Large Scale Central

Need New Soldering Iron

Tools and Tips
#1

I’m looking for a small electric soldering iron. I presently have a butane iron, but it’s tip isn’t as fine as I would like. Plus it doesn’t seem to shut off all of the time, so butane is wasted unless I am paying close attention when I shut it down.

I do most of my soldering on miniature toggle switches, wire splicing and similar tasks involved with working on our trains. I’ve found some on eBay that look promising. For instance;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262686986135?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Soldering irons seem to last a couple years then go bust. I wonder what anyones thoughts here are ? Are these economy irons the better way to go or is it better to spend more on a higher end model ?

#2

Just my opinion but, you don’t need a 60 watt iron for the soldering jobs mentioned in your post, 20 watt is more than adequate.

Just go down to the hardware store and buy a cheap one with a small tip. It is more about keeping the tip clean and “tinned” and not letting it burn up, that is letting it overheat. I have one as described above that I bought probably 15 years ago and it still functions perfectly. Keeping it turned off between burns preserves the tip and prevents burn up.

Patience is the key, I get the joint ready then plug in the iron and wait for it to reach temp, make the connection then unplug the iron until I am ready for the next connection. This is how to preserve an iron and make good joints.

Shaping the iron (actually copper) to a long point with a file then tinning it and keeping it that way will go a long way to improving the speed and quality outcome of soldering efforts.

Like I said just my opinions.

Rick

#3

I have a couple of cheep Weller 40 watt irons, and have had them for years, For electrical work on model railroads, they are more then adequate for the task. Keeping the tip tinned, and pre-tinning the parts before soldering them together is important.

#4

I have a 936 soldering station I bought on EBay ages ago. You can find the cheap clones for around $25, and the “good ones” for maybe $60.

#5

For most of my electrical soldering I use a ISO-TIP inQuick Chargein - 7700 Soldering Iron and a Hakko 599B-02 Solder Tip Cleaning Wire and Holder. I’ve been quite satisfied and I really appreciate not having to worry about a cord often knocking something over. Its only downside is that it take about 5-10 seconds to come up to proper temperature.

#6

Not a soldering gun but a good all a round cheap soldering station and works great for the price and can do so much bench work.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/862D-2in1-SMD-Soldering-Iron-Hot-Air-Rework-Station-Desoldering-Repair-110V-USA/252500756726?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D37115%26meid%3Dce241ff6a9c241c7abb153d2c6d48fde%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D282216625825

#7

That’s the one I have. I like it!..(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#8

Noel Wilson said:

Not a soldering gun but a good all a round cheap soldering station and works great for the price and can do so much bench work.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/862D-2in1-SMD-Soldering-Iron-Hot-Air-Rework-Station-Desoldering-Repair-110V-USA/252500756726?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D37115%26meid%3Dce241ff6a9c241c7abb153d2c6d48fde%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D282216625825

Looks like a good choice. I imagine the heat gun can be used to shrink Heat shrink tubing.

#9

Dan Padova said:

Noel Wilson said:

Not a soldering gun but a good all a round cheap soldering station and works great for the price and can do so much bench work.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/862D-2in1-SMD-Soldering-Iron-Hot-Air-Rework-Station-Desoldering-Repair-110V-USA/252500756726?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D37115%26meid%3Dce241ff6a9c241c7abb153d2c6d48fde%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D282216625825

Looks like a good choice. I imagine the heat gun can be used to shrink Heat shrink tubing.

…

Dan, Yes it great for shrink tubing … It has air and heat adjustments. Works good for blowing solder out of printer cir. holes on boards. Has a air switch on it to do that. What I liked beside all of the attachments is …it has one knife blade that fits on the soldering unit. I did some cutting out a floor on a trolley used the heat gun to soften up the plastic and then just cut out the bottom plate with blade on the soldering unit. I then installed a USA motor block to fit in. Cuts nice and clean. Has heat adj. for the soldering unit, but not good on a lot of large jobs.

Like the way it shuts down to bring down the heat before you turn it off. Theirs no instruction on how that works or other information… Had to learn by trial and error how to work it.

We use larger hand guns, 150W and a 300W for larger soldering jobs when need more heat. Not trying to push the soldering station… but for the price you can’t beat it even if it only lasts a few year.