RCCrawler Forums

Unholy · 05-21-2006, 07:50 PM

Looking to get a decent temperature controlled soldering set up.
Doesn't need to be a fancy *** digital one...

Just want some suggestions from people who have decent ones...
thanks!

dezfan · 05-21-2006, 09:06 PM

I bought one at Radio Shack. 20-40 watt option. Under $20.00 and works very well.

Mnster · 05-22-2006, 01:38 AM

This one?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

I have also been looking for better Iron.

Do you even use the 20 watt setting?

MattH · 05-22-2006, 07:10 AM

We have that one at the office and it's not bad for the price, but I wouldn't buy it. For normal soldering it works okay, but it doesn't, in my opinion, get hot enough for making battery packs.

The 40W Weller iron sold at Home Depot is one that I would recommend. It's cheap also, but gets much hotter.

insanerc · 05-22-2006, 08:15 AM

What you need may well depend on the intended use of the iron. Myself I have two, one for small chores such as soldering electronic boards and one for heavy applications such as building battery packs, etc. Both of mine are Weller brand and I've never had a problem with either. The one for light soldering is a pen type around 40 watts I believe and the bigger one is a pistol type with either 100 or 140 watts and makes quick work of battery packs and such.

cheapjeep2 · 05-22-2006, 08:16 AM

That's the one I have and yes it works very well even for making battery packs. The 20 watt setting is used the most. It works well for batteries packs all you have to do it put the large tip on it (extra tips come in pack of three, fine point, flat wide tip, and big fat tip for high heat jobs) and set it to 40 watts.

murdock · 05-22-2006, 10:03 AM

when i bought my trigger style one from ratshack it came w/ a lifetime warranty, i dont know if that helps.

dezfan · 05-22-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mnster

This one?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

I have also been looking for better Iron.

Do you even use the 20 watt setting?

That's it. I use it w/ the copper tips that Radio shack sells and it does fine building packs. Just use the 40 watt setting and make sure to flux and tin everything first. Never had a problem.

MattH · 05-22-2006, 10:21 AM

People seem to like the RadioShack stuff. I've never been too impressed, and would still recommend getting the best Weller station you could afford. I think you'll be glad you did. I also personally do not recommend the gun style soldering irons, but plenty of people do like those as well. In the end, the RadioShack one isn't bad for around $20. Besides rockcrawling, I do a lot of racing, so I build a lot of packs and hard wire almost all of my packs. I'm probably a lot harder on a solder iron than most. If you want to do a lot of light-duty stuff and only build a few packs once in a while, then try the RadioShack station. While this saying isn't always true, in my experience, it is for solder irons: You get what you pay for.

rcracer · 05-22-2006, 10:21 AM

I use that one as well, but it seems to have some cheap insolation on the handle.

dezfan · 05-22-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattH

People seem to like the RadioShack stuff. I've never been too impressed, and would still recommend getting the best Weller station you could afford. I think you'll be glad you did. I also personally do not recommend the gun style soldering irons, but plenty of people do like those as well. In the end, the RadioShack one isn't bad for around $20. Besides rockcrawling, I do a lot of racing, so I build a lot of packs and hard wire almost all of my packs. I'm probably a lot harder on a solder iron than most. If you want to do a lot of light-duty stuff and only build a few packs once in a while, then try the RadioShack station. While this saying isn't always true, in my experience, it is for solder irons: You get what you pay for.

This is true. If you can afford to higher end Weller, then go ahead and get it. For my use, the Radio Shack station works just fine.

joshm101 · 05-22-2006, 06:03 PM

Hmm, I dont even use a soldering station. What I would suggest is just buy a good ol' Radio Shack (or source cc in my case) 45 watt iron. It comes with a little stand. Just screw the stand t oa piece of wood (big enough to fit the iron) and your in the money. Just a suggestive alternative to a soldering station.

gregrocks90046 · 05-22-2006, 11:31 PM

take it from someone(me!) who has soldered for a living. there is only one choice, and it will last you a lifetime. buy a hakko 936. after using it the first time, you'll be glad you didn't buy some radio shack crap.

dezfan · 05-22-2006, 11:32 PM

Got a link?

gregrocks90046 · 05-22-2006, 11:35 PM

i've never bought from this place, but this is a great price for the 936.

http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bi...uct/0460-0004/

dezfan · 05-22-2006, 11:40 PM

Found several on the bay for under $30.00! Looks like a nice piece of equipment. Thanks!

gregrocks90046 · 05-22-2006, 11:46 PM

be careful!!!! make sure it isn't a fake hakko! believe it or not, there are some cheapo copies that look just like a genuine hakko. contact the seller first to make sure.

after you get it, you won't know how you soldered without one!

dezfan · 05-22-2006, 11:53 PM

Well the $30.00 ones were used. There were also new unit from $89.00 to $119.00 dollars. If I ever have the extra money, I might pick one up.

Unholy · 05-23-2006, 10:55 AM

That's exactly what I was looking at on ebay...
Glad someone has experience with them...

Just hope they are real!

gregrocks90046 · 05-23-2006, 04:22 PM

just email the seller and have him confirm.

