Bobsticle
De Villes Advocaat
I got a little pistol grip one from maplins for simple stuff. Bout a tenner I think. Its the best one I have used but then again I too have had some chit ones in the past.
The military always used Weller, with which, you can have many different tips which change the temperature and tip shape. I use one which must be 30 years old.
Antex aren't too bad for the smaller iron.
Hakko make some good solder stations
Dremel make some nice gas irons
I've got:
a solder station with many different tips, variable temperature's and hot air blower.
An ancient Weller iron. 240V
A ancient gas pen solder iron bought at maplins, tips for that one are a problem, again 30 + years old. I may buy a dremel pen type to replace it.
A dremel versaflame silver solder, soldering torch.
Then of course you can get resistance soldering irons, quite expensive, but very useful for some jobs. I haven't got one... Yet..
You need to decide what you want it for, then Decide how much you want to spend, the buy the best you can get...
Antex aren't too bad for the smaller iron.
Hakko make some good solder stations
Dremel make some nice gas irons
I've got:
a solder station with many different tips, variable temperature's and hot air blower.
An ancient Weller iron. 240V
A ancient gas pen solder iron bought at maplins, tips for that one are a problem, again 30 + years old. I may buy a dremel pen type to replace it.
A dremel versaflame silver solder, soldering torch.
Then of course you can get resistance soldering irons, quite expensive, but very useful for some jobs. I haven't got one... Yet..
You need to decide what you want it for, then Decide how much you want to spend, the buy the best you can get...
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
I've got three different wattage ones with fine to large tips. They were only cheapo from Maplins. I don't find the irons a problem, it's my lack of a third hand that holds me back.
Col
Col
meego
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info guys. I served my time in an engineering shop and spent a few years working in the welding fabrication, but I can't solder worth a damn. 
I read about Weller being good, but apparently the new ones are not so good as they have moved the manufacture to China.
I read about Weller being good, but apparently the new ones are not so good as they have moved the manufacture to China.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
Me too. But I use one that runs butane propane mix, heats things up quicker.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
Thanks for the info guys. I served my time in an engineering shop and spent a few years working in the welding fabrication, but I can't solder worth a damn.
I read about Weller being good, but apparently the new ones are not so good as they have moved the manufacture to China.
As you are a good welder, you will pick it up pretty quick with the right equipment.
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
I refuse to buy any ex British product if the manufacturing has been moved to China or Asia. The trouble is I'm running out of stuff to buy
Col
Col
meego
Well-Known Member
I'm not used to chasing the workpiece all over the place when I'm welding though
Turboman
Mab An Gov
I'm not used to chasing the workpiece all over the place when I'm welding though
Try using little clamps, even wooden clothespegs, to hold one piece. Then move the other bit up to it with your free hand, or fix the two pieces in clamps, so that they are touching for soldering.
brian47
Well-Known Member
I'd go with Weller too. My TCP must be about 30 years old now. I have an Solon 12 volt iron, another very small 240 volt Antex and a Weller butane iron.
Regarding how to solder, the thing to remember is that cleanliness is all, unlike welding where the heat can burn its way through any oxides on the surface to the metal below, in soldering you're not using that much heat, nor are you fusing or bonding the two metal parts together. You're actually using a lower temperature metal, a lead/tin alloy for soft soldering or in the case of brazing, brass for hard soldering, as a glue to join the parts together, and as you probably know, glue doesn't work too well if the parts are dirty.
Regarding how to solder, the thing to remember is that cleanliness is all, unlike welding where the heat can burn its way through any oxides on the surface to the metal below, in soldering you're not using that much heat, nor are you fusing or bonding the two metal parts together. You're actually using a lower temperature metal, a lead/tin alloy for soft soldering or in the case of brazing, brass for hard soldering, as a glue to join the parts together, and as you probably know, glue doesn't work too well if the parts are dirty.
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We use Weller TCP at the factory, got mostly 24V irons but there are a couple of 240V ones as well.
Used to like Adcola, there's a couple of those as well.
Weller are pretty much the standard for most industrial users.
Peter
Used to like Adcola, there's a couple of those as well.
Weller are pretty much the standard for most industrial users.
Peter
Ian Maycock
Well-Known Member
I've got a portasol super pro gas one runs on lighter fuel, you can get loads of different tips and the flame is adjustable on the bottom. Think it's really good and no wires to pull about.
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
