Laser Soldering Kit/Multimeter for Beginners <$15

[Benm]

Depends on the quality too though.. i have an unregulated JCB iron that runs directly off mains, and accidentily left that on for over a week. The tip was fried pretty well after that time, but the iron still works and all the plastic parts are totally intact too.

This is a rather expensive soldering iron though, so i can imagine really cheap ones suffering much worse from something stupid like that.

 

[Tech_Junkie]

@ rhd

Heres a good 60w adj.temp iron and IIRC it has thermal feedback...60W 220V Temperature Adjustable Rubber Handle Electronics DIY Soldering Iron (178CM Cable) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

Pick up some spare tips and you have a nice iron that will last you quite a while.


@Flaminpyro

It also has a ground cable

Evidence of thermal feedback?
Temperature control or just dimmer?

Almost bought this. Then I saw 220v. :cryyy:

Group Question: Can I use a wall switch dimmer to control the temperature of an iron?

 

[Pontiacg5]

Yes, that should work with no problem.

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Thanks man.

 

[LaZeRz]

TJ, you can pick up a nice weller soldering station for 40 dollars :beer:

Amazon.com: Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station: Home Improvement

Or this as a cheaper solution: http://www.amazon.com/Weller-SP23LK...D2AG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1316682987&sr=8-4

And, this is what DTR uses...Amazon.com: Weller P2KC Professional Self-igniting Cordless Butane Soldering Iron Kit: Home Improvement

Make sure to pick up some high quality Kester solder while your at it

http://www.amazon.com/Kester-Rosin-...f=sr_1_13?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1316683932&sr=1-13

@rhd, pick up a good Weller unit and it will last you ~10 years or more if treated well

 

[brandonhauser]

Wow that's a great price for a soldering iron! I wish I had seen that when I was just starting to solder... Now I have been soldering for a couple years and have a nice soldering iron, but for $15 thats a steal!

 

[Tech_Junkie]

TJ, you can pick up a nice weller soldering station for 40 dollars :beer:

Thanks for the links man.

Sad to say $40 is a lot of money for me. I have lasers sitting here that members have volunteered to fix for free, but I dont have enough money for the shipping to get them there. No joke. The only reason I have any lasers at all is that I won 2 in raffles, done some trade work with web art, and the others were gifts (review, ect). The ones I bought, I bought to sell at a profit. And the laser junk box helped with other parts. It wasnt till last month that I finally got a helping hands unit.

 

[Bionic-Badger]

I'd just use the soldering iron as-is without a dimmer. I never even touch the temperature setting on my iron, and it is at 2x the melting temperature of the 63/37 solder I've been using for years past its flux's expiration date because I want it to melt the solder quickly. The only reason I'd use the temperature setting is if I need to use some other type of solder with a much higher melting temp.

For all the concern about frying diodes due to heat, I've never lost one in that manner, even when mistakes were made near the diode's pins. It's always been mechanical damage, circuit failures, or operational mistakes. I figure that a hot iron is like a sharp knife: if you don't dick around with the heating, you can get in and get out quickly without having to cause extra damage.

 

[Pontiacg5]

Exactly!

I was using a 60W woodburning iron as my main soldering iron for a while, I just ground the tip to a point and continued to do so as it needed it. I soldered a few diodes with that iron with no problem. Circuit boards were a little more tricky though, it would cook the board and lift traces fast!

 

[Things]

For anyone in Aus particularly, I have used these my entire life, left them on overnight many times, abuse them, and yet I've only needed 3 of them in the last 8 years. Infact, 2 out of 3 I had to replace were just due to poor care of the tip, and they started pitting, not the iron itself.

25 Watt 240V Soldering Iron - Jaycar Electronics

 

[Lase]

Thanks Things.

I've been looking for a decent Soldering Iron for a while now. I'll have to pick that one up and finish off my custom builds.

Lase

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Exactly!

I was using a 60W woodburning iron as my main soldering iron for a while, I just ground the tip to a point and continued to do so as it needed it. I soldered a few diodes with that iron with no problem. Circuit boards were a little more tricky though, it would cook the board and lift traces fast!

Sometimes that comes down to the tip. If it's too fat it can heat up too much of the surface at once. Getting some run-the-mill 15W or 30W iron, with sharp conical tip is about all most people will need for soldering.

The main reason I like the soldering station is that it heats up fast, has a nice spindle for holding the solder spool, and has a hot air attachment that I use only for heatshrink! Practically my entire soldering station is underutilized and for convenience purposes.