Author Topic: Soldering Stations  (Read 10091 times)

Offline Harley

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Soldering Stations
« on: January 13, 2013, »
just trying to see what everyone uses and how they work

i see a lot of soldering in my future, so i wanna see what everyone uses

Harley in Louisiana

Yep im a n00b, i can break it and blow it up with the best of em

Offline tstewart

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2013, »
This is the one I have.  It has worked well for me.

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Todd

Offline mrprez1198

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2013, »
I use a Hakko FX-888, that i picked up from Amazon.com for under $100.

Tom

Offline hicksjo

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2013, »
I've done 3 LEs, 2 SSR4s, Dongle, Active hub, 4 SSCs, a bunch of wire and terminal splicing, and repaired an MR16 with the cheap 30watt $4 iron from harbor freight

I've had to replace the tip a couple times but it's done the trick just fine

Offline taybrynn

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Soldering Stations
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2013, »
I have the circuitspecialists -bk3000lf  and its been great.

The nice soldering stations make it much easy than the cheap irons do ...
and do a better job also.    Do you absolutely need it?   Maybe not ..., but I
Think it's totally worth it and I'm a cheapskate.

For example, each time you are ready to solder .... Do you want to wait a long
Time or a very short time?   
Scott - Castle Rock, Colorado   [ 2 homes, 100% RGB in 2016; since 2008; over 32k channels of E1.31 ]
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Offline Harley

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2013, »
Im using a cheap 40 watt weller, seems to be fine, i was juat wondering
Harley in Louisiana

Yep im a n00b, i can break it and blow it up with the best of em

Offline kgustafson

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2013, »
Kendall 852D+

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Offline bisquit476

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2013, »
Here's the one I use, built over 10 controllers plus a bunch of other stuff,

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Offline Steve Gase

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2013, »
Radio Shack station.  (well over 50 kits)
 
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Some people have stated the Radio Shack does not have replacement tips, but I have found them on line from the original manufacturer.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login  |  110K channels, 50K lights  |  Nutcracker, Falcon, DLA, HolidayCoro

Offline JonB256

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2013, »
If you've been using a Pencil type soldering iron with OK results, that's good, but if you ever tried a soldering station like kgustafson shows above (whether from HAAKO or others), you will be surprised by how much your solder quality improves. There is a big difference in "held in place" by a blob of solder versus a solder joint with a smooth "wet" looking surface where the solder flowed fully into the joint, out to the edges of the pad and has a shiny concave fillet up the component lead.

Good quality tips, choice of tip sizes, temperature control, a cradle to put the hot iron instead of "hoping" it will lie still where you set it, all make the solder station a big plus.

Solder tip temp is more important than many realize. Solder is supposed to FLOW onto the pad, not just melt. You actually keep the iron on the connection for less time with a hot tip. If you are worried about overheating a component, the cooler tip is usually the culprit because it takes several seconds to complete the joint rather than just one second.

Tip Cleanliness, Flux, 63/47 solder and the right Tip and Tip Temperature.

Offline t.jo13

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2013, »
this is the one I use and the tips are readily available CSI-STATION-3DLF. I like the different programmable settings

Offline peteandvanessa

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2013, »
I've been using this one. It's a clone of the 852D.

Real pleased with it.

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Offline winwin

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2013, »
I bought this one You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
can't beat the price and it does a great job.
I know some other folks here use it as well and were happy with it.
 
AL.

Offline Harley

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2013, »
now that one is in my price range

Harley in Louisiana

Yep im a n00b, i can break it and blow it up with the best of em

Offline duane.mosley

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Re: Soldering Stations
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2013, »
i would say if your a novice at soldering, then maybe you need the fancy station. i use a 10 dollar, 40w pencil from radio shack and i get the nice wet look, flows to the edge of the pads just fine. i built 12 le's, active hub, 10 ssc's and an ether dongle with no issues. between initial cost and 2 extra tips, i would rather save my money to put towards more lights or more equipment. a 100 dollar soldering station could be 10 ssc's or 256 smart nodes, or an LE with enclosure and wires. all in where you want to put your money.


just my 2 cents


duane
Florence, KY


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