What type of soldering equipment you guys use?

[stingray_65]

Hi guys,

I just redressed the tip on my Weller 35W iron... AGAIN!

I watched as within 10 joints a small dip in the chisel tip turn into a hole right thru the tip.

I'm looking to get something reliable and lasting. any suggestions? (money is an issue BTW)

OH! this would be the first iron I had with a chisel tip, kinda nice! all the others were simple cones, almost like pencil tips.

What style tips do you prefer and why?

Thanks

Ray

[PRR]

Wellers from 1970.

Chisel tip of course.... I have no idea why they make cone tips.

Copper tips MUST be kept tinned.

I've used iron-clad tips for the last 30 years. I tin the heck out of them to get good thermal contact (copper was better) but give them no other special treatment. They never burn, even left hot idle for a weekend.

[RicharD]

Weller WESD51.  I like it because it's smarter than I am.  It knows to shut itself off when I leave it on.

[jjasilli]

Hakko 936

[eleventeen]

I had a Weller WTCPT which I loved and would unhesitatingly buy another, about $110 new if you look around. I absolutely abused the crap out of it (hmmm, maybe those statements are contradictory) until it literally fell apart, but it took ten years. By "abuse" I mean...prying heavy components & fat 2-watt resistor leads off circuit boards with the tip; moving it around in a crappy cardboard box with other heavier stuff rattling around...THAT is what eventually broke it...something heavy blasted the front-panel connector...it didn't "stop working". And after that I wired around the connector to the connector terminals on the inside of the case and still got another 1.5 years out of it...If you leave it on your bench and just solder with it and keep the tip clean with a damp sponge and don't unwittingly leave it on for 3 days it should last practically forever. The temperature controlled tips are NOT expensive, they heat up VERY FAST and will RAPIDLY heat up to handle a fat connection. It has a remarkable tendency to make very shiny solder connections. You can buy replacement transformers (eg; the base) fairly cheaply, $30 on ebay all day long, sometimes $10. (They are called PU-120T)

You'll see, if you follow these on ebay, that they go used for $20-$30 less than a brand new one, which is pretty silly, but is a measure of how popular they are. One reason is that the tips are cheap and last a very long time.

btw, this guy is selling bunch of nice used Wellers very reasonable, $30. + $14 frt. I have NOT checked out whether that is the cheapest EC1002, but it is cheap and he claims to have checked the out.  I'd have zero problem with one of these, and frankly am considering buying one, as my Weller WCC-100 (got for free in a pile of used crap and have been tolerating it, it's a POS) is reaching the end of my tolerance bands. My hesitation is that the tips are expensive for the EC1002s.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Weller-EC1002-Soldering-Station-/250691789219?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5e6521a3

BEFORE YOU BUY ONE, CHECK TO SEE HOW COSTLY THE REPLACEMENT TIPS ARE!!!

The cone tips are magnificent for small, transistor & IC use. I NEVER had to replace the tip on mine. Over ten years of pretty heavy use. A chisel tip would probably better for tube use, but don't underestimate the amount of heat these can throw into a connection.

[sluckey]

I had a Weller WTCPT

+1

Good enough for USAF depot level work. I've been using them with FAA since the mid '70s. I've owned two since the early '70s.

[DummyLoad]

weller station - wsd80

[G._Hoffman]

Weller WESD51.  I like it because it's smarter than I am.  It knows to shut itself off when I leave it on.

I have one of these at home, and the analog version (WES51) at work.  I love them. 


Gabriel

[kagliostro]

I don't use a particular brand

only I always prefer to use an iron "gun"  (  ) like this

(two power 30 / 130 W there are also models till 200W)

Kagliostro

[LooseChange]

Weller WESD51

I'm shopping for one right now. What size chisel tip do you all like?

[G._Hoffman]

Weller WESD51

I'm shopping for one right now. What size chisel tip do you all like?

Depends on what I'm working on.  I use the one it comes with (I think its a 1/16"?) for PCBs, most guitar wiring, and things like that.  For most amp stuff, soldering to the backs of pots, and anything else that needs better heat transfer while being less sensitive to heat I use an 1/8" tip.  I REALLY like the 1/8" tip for soldering to the backs of pots, and it makes eyelets and turrets go easier too.  It has certain disadvantages if you are trying to solder IC's, however.


Gabriel

[stingray_65]

This info is all very helpful,

Moneys tight these days and my GF wants to buy me something for my B-day.

When she first asked, I told her to buy me a door for my shop. I guess she didn't think that much of a B-day gift and told me to think harder LOL.

