Soldering Irons, Whats The Best For Electronics?

I don't know much about name brands, but I can tell you to spend a little money on a soldering station and not just a cheap 20 dollar iron.

This is what I use right now and I love it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2in1-SMD-So...713?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c311d3009

 

Well, if you are like me, you like good old proven tech. You also like Built like tank vintage gear.

In other words, what you want is a Weller WTCP TC202 + TC201 pen.
The thing is immortal.

Why buy a vintage weller Station:

-Built like tank
-Temperature is regulated.
-No silly temperature dial, this thing is always at the ideal temperature.
-Tip is grounded.
-Replacement Tips and pen are still available new and can be found pretty cheap.
-Replacement tip and pen have been available for over 30 years and still are.
-Badass vintage look.
-Can be found pretty easily.
-Edit: Oh, and it reaches operating temperature in under 10 sec.

 

Explain how a temperature dial is silly?

 

Admitebly it's not "required" for most stuff, though desoldering a smd cap connected to a ground plane can use a lil' kick if you ain't got all day...

If you're NOT on a budget, this shit is dope: http://www.jbctools.com/nant-nano-soldering-product-821-category-1-menu-1.html
Almost turns you, along with a microscope, into a micro-sculptor.

 

Have to agree, temp control is hardly silly.

 

That was meant in good part humorously, but honestly, on such a quality station it is barely ever necessary.
I think you are better off with a powerful station with no Dial than with a cheap one with a dial.

The tip takes less than 10 sec to reach operating temperature, starting from room temperature.
With that station I can melt 1/8 thick lead free solder with the fine cone tip.
If I want to desolder something with a lot of mass, I just use a bigger tip which holds more thermal energy and the station has plenty of power to keep that temperature where you want it.
Ive worked big solder spots and Lead free solder with it, no problem.

I also know someone who accidentally damaged chips with using too high temperature so a temp control could be a double edged sword.

Obviously if you are a pro and have very quality equipment and are in complete control of what you are doing with your station and use it all the time and know exactly how to fine tune your temperature dial to each specific situation, then Great!!

But the average hobbyist will quite likely be more productive with a good station that keeps the temperature just right. Otherwise he will be compelled to try to adjust the temp when 99% of the time it is not needed, will waste time and might end up likely working with inadequate temp often. Not to mention that a weak station might Require you to adjust temp to go through some jobs, in which case the 'feature' is merely to compensate a weakness.

All this being said, at the price those Vintage Weller stations can be had, I totally stand behind them! Ive used mine for over 3 years and I never felt the need for a dial.
Actually, I did in the beginning but that is because I was still too noobish but then I talked to a 60-ish electronic technician and told him I wanted a temp dial to work on lead free stuff but when I told him I had a TC202 He was like " Ah by all mean you don't need anything else, just use a bigger tip and enough flux."
And he was right.

 

Yeah I think it's vital. I use a combination of different solders and each one works best at a pretty specific temperature.

 

I swear by the Hakko 888 as well. Really solid iron with a nice variety of good tips. Its been about a year and a half and still going strong. I used a radio shack iron when i was just doing ps1's, then when i got to the complicated mods, i got a Hakko clone. When i was using the Hakko clone, after 1 week something inside wanted to pop and not turn on anymore. After that experience, i'll only go with good name branded soldering equipment.

Also adjusting temperatures is a real beauty. Especially when your soldering kynar wire to the sides of SMD capacitors and resistors, too much heat can take them off the board.

305 c = Soldering to SMD Capacitors/Resistors
325 c = For everything else
350 c = Working with ground plains and desoldering braid

 

I am interested by your usage of different kinds of solder, what are they for?
I only use standard 60/40 here, but i guess people in Europe and other parts where they are banning lead solder are being more experimental.

 

Well I have 3 different solders which I've found work pretty well. If I'm adding solder to a board and there's already solder that is extremely hard from the factory I'll use the one that melts at higher temperature so they can melt together. I'm no expert or anything when it comes to solder. Lol I just know that when I use the stuff that melts at lower temp with higher temp stuff it doesn't work out very well. I buy all my soldering supplies from dx.com so it's probably pretty low quality. Maybe there isn't this issue with better brands.. But from my personal experience It's nice to have the temperature dial.