• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Help Selecting a soldering iron

angelaudio

angelaudio

Super Member
Hello Akers

I’m looking for a good soldering iron so I can begin to do some repairs on my amps and speakers but I need some help selecting the proper one. I would like to get something that will last me a long time, preferably around $150. I’ve seen some with variable wattage and others with variable temp control. Which should I go for? I currently have a SolderWorks BK2000+ 30W soldering station which works well but im unsure of whether or not the wattage on it is either excessive or lacking for use in my intended applications.

Any input appreciated. Thank you.
 
Register to hide this ad
Your BK2000 is more than good enough to start with. If it accepts different tips - having a larger chisel tip (5.0 mm +/-) works well on point-to-point wiring, like what you find in tube amplifiers. Desoldering is equally important (more so in some cases) so that a good place to spend money. - Chris
 
The best recommendation i can give would be to jump over to the EEVBLOG forum, they keep up with the latest soldering stations.

however, as just a generic statement, you want something temperature controlled. most will recommend a Hakko soldering station or a good hakko clone.

i belive the bk2000 may be a hakko clone, if so, do yourself a big favor and buy some real hakko tips for it, it makes a big difference in how it works.

it really depends what you want though, i have a off brand rework station that has both a hot air gun for smd work and a temperature controlled soldering iron that is a hakko clone that takes hakko tips, and yes i do use real hakko tips, that makes a difference. that was an upgrade i got from somthing like you have now.

There are 3 major types, your non adjustable types (stay away from those) the type with adjustable temperature, and replaceable tips and the last is the type where the heating element and temperature sensor is embedded with the tip. the last is the best but most expensive. the last having an advantage with heat soak when you solder something that takes away heat from the tip, the iron can react faster and keep the tip at the right temperature

for 100 bucks you can get a HAKKO FX-888D that has replaceable tips and a digital readout for tip temp. but thats simiar to what you already own.
my daily driver is a Aouye 968A 3 in 1 digital hot air rework and Soldering station which is around 179 and is a hakko clone.
i do own a hakko fm-202 that takes the 3rd type of tips i talked about but that is way outside your budget.

if you don't need a a hot air rework station, you might want to invest in a desoldering station instead...i own a zd-985 i am happy with - sold under a few brand names, i think its like 140 on amazon see a review here ZD-985 Review and use your last 10 bucks on some real hakko tips

there are many brands of soldering stations and Chinese knockoffs that can be had within your budget that take the 3rd type of tips or the second type that are all hakko knockoffs... again eevblog is where to go to find out the latest and best bang for the buck and which to avoid. However id stick to hakko compatible clones if you go that way so it is easy to get supplies.

Another consideration would be to get a high watt Weller soldering gun for those times you need to solder something where a soldering pencil just wont do.

as you can see it totally depends on what you plan to work on.

hope that helps
 
Last edited:
innkeeper said:
The best recommendation i can give would be to jump over to the EEVBLOG forum, they keep up with the latest soldering stations.

however, as just a generic statement, you want something temperature controlled. most will recommend a Hakko soldering station or a good hakko clone.

i belive the bk2000 may be a hakko clone, if so, do yourself a big favor and buy some real hakko tips for it, it makes a big difference in how it works.

it really depends what you want though, i have a off brand rework station that has both a hot air gun for smd work and a temperature controlled soldering iron that is a hakko clone that takes hakko tips, and yes i do use real hakko tips, that makes a difference. that was an upgrade i got from somthing like you have now.

There are 3 major types, your non adjustable types (stay away from those) the type with adjustable temperature, and replaceable tips and the last is the type where the heating element and temperature sensor is embedded with the tip. the last is the best but most expensive. the last having an advantage with heat soak when you solder something that takes away heat from the tip, the iron can react faster and keep the tip at the right temperature

for 100 bucks you can get a HAKKO FX-888D that has replaceable tips and a digital readout for tip temp. but thats simiar to what you already own.
my daily driver is a Aouye 968A 3 in 1 digital hot air rework and Soldering station which is around 179 and is a hakko clone.
i do own a hakko fm-202 that takes the 3rd type of tips i talked about but that is way outside your budget.

if you don't need a a hot air rework station, you might want to invest in a desoldering station instead...i own a zd-985 i am happy with - sold under a few brand names, i think its like 140 on amazon see a review here ZD-985 Review and use your last 10 bucks on some real hakko tips

there are many brands of soldering stations and Chinese knockoffs that can be had within your budget that take the 3rd type of tips or the second type that are all hakko knockoffs... again eevblog is where to go to find out the latest and best bang for the buck and which to avoid. However id stick to hakko compatible clones if you go that way so it is easy to get supplies.

Another consideration would be to get a high watt Weller soldering gun for those times you need to solder something where a soldering pencil just wont do.

as you can see it totally depends on what you plan to work on.

hope that helps
Click to expand...
Thanks for the breakdown innkeeper. As @ChrisMarantz and yourself mentioned, a desoldering station is likely where I should spend my money for now in addition to some new tips. I’ll definitely check out the eevblog forum you mentioned for future reference. I’ll look into the zd-985 you mentioned as well. Cheers:beerchug:
 
halkaloogie said:
I bought a Hakko FR-301, but I don't use it all that often I find just using the FX888 works for most of my neads, but then again I don't work on circuit boards all that often, most of my work is point to point.
Click to expand...

I own both of the Hakko's mentioned above and find them both very useful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom