Soldering Irons

[blueST]

Need a quick crash course in soldering irons. Christmas is fast approaching and my Dad has just announced that his has broken. Seems like.an ideal gift idea. He mentioned the name Weller.

Could someone link me to a nice general purpose mains powered one. He just uses it for fixing electrical stuff round the house/car/garage. I had a quick Google, but I dont know what is the right wattage or tip to get. Having been a toolmaker he does like a quality tool rather than some cheap tatt.

[Warhavernet]

More expensive but try for a unit that has variable temp. option, [ 0C - 450C ] more heat for larger components less heat for electronics and smaller electrics.

Multiple tips is also a plus.

[Actual]

I started working life as a PCB fabricator and test engineer.

I have...

Weller WE 1010 (T0053298399) 70W/230V WE Digital Soldering Station Kit with UK Plug, Temperature Range 100°C – 450°C
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CHZ132F?ref_=ppx_hz...

Also a tip with a chisel end.

[hidetheelephants]

I'd have one of these, for DIY stuff you aren't getting any benefit from buying a brand name.

[Inbox]

Actual said:

I started working life as a PCB fabricator and test engineer.

I have...

Weller WE 1010 (T0053298399) 70W/230V WE Digital Soldering Station Kit with UK Plug, Temperature Range 100°C 450°C
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CHZ132F?ref_=ppx_hz...

Also a tip with a chisel end.

This is a decent spec, enough watts to heat the tip and work piece quickly, being branded means easy to get spares. Might even be compatible with tips he already has.

Only thing I couldn't confirm is how to ground it for dealing with ESD.

I have this one but it is twice the price I paid.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ersa-RDS-Soldering-Statio...

Edited by Inbox on Wednesday 17th December 21:38

[Shinysideup]

I have a Weller WX1. Maybe overkill for occasional use but it's fantastic and adjustable for almost anything.

[Simpo Two]

See if you can find proper (lead) multicore solder - the lead-free stuff is st.

[Dog Biscuit]

not cheap then

[Inbox]

Shinysideup said:

I have a Weller WX1. Maybe overkill for occasional use but it's fantastic and adjustable for almost anything.

If you want Rolls Royce then try Metcal soldering irons but sit down before looking at the prices.

[Shinysideup]

Inbox said:

Shinysideup said:

I have a Weller WX1. Maybe overkill for occasional use but it's fantastic and adjustable for almost anything.

If you want Rolls Royce then try Metcal soldering irons but sit down before looking at the prices.

To be fair i wouldn't have normally even bought a WX1 for my light use case. I was gifted it a few years ago through work.
Compared to my previous iron it's night and day in every department.

I'm only suggesting it as they can be had cheaper these days and an ex toolmaker who appreciates quality would love it.

[JoshSm]

Inbox said:

If you want Rolls Royce then try Metcal soldering irons but sit down before looking at the prices.

They are indeed things of beauty, I remember how nice they were to use. Though getting a decent set of cartridges together could be steep if its your money paying for it.

I hear some of the Chinese brands can be very good these days as they have a substantial domestic demand for them in production.

[megaphone]

I've always used Antex irons, I have one in my tool bag and use it weekly. Probably an 18w version is a good option for general use.

https://www.antex.co.uk/precision-range-soldering-...

Recommend going for a silicone lead option.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 18th December 05:28

[Griffith4ever]

Aye, the Op's dad sounds like the XS25 would fit the bill.

That or a Weller 40W iron, though I'm reluctant to recommend one as I use two for work and I have to run them off a variable voltage box to drop the temps, or they get too hot and evapourate flux, burn wires, and chew through tips. Once knocked down to about 210v they are excellent.

Not sure the Ops dad expects a £300 soldering station - but hey! if you love him! :-) For general DIY soldering a station is annoying to store and move around (the etra cables etc) but if he does electronics then they are a game changer. However, I just swapped a big metal film capacitor on an amp and I just used my Weller 40w. It was easy to hand, and didn't require digging the solering station out.

Stations can be had for well under £100 and are indeed great. They heat up way faster too

Edited by Griffith4ever on Thursday 18th December 06:52

[Inbox]

megaphone said:

I've always used Antex irons, I have one in my tool bag and use it weekly. Probably an 18w version is a good option for general use.

https://www.antex.co.uk/precision-range-soldering-...

Recommend going for a silicone lead option.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 18th December 05:28

I gave up with Antex stuff a long time ago, takes ages to heat up and then sticks to the workpiece when the heat get sucked out because it can't replace it quickly enough.

18w is so low to be unusable for anything, you must have the patience of a saint or be working on really really light stuff. You touch a joint on a decent groundplane with that and the heat will be gone.

Agree on having a very flexible lead on the iron, hate using ones that aren't flexible.

[JimM169]

No doubt too late for Christmas but I got one of these and for the money I can't fault it (although probably falls into the cheap tat classification)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005222990808.h...

Plenty of Youtube videos on them if you want to check it out

Edited by JimM169 on Thursday 18th December 11:05

[LordLoveLength]

Probably no use to the OP, but here’s a multifunctional electronic workstation.
Soldering iron, hot air gun, variable power supply and assorted tools

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08YDTGDSY?th=1

Great if you do or want to get into repair work as a hobby

[ATG]

You can indeed fork out and get a soldering iron station with variable temp, and that's what I've got ... but ... if you only tend to use it for one thing, then it will be more expensive, more complicated and bulkier than you need. For electronics, you can use a fairly lower power fixed temp/power iron just fine. A more powerful fixed temp/power iron might be good for more general work, but would tend to cook tiddly diodes. But if you're not replacing tiddly diodes, who cares?

[spikeyhead]

Hakko do reasonable general purpose soldering irons.

[megaphone]

Inbox said:

megaphone said:

I've always used Antex irons, I have one in my tool bag and use it weekly. Probably an 18w version is a good option for general use.

https://www.antex.co.uk/precision-range-soldering-...

Recommend going for a silicone lead option.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 18th December 05:28

I gave up with Antex stuff a long time ago, takes ages to heat up and then sticks to the workpiece when the heat get sucked out because it can't replace it quickly enough.

18w is so low to be unusable for anything, you must have the patience of a saint or be working on really really light stuff. You touch a joint on a decent groundplane with that and the heat will be gone.

Agree on having a very flexible lead on the iron, hate using ones that aren't flexible.

I solder audio connectors, XLRs and jacks, PCB components, pots and caps, many different things, never had an issue. I've got a big old Weller if I need anything more powerful, can't remember the last time I used it.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 18th December 17:52

[Griffith4ever]

megaphone said:

Inbox said:

megaphone said:

I've always used Antex irons, I have one in my tool bag and use it weekly. Probably an 18w version is a good option for general use.

https://www.antex.co.uk/precision-range-soldering-...

Recommend going for a silicone lead option.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 18th December 05:28

I gave up with Antex stuff a long time ago, takes ages to heat up and then sticks to the workpiece when the heat get sucked out because it can't replace it quickly enough.

18w is so low to be unusable for anything, you must have the patience of a saint or be working on really really light stuff. You touch a joint on a decent groundplane with that and the heat will be gone.

Agree on having a very flexible lead on the iron, hate using ones that aren't flexible.

I solder audio connectors, XLRs and jacks, PCB components, pots and caps, many different things, never had an issue. I've got a big old Weller if I need anything more powerful, can't remember the last time I used it.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 18th December 17:52

Aye, I still have my Antex 18w - was all I had for years. Absolutely perfect for what you listed above.