I'm looking into a Weller ESD51

I'm having better luck right now with my old fat iron now that I have it on a Variac

Ray

[DummyLoad]

only use chisel tip - i prefer the 1/8" for point2point work, 1/16" for PCB work.

[eleventeen]

FWIW, I bought one of those EC-1002 irons on ebay. $44 delivered. It is not here yet so I can't give an action report. I was wrong about the tips, they are cheap, $3-4. Of course any place selling them for that price has a $25 minimum order. I will assume that I can go to an electronics retailer and buy one for $7-8. They use "ET_" tips, COMPLETELY different from a WTCPT and, indeed, you will DAMAGE one by using the wrong tip. Yes, damage, as in fry the transformer. They work completely and totally differently, use different voltages, different operating principles.

I would still heartily reco a WTCPT (has the separate sponge-spring holder) or the WTCPN one-piece everything for 98% of soldering use. I have definitely noticed the WTCPNs tend to be older and skungier, if used. And they ARE used, because I don't think Weller has made the "N" for quite a while. Gotta watch out--these have been made since the 70's, and you could buy a goofball one if you're careless. You can imagine, that when the iron holder spring goody and sponge are right above the transformer housing, the housing will get "fluxed up" more than if SpongeBob is separate.

I still have the iron part of my WTCPT and tried, after being in this thread, to run it from a 21 VAC ~~4 amp transformer I have lying around. Couldn't get it to work....it should. Then I thought that of all the things I don't want to be a hindrance, it would be my soldering item. So I bot this used one.

The one thing I'll say about the WTCPT I had was that it seemed to have a way about getting in, getting out, with the right temperature, and consistently leaving a nice shiny solder joint. It was a fine device, a joy to use. I WILL say that I used it 95% on transistor and chip stuff, though I made zillions of XLR and phone cables with it. I suspect a chisely tip (vs cone) would be better for tube sized terminals, and I expect to have to go hunt one down.  

[birt]

a simple 40 watt Weller with cone tip. i have replaced the tip once after 5 years of use.

[LooseChange]

Just got my first REAL soldering iron... Weller WESD51.
I can't believe what I have been missing!
It's like... Butter.

This has a temperature readout... Where do I set it for everyday amp work with point to point and eyelets?

Thanks!

[stingray_65]

Just got my first REAL soldering iron... Weller WESD51.
I can't believe what I have been missing!
It's like... Butter.

This has a temperature readout... Where do I set it for everyday amp work with point to point and eyelets?

Thanks!

I'm hoping to get the same station in a few short weeks.

He'res some good reading on temperature selection. how and why sort of stuff from Weller.

http://www.astro.umd.edu/~harris/docs/WellerSoldering.pdf

Do keep me posted on how you further refine your already proficient skills now that you have better tools!

I've always felt my soldering techniques were my weakest skills. I would love to make beautiful, neat shiny solder joints without gobs any where.

Ray

[LooseChange]

Thanks for the article.
It says 700 to 800 degrees is good.

Not to boast but just to say, I have very good soldering skills and this iron makes the job that much easier.
I got mine on ebay from Ness Electronics (129.00 incl shipping) I added a 1/8 chisel tip too.

[FYL]

This has a temperature readout... Where do I set it for everyday amp work with point to point and eyelets?

It depends on a number of factors, beginning with the actual solder used and the components.

For leaded solders common 60/40 Sn/Pb melts at app 190°C, high quality 63/37 at 185°C.

Lead-free melts at higher temps, typically around 220°C for SnAgCu or Sn3.5Ag, while Sn0.7Cu melts at 230°C or so, set the Weller between 350 and 370°C. I routinely use the industry standard 370°C (700°F) for toob jobs.

Fragile components need either a suitable heatsink, a lower tip temp and/or a shorter "dwell time". 
Oh, and keep the tip clean and wet it with solder at all times.

[stingray_65]

Not to boast but just to say, I have very good soldering skills and this iron makes the job that much easier.

LC,
I've seen your work time and again.
It's not bragging if it's fact.

Ray

[SLW]

Hakko 936

+1 On the Hakko.  I bought one a couple of years ago and it is great.

[Shrapnel]

I've been using a Weller WLC-100 for a while now. Not the fanciest model out there mind ya, but it does get the job done with a decent spring to hold the iron and a a sponge to boot. 

It was a good step up from an old Rat-Shack pencil Iron I had before it.

[LooseChange]

I use distilled water on my sponge.. No corrosion.

[stingray_65]

Distilled water?

could that be whats eating my tips?

I went out and bought an $8 Rat shack 30W iron and 2 replacement tips,

Changed the spool of solder from the generic 60/40 rosin core I bought this summer at a hardware store too some old Kester 44

And I cut a new sponge and fitted it into an old end bell from a transformer.

