Soldering Station (best melt for the buck)

[es79]

Ok, I have come to face the fact that my really crappy Radio Shack iron is junk, its old and can't heat enough to put on deans plugs. I am in the market for new equipment.

Spec I want/need:

-I really don't care if its a station type or just the iron in the wall.
-Needs to be powerful enough to do RC/Hobby jobs (Deans plugs, occasional audio stuff, fixing broken toys, etc.)
-Easy to use
-Reliantly fast readiness
-Price really would like to stay under $70 but there is a little wiggle in there...
-Not gonna be used everyday, but when I need it I need it to work so the easier it make the job the better...(i'm not soldering at this at all)

I have found this one but don't know about ordering from them cause I've never heard of the company...936 ESD Soldering Station or the AT201D Digital Display Soldering Station

I also found this one but same thing never heard of them either....CSI-STATION1A or CSI-STATION2A or CSI-2900


I have also read of the hakko but its maybe a little too much money for what I'm doing? Not sure..

Any others anyone knows of? Experiences with them or any of the ones I mentioned? Thanks in advanced..

-Earle

[norbyx]

You want power? In rc you don't need much precision in temperature, it's not that you are going to fry a micro processor because you tip was too hot, or not grounded. You need power. Buy a 60 watt wall iron and a base to hold it. Or a soldering gun (those give you from 100 to over 200 watt). Cheap and efective.

[es79]

Originally Posted by norbyx

You want power? In rc you don't need much precision in temperature, it's not that you are going to fry a micro processor because you tip was too hot, or not grounded. You need power. Buy a 60 watt wall iron and a base to hold it. Or a soldering gun (those give you from 100 to over 200 watt). Cheap and efective.

Correct I'm not doing any board circuits or anything, just simple things, solder wire together, plugs, and what not. So 60watts will do the job, no wonder my piece of crap don't work at all its only like 30 watts?

Any suggestions on which ones are good and which ones not to get?

[Rikk]

30 watts is more than enough for everything RC, I have an Antex 25w I've been using for a LONG time and it does fine.
The main thing to do is make sure all the joints/wires/deans/plugs are tinned before you solder them and it's easy, you don't need to throw watts at a job to do it right.

[EGRESSor]

i have a lot more fun after i bought a soldering station

http://www.pollin.de/shop/dt/NjA5OTU...on_ZD_917.html

[AdverseCity]

I bought one of these at my LHS, it works great and isn't too expensive....

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXWFJ8

[cbtu0914]

I've got a couple of radio shack 40w or 45w irons that work great, they are around 10 years old and still work great. And they still cost less than $15 now. You just have to give the iron a few minutes to get hot and tin the parts first and you will end up with great joints.

[ClassicGMJunkie]

i use a Triton model JLA "Hot lips" and theyre P.M.B.A.*. use them for work daily and never fail me. solder melts almost instantly and the tips cool down quick.

* Pretty Much Bad Ass

[Chi Town]

I have a craftsman soldering iron from sears. Came with nice little station and everything. It works like a champ and comes with a few different tips...very reasonable.

[es79]

Yeah, that's seems to be the main issue I can even tin the tip of this piece of crap, so I just need to get a new one, I'm checking up on all the ones very one has posted, thanks for everyones input. If anyone knows of a good deal on one let me know, I'm gonna make a decision by the end of the week. Thanks agai to everyone that has responded. Greatest community I've ever been a part of.

-Earle

[ToyTundra]

I use a little 18W for almost everything. I have a 120W gun for large wires (14awg +) with dean plugs. Both of which are older than i am.

[ultimate_monkey]

i used a wellar 200/260 watt gun, workds great for every thing

[PaloAltoK5]

Go Weller, they've been around forever, and are great units. But it's up to you.

Solder Stations:
http://www.frys.com/search?query_str...&order_by=p03a

Soldering Irons:
http://www.frys.com/search?query_str...&order_by=p03a

[The Violator]

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXWFJ8&P=ML

$79.99

add another $21 then use this coupon code

014H1

and get $15 off your $100.

The Hakko 936 is the best bang for the buck. Buy it once and be done with it.

Or if you have a Frys near you

http://www.frys.com/product/454489?s...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

[RPP Hobby]

Our customers have really liked these

[oldhippie]

The stations are great and allow easy adjustment of the heat for the job. But for cheap I just have 3 different watt (25/40/60) weller pencil irons I've acquired over time. Woks fine for the little bit of soldering I do with my poor skills.

[EddieO]

While I use a higher end hakko (I was a baller like that back in the day).....at the shop I had 6 Hakko 936 setup for the employees to use. They worked great, you get a ton of selection on tips. Tips are also easy to find and cheap.

So my suggestion is to order the one from RPP if they have it in stock.....

Later EddieO

[Scottmisfits]

Either Kakko or Checkpoint. They are both the same base station. If you go Hakko you can get either the 907 or the 908 handle. The 908 handle will be able to use bigger tips, but bigger than we will use in RC now. But I really like the Hakko Irons. Had mine for over 5 years and the tip still looks great.

[jason]

I used Radio shack guns and irons for years and thought they were awesome. Then one day my gun broke and I decided to order the Team Checkpoint station, same as the Hakko.

Once I got it and have used it a bunch I will say it is AWESOME, I thought what I had before was good, what I had before was total crap compared to this thing. It is so fast and easy I'd guess it has cut the time it takes me to solder anything in half.

I know you can get it from tower for $79, but I'd spend $5 more and get it from Corey at RPP. I'd be willing to bet money he'll get it to you faster, and his service is 100 times better.

http://www.rpphobby.com/product_p/hak936rcg.htm

[EddieO]

And if you have a Frys local, they usually always have a good selection of different tips. I would suggest picking up a few different ones, including an extra of your main one.

Later EddieO