Soldering Station ? Which one should l purchase...

Yngve · Post by **Yngve** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:35 pm

Hi Guys l am in the market to buy either these two Weller Soldering stations. But cannot make my mind up. Listed are the prices in AUS Dollars. I just want to know if the analog one has increments to go lets say 15watts to 16 watts increments of 1 watt at a time.

So let me hear you all....

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:27 pm

No, the analog one has a smooth travel to the control -- it's not got detents for a certain amount of degrees per notch or anything -- and they're both calibrated for degrees not watts. I'm sure the digital one is more accurate than the analog but the analog one has been a good reliable station for me at work for about three years now, maybe more (and I still haven't had to change the tip!!)
In about the same price range as the analog Weller I really like the Hakko 906 station too, that's what I use at home......

bluze81 · Post by **bluze81** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 1:41 am

Yngve I too have the anolog weller for about three years never had to change the tip, and it gets used pretty much every day for repairs at my store, if you dont need the control of the digital model the anolog weller is good station. bluze

NitroLiq · Post by **NitroLiq** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:51 am

+1 on Hakko. I have the 936 which is comparable to the weller WES51 (analog)...cheaper than the Weller also if memory serves me right. Check out the prices at All-Spec online.

45auto · Post by **45auto** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 1:09 pm

love my hakko

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 1:13 pm

19.99 radio shack solder station has worked for me.

5150loveeddie · Post by **5150loveeddie** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 2:35 pm

Just get one that won't go above 30w.........

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 2:51 pm

mine has two settings 20w and 40w - i always use the 40watt setting.

JimiJames · Post by **JimiJames** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:38 pm

5150loveeddie wrote:Just get one that won't go above 30w.........

Yup, mine goes to "11"

45auto wrote:love my hakko

+1

Again, I belive it's technique non the less.
Wether you use a mid to high wattage iron is up to your finess.
Tip to me makes a huge difference (flat or pointy)
The guage wire you choose for your application. If your a "quick" solderer
or a "take your sweetass time" type as long as you don't us a LOW wattage iron.
At times it seems to fry guitar & amp components because the fricken solder almost always has trouble getting molten.
I shy away from those 25 watters even if it's for a circuit board for a pedal...

Other than Digital/Analogue, they both have the same specs. They both can do the same jobb...shit get the cheaper one
and take the rest of your money and by some beer !
Lot's of it 'cause your gonna need it when you get workin' on your next build.

...and for pete's sake, don't blow on the solder !

Jimmie K.

Guitar Adjuster · Post by **Guitar Adjuster** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:48 pm

The WES51 is what I use and its great, no problems at all.

ironbrad · Post by **ironbrad** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:59 am

How the heck are you guys getting a couple years out of your tips??? After I lost my expensive Weller soldering station I replaced it with a Weller WES30 30W pencil. I go through at least 2 tips on a build! I use 60/40 and keep the tip cleaned and tinned all of the time. I usually build a couple hours and unplug when I take a significant break. I have used solder paste to help clean the tip...

wuz up with me smoking tips so fast?

thx
brad

NitroLiq · Post by **NitroLiq** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:08 am

What temperature do you have the iron at? If it's too high, you'll burn the tips out quicker. I tend to pre-wire alot of things, get them into place, turn the iron on to solder everything, then turn it back off while I go wire up another section. I may turn it on here and there if I need to to tin stranded wire but I usually shape it first. I'm slow working with wire so I don't like to leave the iron on for long intervals.

45auto · Post by **45auto** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:22 am

2 tips a build, wow that is hot...

ironbrad · Post by **ironbrad** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:31 am

NitroLiq wrote:What temperature do you have the iron at? If it's too high, you'll burn the tips out quicker. I tend to pre-wire alot of things, get them into place, turn the iron on to solder everything, then turn it back off while I go wire up another section. I may turn it on here and there if I need to to tin stranded wire but I usually shape it first. I'm slow working with wire so I don't like to leave the iron on for long intervals.

I guess I could fashion a thermocouple and measure the temperature, but it is a fixed 30W Weller soldering pencil and doesn't have a variable temp adjust.

Maybe I'm just replacing the tips too fast. They get a notch in them and I replace them. The thing is, my old (read expensive) Weller station had a different type of tip and showed no signs of wear and tear after years of use??? My old Weller was not adjustable temp. either.

thx

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:25 pm

For whatever reason I've never found that the tips on the soldering pencils last like the soldering station/pen models due, irregardless of brand.