need a new soldering iron
Sooo, fired up my soldering iron to start my guitar rewiring project and it started smoking. Like an acrid plastic melting smoke coming from the innards of the iron. It's been a while since I soldered stuff but I can't recall any of the previous ones I've used doing that. Turned off, and it's probably destined for the bin. Annoying as it was first use. I guess that'll teach me for buying something and not trying it out early enough to send it back.
Any recommendations on brand, type? Just want a decent soldering iron with stand and temperature adjustment. Amazon seems to be full of Chinese imitation shonk-offs. Then there's this weller but it seems crazy money: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CHZ132F. Anyone know any others?
Re: need a new soldering iron
Re: need a new soldering iron
Weller aren't cheap but, well put it this way, I was given a well-used (in an electronics factory run by a family friend) Weller solderstation in 1972. It had seen a LOT of use when I got it and it's done a lot more since.
Anything that can do years of all-day factory use, and then be coming up on it's 50th birthday with me, can't be bad.
Gotta make you think?.
Then again, as this has lasted me so long, I can't guarantee they're still made to that quality today.
Re: need a new soldering iron
Weller are great but all three of mine burned out the element after 3-4 years. Ive had my current iron for four years now :
http://www.circuitspecialists.eu/csi...oldering-iron/
Marvellous, never let me down once. Sleep function is brilliant.
Re: need a new soldering iron
I have a Circuit Specialist one also, very similar to others linked here. Seems pretty good to me and the temp control works well but I'm no soldering guru.
Re: need a new soldering iron
I use an Antex soldering station, now discontinued, but their current range are definitely out of my price range!
This might meet your needs though https://www.amazon.co.uk/Antex-T482J...s=Antex+TSCW50
Re: need a new soldering iron
my only advice is to get the hottest one (highest wattage) you can,
If you ever need to solder outdoors, the air temp can dramatically slow the process.
And moreover.. I don't know why this occurs but.. solder seems to only re-melt at the temp it was first melted. So If I use a less powerful one to unsolder something from a previously soldered joint from a hot iron.. it just wont do it.
And I have no idea what that's about!
Re: need a new soldering iron
Thanks chaps. Ordered the CSI one (with tips). Picked up an airgun at the same time.
This is the piece of junk it is replacing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Variable-Te...dp/B00TSPYAIQ/. Feels really cheap, and £16 down the drain. I'll hook it back up using an external power cable and see if it bursts into flames. I have a feeling it will.
Re: need a new soldering iron
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zak33
my only advice is to get the hottest one (highest wattage) you can,
If you ever need to solder outdoors, the air temp can dramatically slow the process.
And moreover.. I don't know why this occurs but.. solder seems to only re-melt at the temp it was first melted. So If I use a less powerful one to unsolder something from a previously soldered joint from a hot iron.. it just wont do it.
And I have no idea what that's about!
Because the solder forms an alloy with the metal you are soldering, and the alloy may have a different melting point than the solder alone.
Re: need a new soldering iron
Quote:
Originally Posted by
g8ina
Although that's far too small a data sample to draw conclusions from, it does tend to validate my concern that manufscturing quality has dropped.
Actually it is sufficient to validate one conclusion - if it happened to me, twice, I wouldn't buy a third unit. Guess you drew the same conclusion.
Shame if it's typical though.