then put some flux onto the wire and heat it up. The flux should clean the wires enough to where the solder will bond to the wire.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: Munchies
Ok going a little off topic here.
I am rewiring the rear end of my truck. I know what I am doing, but I just suck at soldering. I am soldering 14 gauge wire together, and I cant get the solder to stick to the wire, it just beads right off!!!!!! I need some soldering 101.

flux.

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: AMDman12GHz
Ok thanks, Ill keep this in mind. Im modding xboxs and just need a decent iron to do it with.

Josh

Man you are so gonna screw up

-Chu

 

[BadNewsBears]

Oh yeah. Ive done copper plumbing and have used it. Alright didnt think of that. Off to home depot.

 

[Colt45]

home depot is open at 1am? or whatever it is in arizona

 

[IGBT]

...I use an Ungar 30watt pencil iron with screw in replaceable tips...

 

[BadNewsBears]

Not right now, tomorrow.

1. Fill transfer case
2. Fill coolant
3. cut the new plug wires to fit
4. Solder tail light back up
5. Fun in the sun

 

[Squisher]

Iron for the rich and lazy.

Well, at least I have one of those covered.

 

[Chu]

Dood . . . I don't think you realize how hard modding an XBox is. One huge tip I can give you though : you also want to pick up some razor blades and putty. To solder wires to individual pins, use them in the following way:

pic

I'm in the middle of modding my PS2 right now

-Chu