Soldering Station Suggetions

[resophonic1]

So what Soldering Station do you use?

[Guitar Adjuster]

Weller WES51--built 7 amps with it so far with no problems. Very precise temperature adjustment and lots of different tips you can purchase.

[sportster4eva]

Can't go wrong with a Weller. I've had my WTCPT for 15 yrs at least and it hasn't skipped a beat. The only drawback is that the tips dictate the temperature range. The Hakko stations are nice too.

[David Root]

WES51. I have two, one on my build bench, one on my test/tweak bench. Started with the WLC100, switched about 2 years ago.

I use 650 degrees most of the time. I thought about the WTPCT but it was more money and I was buying two! Comments appreciated.

[Mickey_C]

I used the Hakko 936ESD on my first 30 or so amps. It worked great, and there's a huge variety of tips.

I switched to the Hakko FM-202, where the element and tip are combined, with a cartridge revolver station holding different tips; you can hot swap tips, which is a big deal (no more cool down time), and each tip is sensed by the station for the programmed temperature. It's a big step up, and I think I'm doing substantially improved work. The FM2024 desolderer is a pleasure to use. Parts look shiny new. The digital readout helps enormously for temperature control, and I don't find myself destroying boards doing rework as much.

But the Hakko 936ED, unlike the FM series, is a screaming bargain for a soldering station. If you're a weekend warrior, only working on amplifiers, it's a great bargain.

There's nothing wrong with Weller either - there was a time when they were the only name in town.

[Sonny ReVerb]

I use a Weller WES50. It's the forerunner of the WES51. Basically the same iron with a different handle connector. It's been a good workhorse without any problems. I have the smallest (1/16"?) screwdriver tip on it and use 700F. Found some other reviews here: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2671

[David Root]

I was looking thru a catalog that came in y'day's mail, and I looked at the Hakko stuff, it looks impressive. Could you explain the FM-202's advantages in detail? At $500 it's a big step up in price too!

[Mickey_C]

Once I started examining lead-free solder solutions, it was obvious to me that I needed a high-quality temperature controlled station, that would work with the lead-free silver alloys, preferring the Tin-Silver-Copper lead free solutions. My desire was to use the extremely eutectic alloy SnAg3.5Cu0.9, having exceptional audio quality (being the sharp freezing point of the alloy has excellent lamellar structure, yielding less cold solder or noisy solder joints).

Of course I follow the paradigm of strong mechanical connection, with solder used to bind the connection (wrapping the tinned leads tightly around the turret, and then soldering), but high quality solder DOES make a difference. So it was quite a search, and IMHO Hakko delivered up the goods for a reasonable price.

The tips are sensed, and I can set specific temperatures for them too. The digital readouts keep temperatures accurate. The iron is more of a pencil than an iron... very lightweight, with loads of power.. great for complex work. With their ultra high quality thermal element integrated to the tip, you don't get those burn out areas anymore. Remember that a true temperature control, as needed for lead-free soldering, will not keep the same power applied once the solder flows... by properly sensing the tmperature, the power curve is modified to NOT overheat the solder. I can't even begin to tell you what a big deal that is. Hot changing the tips is a big deal for me too.

The desoldering station works flawlessly, is easy to clean, and has a number of accessory attachments (some of which I don't use, at least yet, anyway, like the surface mount IC extractor).

For a lot less money you can step into this with the FP-102 - a junior version of the FM, that uses the same irons and desolderer, and is lead-free compatible as well.

I've seen that one bundled for under $250 with the soldering "pencil", station, base, and tip cleaner. You can use all the same high-quality tips as the FM-202 as well.

Good luck!

[Mickey_C]

Holy crap - sorry for the Novel everybody...

[drz400]

Hakko FP-102
Best I've ever owned, change tips in a second, heats to full temp in 5 seconds from cold! A little pricey after tips etc for a hobbyist.

If that is too much money Hakko 936
http://www.kiesub.com/prostores/servlet ... ion/Detail
$78 you cant touch it for that price

I hate lead free solder!

[dehughes]

...and to think I've been doing all my work with this:

http://www.tubesandmore.com/scripts/fox ... =S-TWLC100

I like yours better.

[stoo]

Weller WES51--built 7 amps with it so far with no problems. Very precise temperature adjustment and lots of different tips you can purchase.

+1
stew

[wsaraceni]

a friend just got the weller analog dial 51. not sure of the exact model number. been using it the bast few days. seems really really good.

wes51 is what he is telling me now actually. there ya go

[tomrasdf]

So, I'm going to be that dumb kid in class who asks the stupid question that's obvious to everyone else. I've been using the hardware store standard issue 25 watt iron up till now. I just recently read about the negative effects such a thing can have on pickups and have started looking at getting a solder station. But here are my questions:

1) What are the advantages, other than isolation from the iron's transformer, are there to a station? Just greater temp control?

2) What property does lead-free solder posess that requires a different setup? Higher melting temp?

Thanks all
-TR

[Allynmey]

I use a Weller WESD51 Works great! Digital readout is great for temp sensitive stuff.

Allynmey