Could you please suggest a soldering station

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  • Purrmaster
    New Member
    • Dec 2011
    • 2

    #1

    Could you please suggest a soldering station

    Folks,

    I've decided it's time I learn how to solder things with the ultimate goal of replacing bad capacitors. However, I have no equipment. I was hoping for some suggestions, please.

    I don't have a ton of dough to drop on this. I'm looking to started with a soldering station and some basic tools for less than $300, if possible. If that's not realistic, please feel free to correct me.

    I'd like a brand and model that is reliable and of decent quality.

    I'd prefer to have a station is digitally controlled (i.e. I can select a specific temperature value).

    Reading though the material on this site it looks like I need something with a minimum power of 60 watts.

    It would be nice to have something that it is reasonably to find parts and/or tips for.

    Shopping online is fine.

    I hope that isn't too vague. Thank you for your time.
  • retiredcaps
    Badcaps Legend
    • Apr 2010
    • 9271

    #2
    Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

    Originally posted by Purrmaster
    I was hoping for some suggestions, please.
    EEVblog has a 3 part tutorial on soldering which includes equipment, solder, desolder, etc, etc.

    http://www.eevblog.com/episodes/

    http://www.eevblog.com/2011/06/19/ee...-part-1-tools/

    http://www.eevblog.com/2011/07/02/ee...torial-part-2/

    http://www.eevblog.com/2011/07/18/ee...surface-mount/

    edit: IMHO, $300 is more than enough.
    Last edited by retiredcaps; 12-07-2011, 02:37 AM.
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    Comment

    • Peter9DO
      Badcaps Veteran
      • Dec 2011
      • 277

      #3
      Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

      I know some people may disagree with me but I was in the same situation as you a couple of years ago and I was looking for a soldering station to hold me over. I bought a soldering station from Radio Shack (see below link):
      http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3132686

      Since then I have not needed to upgrade! This thing gets hot and FAST! It has a nice digital display and programmable heat presets. I love this thing! I purchased this as a temp soldering station and I just can't justify paying money for a different one. I have had it now for 3 or 4 years and I will say it again! I LOVE IT!
      The only downfall to this is that you can't order different tips made for this iron. However I found that you can use the Hakko 939 series tips for it. Which they make a hundred different tips. Anyways, it fits but it doesn't fit exactly perfect, however it's really not an issue. If you're just starting out this is a good purchase either way and you'll probably like it as much as I do and stay with it.

      Hope that helped a little!

      Comment

      • Purrmaster
        New Member
        • Dec 2011
        • 2

        #4
        Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

        Not many retail stores around here have soldering stations or soldering supplies. But from what little I've seen, Weller brand stuff (mostly tips) seem to be prevalent.

        This may be a stupid question but I assume that soldering tips and parts are *not* universal and that you need to get tips from the manufacturer of your soldering station? If that is so, it might behoove me to get a Weller station. Any recommendations for specific models? Looking for something around 60-80 watts.

        Comment

        • mariushm
          Badcaps Legend
          • May 2011
          • 3799

          #5
          Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

          What's "here" ? You didn't mention the location.

          If you're in US, the Hakko 888 is a very fine soldering station:

          http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-Solderin...3701390&sr=8-1

          This is an updated version of the Hakko 936:

          http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_cr_asin_lnk

          You can find this clone and you may also find the original Hakko 936 with 230v for countries outside US on eBay and the Hakko tips are compatible and cheap and you find tons of them on eBay...

          You can also go for something like Ayoue 937+ which is basically a Hakko 936 clone - you can even use the Hakko tips on it:

          http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-937-Digi...3701390&sr=8-4

          eBay should have both stations with both Us and Europe/Australia voltages but in the worst case scenario you could just change the transformer inside to get the right input voltage for your country.

          Comment

          • Cybs
            New Member
            • Dec 2011
            • 5

            #6
            Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

            When I used to repair cell phones many years ago, we only used PACE stations. There were a few Wellers in the shop but they had poor tip temperature compared to PACE.

            Comment

            • PCBONEZ
              Grumpy Old Fart
              • Aug 2005
              • 10661
              • USA

              #7
              Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

              I used PACE stations in the Navy. [Bought one when I retired.]
              Also have a rack-shack station.
              Nice [especially the PACE] but neither have enough nads to do mobos which are much thicker than most PCBs.

              Ideally you want a 50-80 watt with a ceramic heater element.

              For mobo work I like Hakko 926 or 936.
              [Same 'guts', same specs, same attachments, different plastics on the base.]
              If you're on a budget pick up a used base on ebay and I can point you to new handles and tips that aren't over priced.
              [Or you can use search and find it in one of the other threads, this question gets asked every other month it seems and the answers don't change that much.]
              .
              Mann-Made Global Warming.
              - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.

              -
              Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

              - Dr Seuss
              -
              You can teach a man to fish and feed him for life, but if he can't handle sushi you must also teach him to cook.
              -

              Comment

              • mariushm
                Badcaps Legend
                • May 2011
                • 3799

                #8
                Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

                I bought a Hakko 936 for 79$ free shipping from a guy in Israel... may have to get some tips, from the picture it looks like it has just one conical tip.

                So yeah, if you have some time, please post some links.. the only ones i see on eBay are for 30$ for set of 10 + about 25$ shipping from US to here.

                Comment

                • PCBONEZ
                  Grumpy Old Fart
                  • Aug 2005
                  • 10661
                  • USA

                  #9
                  Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

                  Originally posted by mariushm
                  I bought a Hakko 936 for 79$ free shipping from a guy in Israel... may have to get some tips, from the picture it looks like it has just one conical tip.

