Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

[DXseekerMO]

So it turns out the "45W" soldering iron I bought is actually 25W. This little "pee shooter" is pretty much worthless as tits on a chicken for electronics! There's no way I'm de-soldering a heat sink or anything large. The capacity recovery and tips are terrible!

So the plan: spend $150 on new soldering equipment. I'm looking to maximize what I can get for the money and get reliable equipment that works good.

I'm sure there are plenty of good soldering stations at that price point....but before I buy anything I'm wondering what you all would buy if you had $150.00 to spend on your first good soldering equipment?

Thanks for your input everyone!

[stj]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

something using hakko T12 (or chinese clone) cartridges.
there are many, but the cartridge is the important factor because it combines the tip,sensor and element into a single piece.

you can spend less than $50 and still get a good handle,base and probably a dozen assorted tips!

btw, what are you using now??

[brethin]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

I bought 2 of these back in 2012 for $150 each, and still going strong, one is still new in the box.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi701a.html

[stj]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

i hate combination units - nothing but trouble when you need to fix them.

that company does sell a T12 based station though.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/s...-bk3000lf.html
not the cheapest, but still good.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

I have the Hakko FX888 (analog). I use it sparingly since I rarely do repairs now, but with a chisel tip (1.8, 2.4 or 3.2mm), it can desolder easily.

EEVblog #1063 - Weller WE1010 vs Hakko FX888D Soldering Station

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlKg6rSMPEs

[Agent24]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

I used to think digital soldering stations were cool, but now I'd rather have something with an analogue controller and preferably a linear power supply. Much easier to repair.

Unless you're working to very tight tolerances and you're re-calibrating your iron every time you swap tips etc, then having the precision and accuracy of a digital readout (assuming cheap digital ones are reliable anyway) is pointless, in my opinion.

I'd take an FX-888 but not an FX-888D, even just for the fact that the user-interface on the FX-888D is awful.

[stj]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgrB5P-rDLw

and this one - atleast the first half.
interesting that it comes as a set now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-EaxWU70xM

[DXseekerMO]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

These are all great ideas! Like the simple easy to fix approach but I'm leaning towards a digital unit. I caught that YouTube video from EEVblog, the conclusions drawn there really steer me.

[llonen]

Re: Soldering station for around $150......thoughts anyone?

Having equipped the workshop some time ago with a range of Pace soldering equipment I would thoroughly recommend checking out some something like a PS90 sensor temp or inteliheat and controller both can be had if you look around for around your budget or better if you check out the second user market. If you prefer a cartridge system them the TD100 is a good step, the cartridges are more expensive than the hakko t12 copies but you get what you pay for. Its a completely modular system with a range of inter compatible hand pieces. The Weller WPS81 is a good system as well, less flexible though.