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Soldering Stations

SPL db

SPL db

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Who has what kind of soldering stations?

I have this Radio Shack soldering station that I bought when the local stores were closing.

I picked it up for $14.00 which was supposed to be 70% off at the time.

It's a nice station and well worth what I paid for it, but it appears that there are no pencil
style tips for this station.

I would really like to buy a Weller station, but the one that I'm looking at is $120.

I don't have that kind of scratch right now to invest in a soldering station.

I have a budget of $50 - $85 to buy a "decent" soldering station right now.

Any suggestions? Anyone know where to get a pencil tip for the above station?

Scott
 
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I bought a Weller soldering station from HCM Electronics a few months ago.
I think the model was WCL-150....something like that.
If I remember correctly.....I paid around $50, including shipping.
It came with a screw driver tip...but I purchased three 1/32" conical tips for it at around $3.50 a pop.

Steve
 
I have two Hakko units. Will have to look at which models, both are great,
one has a finer tip on it than the other. both are designed to maintain whatever heat they are set to. This is the problem with handheld pencil soldering irons, when touched to the joint, they cool down. /With the adjustable one, they maintain whatever temp it is set at, making soldering much quicker.

One of the Hakkos I bought off a member at DIY audio who had a whole mess of them at the time. Nice commercial unit that takes a card. I think I paid him 65.00 bucks for it and that was a bargain! Used, of course. The other unit I bought new at a electronics store, little over a C- note. Look at MCM, they usually have a bargain or two on a controlled one in your range. Maybe parts express as well

Russellc
 
SPL db said:
Who has what kind of soldering stations?

I have this Radio Shack soldering station that I bought when the local stores were closing.

I picked it up for $14.00 which was supposed to be 70% off at the time.

It's a nice station and well worth what I paid for it, but it appears that there are no pencil
style tips for this station.

I would really like to buy a Weller station, but the one that I'm looking at is $120.

I don't have that kind of scratch right now to invest in a soldering station.

I have a budget of $50 - $85 to buy a "decent" soldering station right now.

Any suggestions? Anyone know where to get a pencil tip for the above station?

Scott
Click to expand...

The tips can be ordered from Radio Shack, but I don't think they list them. Also, SEARS sells the same unit, and they have tips.
 
I have a non-variable Weller station and I've never felt I needed a variable one. If your technique is good you can use high heat to your advantage and never lift a trace off a PCB. It is also helpful if you are doing solder sucking. If I am doing delicate trace work I have a teensy Antex somewhere for that but I've seldom used it over the years. If you do any work on tube gear, you'll let the heat run flat out anyway. The station you have though looks great and you sure stole it. Track down the tips and I think you are good to go!
 
My "vintage iron" is a Weller WTCP series non-variable.Back around 1985ish a military contractor "Northrup" was discarding 3 or 4 of these.I took them and made one good one from the bunch.Its old and looks old,but is still getting the job done.:thmbsp:
 
I have the $50 Weller station from Parts Express. Tips are available from PE as well as Mouser. It's variable (but not temperature controlled). Nevertheless, overall it works well enough for me. I've used a WTCP station at work, it's nice but I can't justify the extra money for one at home.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone!

Fisherdude,

As far as the 302A goes, looks like the only difference between that one and the
301A iron is that it's digital. Any reason that was a nessicity over the analog?

More stable temp control? :scratch2:

Scott
 
SPL db said:
Thanks for the replies everyone!

Fisherdude,

As far as the 302A goes, looks like the only difference between that one and the
301A iron is that it's digital. Any reason that was a nessicity over the analog?

More stable temp control? :scratch2:

Scott
Click to expand...

Hi Scott,

I assume the digital display is the only difference. Temp stability should be identical. I just liked the ease of picking the temp, and then the display shows the actual temp as it settles in.
 
Fisherdude said:
Hi Scott,

I assume the digital display is the only difference. Temp stability should be identical. I just liked the ease of picking the temp, and then the display shows the actual temp as it settles in.
Click to expand...

Like fisher dude said, its a nice feature. One of my Hakkos has it, and a keypad to type the temp, but the other just has a dial with numbers. Both work very well, with or without the digital display.

Russellc
 
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