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Choosing a Soldering Iron?


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19 hours ago, Andy Hayter said:

Can I suggest the following:

Buy CSI Deluxe Premier75W Digital Soldering Station from Circuit Specialists - Circuit Specialists

 

This unit has transformed my soldering  allowing  brass and white metal soldering at the touch of a switch.  Very rapid heat up - so ideal for the simple one off job.   I struggle to find a fault.

 

Edit:  Sorry for some reason links are not transferring.  

 

www.curcuitspecialists.eu then look for 75W soldering centre

 

 

Great to see there are others in agreement about this iron. I think that it will be the one that I go for. Really great price actually, in my opinion. Many thanks.

 

Matti

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14 minutes ago, doilum said:

At the risk of reigniting a settled thread, I could make a strong case for a cheap iron and investing in an RSU.

 

No please, be my guest. I haven't put my money on anything yet. Happy to hear anything and everything.

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2 hours ago, Matti8 said:

 

Great to see there are others in agreement about this iron. I think that it will be the one that I go for. Really great price actually, in my opinion. Many thanks.

 

Matti

 

Matti

 

Do buy an extra tip or two especially a couple of larger ones, I bought a pack of 10, but in future I will just buy the odd large one. Make sure first time out with each new tip you tin them

 

https://www.circuitspecialists.eu/set-of-10-standard-sized-soldering-tips/

 

 

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44 minutes ago, hayfield said:

 

Matti

 

Do buy an extra tip or two especially a couple of larger ones, I bought a pack of 10, but in future I will just buy the odd large one. Make sure first time out with each new tip you tin them

 

https://www.circuitspecialists.eu/set-of-10-standard-sized-soldering-tips/

 

 

 

Will do. Appreciate any advice because I really have limited experience in the field.

 

Matti

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1 hour ago, Oldddudders said:

Resistance Soldering Unit.

Sorry shouldn't have used an abbreviation. Bought mine about 25 years ago from London Road Models when I was faced by a triple etch overlay on each individual window on a rake of four Thompson suburban coaches. When I finally killed it a couple of years ago they took it back and rebuilt it for a fraction of the price of a new one.

It doesn't do everything and I still need a conventional iron to tin one of the surfaces but I wouldn't be without it. That said I sometimes attempt a full job with the ordinary iron for the fun of it.

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On 26/11/2020 at 20:19, Matti8 said:

Could anyone suggest a cheap soldering iron for kitbuilding? I have both brass and whitemetal kits that need putting together.

 

I have heard that a minimum of 25 watts is recommended for a non temperature controlled iron. Also I hear recommendation of using an Antex. Problem is over here I cannot find one and eBay offers them at ridiculous prices not to mention shipping. I can however find a Weller 25 watt quite cheaply. My question is: would it be just as good as the Antex? Any very cheap temperature controlled alternatives that people have used for this kind of work?

 

Matti

Hello Matt

 

I've been using Antex for many years but really went off them following 2 poor irons I bought a few years back. However, spurred on by a discussion here, I contacted them and found them really helpful and am pleased to say that I've gone back to using Antex- both work and hobby- and found them to be well ahead of other makes.

 

I'd certainly recommend staying with the tried and trusted make. I have a couple of Draper irons (25w and 50w) and, to be frank, they don't work anything like as well as the Antex ones. I can't comment on Weller.

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22 minutes ago, Derekstuart said:

Hello Matt

 

I've been using Antex for many years but really went off them following 2 poor irons I bought a few years back. However, spurred on by a discussion here, I contacted them and found them really helpful and am pleased to say that I've gone back to using Antex- both work and hobby- and found them to be well ahead of other makes.

 

I'd certainly recommend staying with the tried and trusted make. I have a couple of Draper irons (25w and 50w) and, to be frank, they don't work anything like as well as the Antex ones. I can't comment on Weller.

 

Whilst I now have a solder station I used for years 2 Antex 25 watt Irons, had to replace one element and wore out many tips. They are excellent irons, temperature controlled solder stations though offer a bit more, but they are more expensive

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RSU?  Yes, it can be very useful.  However, at over £200 it's also a bit of a luxury.  It tends to be true that you get what you pay for, so get a decent soldering iron first, ideally one of the soldering stations that have been mentioned with plenty of wattage, and then in a couple of years, if you're doing a lot of soldering and have saved up the necessary cash, get an RSU.  I use my RSU every now and again for jobs that it's really good at, but not nearly as often as I use my conventional iron (there are quite a lot stories of people who have splashed out on an RSU and then left it lying unused in a drawer for years).

 

DT

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I use my soldering station daily, often for hours at a time. I have a Hakko and it is worth every cent of its cost. Takes the guessing out of soldering everything from white metal detail bits to thick brass and nickel silver frames and rail.

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21 minutes ago, down the sdjr said:

The circuit specialist 75w station and 10 extra tips was delivered at 8.30am today after ordering yesterday. That was speedy delivery.

Time to do some tinning.


I be interested how you get on with it as I’m tempted to get one for the work bench  

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8 hours ago, Andymsa said:


I be interested how you get on with it as I’m tempted to get one for the work bench  

I am a bit of a beginner when it comes to soldering, so I don't think I could give a review with my limited knowledge. But.

I have been using it today to solder some nickel silver code 75 bullhead rails together at 350 degrees, it heats up really quick I mean in seconds, works nice, but I am going to have to get used to it.

It's got an inactive auto shut down that you can set between 10mins to 99mins. That's good for forgetful me.

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2 hours ago, down the sdjr said:

I am a bit of a beginner when it comes to soldering, so I don't think I could give a review with my limited knowledge. But.

I have been using it today to solder some nickel silver code 75 bullhead rails together at 350 degrees, it heats up really quick I mean in seconds, works nice, but I am going to have to get used to it.

It's got an inactive auto shut down that you can set between 10mins to 99mins. That's good for forgetful me.

 

 

I never read the instructions, so have not found it !!

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