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New soldering station time - what's your favorite

Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Sr. Member
Jul 31, 2008
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Time for a new soldering station and wondering what the rest of radio world is using.

Let me know your favorites in each price range -

Low $50-$150
High $150+

I've been dealing with more SMD so a hot air rework tool might be handy

Just browsing Amazon and pretty amazing what you can get for a deal nowadays. Quality I'm not so sure about :)

YIHUA 862BD+ SMD ESD Safe 2 in 1 Soldering Iron Hot Air Rework Station °F /°C with Multiple Functions $97.95
 
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Bought one of those knock-off/clones of the Hakko 936 called the YiHua 936. Uses the Hakko 936 replacement tips. They still sell them on eBay for ~$23/free shipping. Works pretty good. Been using it for about two years now without a problem. But I'm not on it five days a week hours on end - either. But all in all, can't knock it.
 
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Well this is a 60 buck brand that works just fine. If it gets hot, has control, and lasts a year. It's good to me. The key is having plenty of new tips which can be swapped out. A tip that wont tin is in the garbage. Tip tinner is an awesome product, however lead free is not as good. Meat heads here at work wanted digital display and control! Glad I talked them out of it. Waste of money for something more that can break. If it melts solder and you have tips you're GOOD.
Soldering is all about your control. Know when it ain't hot enough, No when its too hot and I just fucked up the trace!

Circuitspecialis.jpg
 
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I've been using the WE1010NA-ETAA 70 watt for a while now, at work and home.
51kXoN8eI0L._AC_SL1024_.jpg
 
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My opinion, get something that has easy to find cheap tips and replacement wands. I prefer large chisel tips for most soldering, holds heat and can get out / in quicker.

Been using the Atten AT201D for at least 10 years or more. Replacement wands are cheap and easy to find, also uses standard Hakko 900M tips (though the Hakko wands are not a direct match). I use to do a lot of CB radio repair / mods, car audio amplifier repair, and general repair work so it seen a lot of use, the presets are handy as well.

I kind of happened into the Atten, wasn't one I planned on getting, though have been very happy with it. Perhaps read reviews, search forums, and watch videos on various models to see how well they work.

I used a Velleman VTSS5U for a couple years until the tip wore out and I couldn't justify buying a tip with shipping costs as cheap as the station was, but it actually worked well otherwise. That was many years ago though.
 
As I am not a pro... only what you could call a hobbyist, I picked this one below. It is only good for "through hole" parts but, with my eyes, I don't think I will be venturing far in the direction of SMD. But for my "non professional ... limited use... this thing is serving me well.

That said, this thing makes capacitor (and other!) parts replacement a DREAM.
On average about 10 seconds or less to clean out the old solder. Typically the part just comes out with no struggle. Then solder a new one right back in. So... NOT counting time looking for the part, looking for the right pads, looking for the right cap to put back in... a cap replacement is "way under a minute".

https://www.parts-express.com/Stahl...e-Digital-Solder-and-Desolder-Station-374-400

WG7Afez.jpg
 
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guitar_199 said:
As I am not a pro... only what you could call a hobbyist, I picked this one below. It is only good for "through hole" parts but, with my eyes, I don't think I will be venturing far in the direction of SMD. But for my "non professional ... limited use... this thing is serving me well.

That said, this thing makes capacitor (and other!) parts replacement a DREAM.
On average about 10 seconds or less to clean out the old solder. Typically the part just comes out with no struggle. Then solder a new one right back in. So... NOT counting time looking for the part, looking for the right pads, looking for the right cap to put back in... a cap replacement is "way under a minute".

https://www.parts-express.com/Stahl...e-Digital-Solder-and-Desolder-Station-374-400

WG7Afez.jpg
Click to expand...
Very similar to mine, except mine shows proper temperatures in Celcius.
 
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I have the least expensive Pace. I like it because it will also except the hot tweezers. A friend talked me in to it when my Weller went back under warranty. I do like my Weller. And the hand unit. ( Iron ) is the most comfortable. and easier to get in tight places. And the tips are less expensive. I also at one time owned one of the orange Weller stations and had no problems with that either.
Weller...WES51
Pace.....ST25
 
I also bought a 500 watt heavy duty iron to replace the "vintage" iron I was using to solder PL259s and other big items. Had to modify the tip to make it easier to get into tight spaces. The iron got too hot for some jobs, so I bought an electric stove surface unit heat control which works great. Excellent iron.

- 399

solder2.png
 
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