05-21-2006, 07:50 PM	#1
Unholy I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: One Legend. Posts: 2,134	Soldering Station Suggestions... Looking to get a decent temperature controlled soldering set up. Doesn't need to be a fancy *** digital one... Just want some suggestions from people who have decent ones... thanks!

05-22-2006, 08:16 AM	#6
cheapjeep2 Rock Crawler Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Driving the Troysion Stick up the BIG BOY line! Posts: 958	That's the one I have and yes it works very well even for making battery packs. The 20 watt setting is used the most. It works well for batteries packs all you have to do it put the large tip on it (extra tips come in pack of three, fine point, flat wide tip, and big fat tip for high heat jobs) and set it to 40 watts. Last edited by cheapjeep2; 05-22-2006 at 10:10 AM.

05-22-2006, 11:40 PM	#16
dezfan I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Happiness is a warm AK. Posts: 12,563	Found several on the bay for under $30.00! Looks like a nice piece of equipment. Thanks! Attached Images

05-21-2006, 09:06 PM	#2
dezfan I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Happiness is a warm AK. Posts: 12,563	I bought one at Radio Shack. 20-40 watt option. Under $20.00 and works very well.

05-22-2006, 01:38 AM	#3
Mnster MWRCA'er Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Machesney Park IL Posts: 3,995	This one? http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search I have also been looking for better Iron. Do you even use the 20 watt setting?

05-22-2006, 07:10 AM	#4
MattH Quarry Creeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 411	We have that one at the office and it's not bad for the price, but I wouldn't buy it. For normal soldering it works okay, but it doesn't, in my opinion, get hot enough for making battery packs. The 40W Weller iron sold at Home Depot is one that I would recommend. It's cheap also, but gets much hotter.

05-22-2006, 08:15 AM	#5
insanerc RCC Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bedias, Texas Posts: 1,083	What you need may well depend on the intended use of the iron. Myself I have two, one for small chores such as soldering electronic boards and one for heavy applications such as building battery packs, etc. Both of mine are Weller brand and I've never had a problem with either. The one for light soldering is a pen type around 40 watts I believe and the bigger one is a pistol type with either 100 or 140 watts and makes quick work of battery packs and such.

05-22-2006, 10:03 AM	#7
murdock Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: jacksonville beach Posts: 848	when i bought my trigger style one from ratshack it came w/ a lifetime warranty, i dont know if that helps.

05-22-2006, 10:21 AM	#9
MattH Quarry Creeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 411	People seem to like the RadioShack stuff. I've never been too impressed, and would still recommend getting the best Weller station you could afford. I think you'll be glad you did. I also personally do not recommend the gun style soldering irons, but plenty of people do like those as well. In the end, the RadioShack one isn't bad for around $20. Besides rockcrawling, I do a lot of racing, so I build a lot of packs and hard wire almost all of my packs. I'm probably a lot harder on a solder iron than most. If you want to do a lot of light-duty stuff and only build a few packs once in a while, then try the RadioShack station. While this saying isn't always true, in my experience, it is for solder irons: You get what you pay for.

05-22-2006, 10:21 AM	#10
rcracer Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 567	I use that one as well, but it seems to have some cheap insolation on the handle.

05-22-2006, 06:03 PM	#12
joshm101 Rock Stacker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada, BTW its now that cold Posts: 69	Hmm, I dont even use a soldering station. What I would suggest is just buy a good ol' Radio Shack (or source cc in my case) 45 watt iron. It comes with a little stand. Just screw the stand t oa piece of wood (big enough to fit the iron) and your in the money. Just a suggestive alternative to a soldering station.

05-22-2006, 11:31 PM	#13
gregrocks90046 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Crawlifornia Uber Alles Posts: 1,146	take it from someone(me!) who has soldered for a living. there is only one choice, and it will last you a lifetime. buy a hakko 936. after using it the first time, you'll be glad you didn't buy some radio shack crap.

05-22-2006, 11:32 PM	#14
dezfan I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Happiness is a warm AK. Posts: 12,563	Got a link?

Sponsored Links

05-22-2006, 11:35 PM	#15
gregrocks90046 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Crawlifornia Uber Alles Posts: 1,146	i've never bought from this place, but this is a great price for the 936. http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bi...uct/0460-0004/

05-22-2006, 11:46 PM	#17
gregrocks90046 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Crawlifornia Uber Alles Posts: 1,146	be careful!!!! make sure it isn't a fake hakko! believe it or not, there are some cheapo copies that look just like a genuine hakko. contact the seller first to make sure. after you get it, you won't know how you soldered without one!

05-22-2006, 11:53 PM	#18
dezfan I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Happiness is a warm AK. Posts: 12,563	Well the $30.00 ones were used. There were also new unit from $89.00 to $119.00 dollars. If I ever have the extra money, I might pick one up.

05-23-2006, 10:55 AM	#19
Unholy I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: One Legend. Posts: 2,134	That's exactly what I was looking at on ebay... Glad someone has experience with them... Just hope they are real!

05-23-2006, 04:22 PM	#20
gregrocks90046 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Crawlifornia Uber Alles Posts: 1,146	just email the seller and have him confirm.

RCCrawler Forums

Thread: Soldering Station Suggestions...