                  So yeah, if you have some time, please post some links.. the only ones i see on eBay are for 30$ for set of 10 + about 25$ shipping from US to here.
                  Okay
                  There are three different sized handles that fit 926 and 936 [and maybe some others].
                  The 907 Handle is the middle size and probably the most useful.
                  The 900M series tips fit the 907 handles.
                  .
                  For tips the: 900M-T-1.2D and/or 900M-T-1.6D and/or 900M-T-2.4D will probably end up being your favorite[s] depending on what you work on most.
                  That style tip also comes in 900M-T-0.8D [very small, like for SMD] and 900M-T-3.2D [Big, like for the 400v PSU caps.]
                  [The 1.6, 2.4, etc numbers are the width in mm at the business end of the tip.].
                  .
                  The seller is in China but I've bought both handles and tips a few times and they've been legit Hakko parts.
                  For tips and handles shipping has been Free to the US.
                  That makes tips under $2 shipped and they run $5-$7 each locally.
                  [The down side is their shipping method isn't exactly speedy, at least not to the US.]
                  .
                  The handles come bubble-bagged not boxed [to reduce shipping cost] but the tips come individually packaged in the Hakko 'watermark' type packages.
                  Same packages as the ones on the rack at Fry's Electronics.
                  .
                  The handles are so reasonable I bought extra to swap handles [with different tips mounted] vice waiting for them to cool off to switch tips.
                  ~~
                  Some about the seller:
                  https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...8&postcount=26
                  ~~
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...chString=hakko
                  ~~

                  ~~
                  Some noted offerings [since their 'site search' is so clunky]:
                  .
                  1x Handle
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...90/lid=2873639
                  .
                  2x handle
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ir/lid=2873570
                  .
                  2x Heaters [But if you buy spare handles you get new heaters in them anyway.]
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ce/lid=2873651
                  .
                  Tip Assortment
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ol/lid=2873696
                  .
                  900M-T-1-2D
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ti/lid=2873686
                  http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-900M-T...item3369b5be0e
                  .
                  900M-T-1.6D
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ti/lid=2873683
                  .
                  900M-T-2.4D
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ti/lid=2873688
                  .
                  900M-T-0.8D
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ti/lid=2873682
                  .
                  900M-T-3.2D
                  http://www.vendio.com/stores/cantonm...ti/lid=2873637
                  .
                  .
                  Last edited by PCBONEZ; 12-15-2011, 11:31 PM.
                  Mann-Made Global Warming.
                  - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.

                  -
                  Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

                  - Dr Seuss
                  -
                  You can teach a man to fish and feed him for life, but if he can't handle sushi you must also teach him to cook.
                  -

                  Comment

                  • mariushm
                    Badcaps Legend
                    • May 2011
                    • 3799

                    #10
                    Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

                    Thanks, bookmarked the thread already. I know about canton, I read the thread where you mentioned it.. just didn't make the connection now.

                    The handle is 907 and I think it has the smallest conical... it's not so clear in the picture, which I'm attaching.

                    I'll see, hopefully it comes before Christmas.
                    Attached Files

                    Comment

                    • PCBONEZ
                      Grumpy Old Fart
                      • Aug 2005
                      • 10661
                      • USA

                      #11
                      Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

                      Yup.
                      By default all the Hakko stuff comes from the factory with a conical tip.
                      [So do the replacement handles from Cantonmade.]
                      It's not so useful a tip as the 900M-T-x.xD tips.
                      .
                      Handles 900S, 900L, 900M, 907, 908 all work with both 926 and 936 bases.
                      926 factory handles - 900S [small], 900M [med-std], 900L [large]
                      936 factory handles - 900S [small], 907 [med-std], 908 [large]
                      .
                      The 900M is really the same as a 907. [Both use 900M-series tips.]
                      The 900L is really the same as a 908. [Both use 900L-series tips.]
                      -
                      900L, 900M, 907 and 908 all use the same heater element so the only real difference is what tips work and how easy they are to hold.
                      http://www.hakkousa.com/detail.asp?PID=1590&Page=1
                      -
                      900S is very small so they use a smaller heater and 900S-series tips.
                      http://www.hakkousa.com/detail.asp?PID=1591&Page=1
                      .
                      There are also ESD variants but that doesn't affect interchangeability.
                      The ESD feature just won't work unless both parts are the ESD type.
                      If you care about ESD for some job it's probably better to run a ground wire anyway.
                      .
                      .
                      They made millions of 936's. Parts support should be around for a good long while.
                      .
                      .
                      Thought the PDFs might be helpful.
                      .
                      Attached Files
                      Last edited by PCBONEZ; 12-16-2011, 03:07 AM.
                      Mann-Made Global Warming.
                      - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.

                      -
                      Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

                      - Dr Seuss
                      -
                      You can teach a man to fish and feed him for life, but if he can't handle sushi you must also teach him to cook.
                      -

                      Comment

                      • silvergoat
                        Senior Member
                        • Oct 2011
                        • 53

                        #12
                        Re: Could you please suggest a soldering station

                        Originally posted by retiredcaps
                        EEVblog has a 3 part tutorial on soldering which includes equipment, solder, desolder, etc, etc.

                        http://www.eevblog.com/episodes/

                        http://www.eevblog.com/2011/06/19/ee...-part-1-tools/

                        http://www.eevblog.com/2011/07/02/ee...torial-part-2/

                        http://www.eevblog.com/2011/07/18/ee...surface-mount/

                        edit: IMHO, $300 is more than enough.
                        Great post- thanks for that link to those vids

                        Comment

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