And hooked the soldering Iron to a Variac. ran at 80VDC

The tip went bad after a day and a half

I wiped the whole tip religiously before and after every joint

water here is hard like you wouldn't believe and iron too. even the gas station carries Lime Away and CLR

[stingray_65]

I have to agree with you on all points ampcabs.

I'm getting that Weller WESD51 for my B-Day next month but I need an Iron NOW so I bought the most disposable one I could.

My OP was about how quickly I go through tips. the previous Iron was a Weller 45W and had serviced me well for about 3 months, then the tip just went bad in like a day!

same thing even with these cheapo's

I'm doing something to kill them and I don't know what it is
I was hoping the Variac would help that they weren't running as hot.
I've tried different brands of solder
I've even went to no idle time, switch it off in between joints or when I'm bending leads and fitting things.

I'm hoping a good tool as you suggest will be the answer.

Ray

[tubesornothing]

I bought a Pace soldering station of sale.  Only later did I realize the freakin tip cost about $45 each.  OUCH.

Total cost of ownership is where its at, man.

[LooseChange]

Been using my new Weller WESD51 for about a week. Built an amp and did many repairs.
It transfers heat to the work so much better than the RS one I used to swear by.
ALSO and this is a big plus... The shaft stays a lot cooler. No instant burn if you touch it.
And it's so much lighter.... It's a REAL tool.

[PRR]

> I wiped the whole tip religiously before and after every joint

And TINNED it??

If I don't have a joint ready to go, I melt a glob of solder on the tip before I set it down.

The solder won't protect copper for days. But a bare or dry copper tip will burn in an hour.

[The_Gaz]

+1 on tinning the tip.

I even bought some fat Kester solder surplus just for tinning before I turn the iron off. I put a glob on, then shut it down.

Those tips for your iron are just junk, and I used to go through quite a few with my first iron, which was a 35W Weller. The next step up allows use of the stronger tip like everyone's been saying.

I can't afford a really good station yet, so I use this one from Circuit Specialists http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7508, which is actually made by Ayoue http://www.aoyue.com/en/Product.asp?BigClassName=THROUGH-HOLE%20SOLDERING

The iron heats up fast, the pen part is rugged, has many tips available (but only includes a small conical one), and is cheap as hell, plus  it came with a free multimeter that's pretty decent....

With all that said, it's still clearly junk, and I wonder how long it will last. The pot used to adjust the temp feels like it's gonna snap off whenever you touch it, and the digital readout is kinda fuzzy.

$44.00 for a iron with digital readout and multimeter isn't enough for me to loose sleep over, even if it lasts a year. It's still worlds aways from my first Weller. And FWIW, I use the fancy digital Weller one at work, like LooseChange just got, and the Circuit Specialists/Ayoue solders the same.

[stingray_65]

WOOT WOOT!

I finally got my B-Day present!

GF came thru, but skimped a couple bucks on shipping, it's late but here!

Gots me a Weller WESD51 like the big dogs here! came with an ETA tip, but she ordered an ETA,ETC ETDD and ETR spare tips.

[eleventeen]

Cool, Sting! Now you're spoiled for ever going back to a primitive iron. That's a near-lifetime tip supply, too. I like the idea of using distilled water for wetting the sponge, though I myself have never done it. (Where I live, we happen to have amazingly clean tap water) Still, for a buck, you can be a sport and buy a gallon jug of distilled water. Can't hurt. You'll seriously enjoy a real soldering iron if you've not owned one before. I personally prefer cutting a regular cheapo 29 cents sponge in half & using that versus the sponge that comes with the iron.

The used Weller EC-1002 iron I bot I am pretty happy with; I happen to be in the middle of a roll of too-big solder and the joints are goopy, meaning too much solder, but they are sound. Incidentally, most soldering I do is around 725 degrees. YMMV.

[LooseChange]

Ray... You won't be disappointed.

[limbe]

I use two WTCP-s stations.They are "on" all the time.I have one with the standard tip(7) and the other one with a larger and hotter (9) tip so I don´t have to wait for the station to cool down when I want to change tip.

[GuitarPilot65]

For intensive projects (e.g., wiring harnesses, etc.):
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=372-120

For quick repairs or high-heat needs:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=372-030

Just picked-up one of these, should I ever need to make a soldered chassis connection:
http://www.harborfreight.com/180-watt-industrial-soldering-gun-4328.html

[Boots Deville]

Today I decided I was ready to upgrade my soldering equipment.  I remembered this thread from last fall and searched for it to find the exact model that LC and Stingray were so happy with.

