Looking for new soldering iron, suggestions?

[Things]

I can't really speak on ESD killing diodes, I've never killed a diode from ESD. I live in the tropics, so the humidity is always too high for static electricity. However, you could just manually attach some wire to your iron and ground it.

Although, unless you have an ESD safe workstation, grounding your iron isn't really gonna help, in fact it could make it worse, since the static is usually on your body, not the iron.

 

[bennett326]

ATTEN 937B Anti Static 50W Soldering Station Lead Free | eBay

i bought this guy a few months ago. i am very satisfied especially at the price. it heats up super quick

 

[hakzaw1]

3 Three Weller D550 260 200 Watts Soldering Guns | eBay


^^^
these three are for parts or repair. more than 300 hits on 'weller soldering gun'
tolya they sold a boatload of these..
both the ones I have work fine- and Ok for some applications but not so much for working with laser diodes.

I just found mine & its a 8200 N- not grounded plug..

here is one at Feebay

Weller Soldering Iron 100 in Stained Glass Supplies | eBay

if LL does not want it the first to PP me 15$ can have it. that seems to be about the averge shipping charge for these.

*********@benneh above -nice find-- good price +3 for posting the link

since you have one wth is this part??

well for some reason ATM I cannot add attachments to this post.
I will try again later..

 

[csshih]

+1 to the hakko 936 - there are a ton of clones of the 936.. they must be doing something right!

 

[norbyx]

Check this web site, has some great prices on soldering stations and they ship very fast.
Soldering Stations ? Traditional and Lead Free

 

[Lazerbeak]

Check this web site, has some great prices on soldering stations and they ship very fast.
Soldering Stations ? Traditional and Lead Free

Wow, the digital one looks cool for that price. Have you used their products before Norbyx?

~ LB

 

[norbyx]

Wow, the digital one looks cool for that price. Have you used their products before Norbyx?

~ LB

Well I bought my power supply and my multimeter from them and they do work very well. I have put both through various tests and I am happy. Also Shipping is super fast and customer service is great. And don't forget that for any purchase over $50 you get a free gift, I already got 2 free DMM (don't really know for what but what the heck) and a set of pliers...

 

[Gun]

I had THIS but I've had to return it as the tip doesn't get hot at all and I have to solder with the side of the metal. Even when I did that I still had to hold it there for about 5 seconds before the solder melted.

 

[Bacon]

I am so glad you made this thread! I have narrowed my soldering iron down to the Weller WES51 a couple days ago for $84 I Really wanted the WESD51 but all the reviews on seem to say that its only $50 more for the digital display (Analog works for me! ) I got the Amazon 2 day shipping "wooohoo!"

I have also read that the WES51 "feels more solid" than the Hakko 888 which looks silly to me.

-Good luck to you man

 

[Antharak]

Check this web site, has some great prices on soldering stations and they ship very fast.
Soldering Stations ? Traditional and Lead Free

Thanks for this link Norbyx, now I know what I'm getting for a soldering station/iron

 

[norbyx]

Thanks for this link Norbyx, now I know what I'm getting for a soldering station/iron

You're welcome.... now what Are you getting?

 

[Antharak]

This one. for the $ it looks to be right for me at this point.

60 Watt Soldering Station from Circuit Specialists

I like that I can get a replacement iron for $16

 

[Lazerbeak]

Gun

I had THIS but I've had to return it as the tip doesn't get hot at all and I have to solder with the side of the metal. Even when I did that I still had to hold it there for about 5 seconds before the solder melted.

That's the same problem I'm having Gun. I saw the Weller WES51 too Bacon, but Norbyx's link has a digital for $49 and free gifts... :thinking: but it doesn't say if it has ESD protection and that seems to be kind of important from what people who know are saying. Good price on that Weller btw.

~ LB

 

[norbyx]

Gun


That's the same problem I'm having Gun. I saw the Weller WES51 too Bacon, but Norbyx's link has a digital for $49 and free gifts... :thinking: but it doesn't say if it has ESD protection and that seems to be kind of important from what people who know are saying. Good price on that Weller btw.

~ LB

Read the manual, its online it has esd protection.

 

[Antharak]

Gun


That's the same problem I'm having Gun. I saw the Weller WES51 too Bacon, but Norbyx's link has a digital for $49 and free gifts... :thinking: but it doesn't say if it has ESD protection and that seems to be kind of important from what people who know are saying. Good price on that Weller btw.

~ LB

Sure it does 2nd to last line in the description. Grounded tip.

 

[HitShane]

I use the 15W grounded from Radio Shack... Works great Not to much to burn things and just enough to make sub second solder joints...
-Shane

60/40 Rosin Core .050