Soldering iron recommendation

[Roert42]

I have a 25w weller I got at Home Depot. Completely Garbage for anything above 18ga.

 

[adsm08]

My dad used to have a kick-ass iron. I don't remember the type, rating, etc. I just remember that stepping on that thing with bare feet hurt.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've soldered a bunch of big wires with that solder station at work, with the temp control dialed around 700F it gets the job done, and just as easily work on fine circuit board stuff. I'm tempted to get one once I get my shop finished...

 

[gaz]

Dirtman,

I use a Weller wlc100 for almost everything. $40 @ The Walmart.

 

[ZMan]

my friend who installs 300 remote starts a year just uses a harbor freight soldering iron. He keeps a few of them in stock and just tosses them as he wears them out lol.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've used those and do have to say I've used worse soldering irons... I've used better, but I've used worse too

 

[Dirtman]

I've used those and do have to say I've used worse soldering irons... I've used better, but I've used worse too

Ive soldered with a butter knife heated on the stove so thats not saying much lol

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I like the pencil type...40 watts is plenty for thin wire, I have gotten melt with much less wattage, using very exotic erotic techniques.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Also I farted.

 

[Grumpaw]

Is it time for.......CANTALOUPE !

 

[97RangerXLT]

Is it time for.......CANTALOUPE !

Nope, no one has asked anyone to present their position on an argument.

AJ

 

[Dirtman]

we have one of THESE at work, it's pretty sweet

I decided to order this one. Thanks for the recommendation. Should be here tomorrow so i can see how it works. I had a gift card so it was only 35 bucks with the 4 year replacement plan.

I don't plan to use it alot, I'll still use my big gun for heavy wires so this will be for doing smaller stuff. Maybe even try my hand at fixing some circuit boards. I have a bunch of broken electronic gizmos that were too small for me to ever try soldering. One is a really really expensive flashlight that has a little broken capacitor or something on the circuit board that I've always wanted to get fixed but was too small for me to ever attempt.

All I'm good at right now is sticking wires and terminals together. I did fix a USB cable a couple months ago by soldering on a new end. That was quite the accomplishment for me lol. especially with only a butane soldering iron with no heat adjustment.

I actually first attempted this with my TIG seam welder that can go down to .5 amps. I figured with the amps at minimum I might be able to pulse it for half a second and it would just zap the solder in. That did not end well...

 

[mikkelstuff]

If I were to buy one again, I would skip the Weller and buy this gun from McMaster-Carr:

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[Grumpaw]

Now ???

 

[strugbus]

I've got a small adjustable Weller, paid like $40 on Amazon. I use it at work more than home though soldering microphone connectors back together.