I found it on eBay for the same $129 that Dan paid, but noticed the manufacturer is offering a $20 mail-in rebate until the end of July (IIRC).  That ends up being $109 shipped after the rebate. 

Thought I'd pass this along in case anyone is in the market for a new iron.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380339049305

[warioblast]

Bump.

My soldering station just died, so I'm in the market for a new one.

[sluckey]

My Weller WTCPT has served me faithfully for over 30 years. I will replace it with the exact model if mine ever dies.

https://www.amazon.com/WTCPT-Temperature-Controlled-Soldering-Station/dp/B00004W463/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1507506103&sr=8-2&keywords=weller+wtcpt

[Sonny ReVerb]

Weller WES50. I've been happy with it for many years. I use Ersin Multicore Solder 63/37 0.81mm with 370 flux. I bought several pounds from a surplus place about ten years ago when lead became evil ;) I used to use 700F, but recently switched to 750F. I also use a Hakko tip cleaner - no water and no corrosion problems. Always tin the tip when I'm done for the day.

[brewdude]

My Weller WTCPT has served me faithfully for over 30 years. I will replace it with the exact model if mine ever dies.

https://www.amazon.com/WTCPT-Temperature-Controlled-Soldering-Station/dp/B00004W463/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1507506103&sr=8-2&keywords=weller+wtcpt

I was given one of these by brother who acquired a couple of them when the company he worked for closed their San Francisco office.  It was very old when I got it. I abused it for many years and when it finally died I immediately ordered a new one.

[pompeiisneaks]

I've got a Hakko FX-888D and love it.  I've left it on accidentally for hours several times, and am still on the same first tip I've had for like 2 years.  I solder quite a bit with it, and I'm even occasionally lazy and forget to clean the tip enough.  I do keep plenty of solder on the tip though and that may be why it's still good.  Not sure.  Just happy with the iron.  I felt it is very worth the about 100$ I paid for it.

Here's the amazon one:

https://smile.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B00ANZRT4M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1507574019&sr=8-3&keywords=hakko+fx-888d

Others might have better prices as well.  I've heard some people saying the old wellers were tanks but the later generations have been less than stellar, but that's something I'm getting second hand, I have no personal experience.

~Phil

[Sonny ReVerb]

I've heard some people saying the old wellers were tanks but the later generations have been less than stellar...

FWIW Evidently, Weller moved production to Mexico in 2003 and retooled for RoHS in the process.

WES50 -> Made in USA
WES51 -> Made in Mexico

[Crate50watt]

WOOT WOOT!

I finally got my B-Day present!

GF came thru, but skimped a couple bucks on shipping, it's late but here!

Gots me a Weller WESD51 like the big dogs here! came with an ETA tip, but she ordered an ETA,ETC ETDD and ETR spare tips.

I was using one of those weller 35w pen type irons also, for years. One day I said, I need a real soldering station. I ordered a cheap hakko knockoff soldering station on ebay and I couldn't be happier. I think you'll be very happy with the difference as well.

[amp_troll]

I would love to have a Metcal.

[tubeswell]

I'm old-fashioned.


A 40W pencil tip iron for PC boards and ordinary terminal tab soldering


An 80W flat tip iron for the backs of pots and jobs involving bigger blobs of solder or sheetmetal


A 250W wedge tip motherf*ckin' monster for heavy duty chassis work (along with flux paste in a tub)


And a solder sucker pump and/or copper braid for removal

[mrr3000gt]

Like the others, I used the pencil types for many years. My favorites were the $10 RadioShack models in 15, 30, and 40 watts. When the tips went bad I threw them out and bought new. They worked great! RadioShack closing made me look for a more permanent solution.

These days: I use a Weller WESD51 at work and have a Weller WLC100 in my electronics laboratory (pronounced "La-BOOR-ah-tory").


I had the company buy the other departments their own WESD51 so they would not use mine. I like the 51 for the close custom work I do and have the extra tips package for both.


I do not do soldering work on SMC or strain gauges so both work great for me. I generally always look for 40 watts and be able to turn down the power as needed. The Weller gear is among the only working gear I have had I really liked over the last few decades.

[Sonny ReVerb]

A 250W wedge tip motherf*ckin' monster for heavy duty chassis work...

Yup, gotta have an American Beauty at some point. I bought one off the 'Bay several years ago. Mine is a Model 3158 - 220W.

They still make them new, but you can find used ones pretty cheap. Clean it up and maybe put a new cord on it and you're good to go. You will hardly ever use it for amp work, but when you need it, you need it.