My new soldering station...

[Structo]

I've had this Xytronic soldering station for a few years and it has served me well.
I have probably melted 3 pounds of solder with it.

Lately it doesn't seem to get as hot as it used to, not sure what's wrong.
It was a $50 unit with adjustable heat and I think it was 45 watts.

I bought it at Howard Electronics.

Well of course that unit has been discontinued but they have one for $55 that is actually better.
It has the digital readout of the temperature.
Xytronic has a lot of different solder tips as well so it is pretty versatile.

So I ended up buying this one, should get it later this week.

[img:300:263]http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytron ... 369DSW.jpg[/img]

$55 45 watts

http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/LF369d.html

[Bruciep07]

That looks a lot like this radioshack station..

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=3132686

Which is actually this station in disguise...

http://www.ntscope.com/Merchant2/mercha ... ode=AT201D

I have the radio shack one and it's pretty nice, finding tips is tough though, I've purchased them through Madell in the past, though I think radio shack will order them for you...

[tribi9]

That looks a lot like this radioshack station..

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=3132686

Which is actually this station in disguise...

http://www.ntscope.com/Merchant2/mercha ... ode=AT201D

I have the radio shack one and it's pretty nice, finding tips is tough though, I've purchased them through Madell in the past, though I think radio shack will order them for you...

Holy crap, and cheaper too.

[Structo]

CRAP!
I wish I had seen that yesterday!

That's a great price.

[Cliff Schecht]

[img:248:210]http://s1.hubimg.com/u/1448276_f248.jpg[/img]

After spending a bit more on an iron, I would never hesitate to do so again. I've been using this thing for about 2 years and have had to buy tips once. I'm sure I've melted pounds of solder too; I've also taught a few hundred people how to solder with this iron.

[Aurora]

That Weller is the model I just bought for two of our new staff members.
While I'll admit to not really being in contact with "cheap" stations during my working career, the importance of a good iron and high quality tips are very important for persistent results, in the long run. Good tools will always be good tools.
Other important aspects are a good wet cleaning sponge, - BTW - Weller has a chemical tip cleaner in a tiny little tin, which is really good for cleaning.

Over the years we've had a few Pace, - also as combined desoldering stations, Metcal and Ersa....but somehow I've always gone back to Weller.

[Structo]

I find that metallic Brillo pad type thing in the iron holder on the Xytronic unit really works well and I prefer it to a sponge.
The sponge cools the iron a bit when you wipe it.

I haven't tried the chemical or flux cleaner type things.

What I want to get is one of those liquid flux dispensers that has the needle tip, so you can put a drop right where you want it for those difficult soldering jobs like soldering phone plugs on guitar cords, really makes soldering to a large area easier.

[Cliff Schecht]

The Hakko stations we used at TI all had little motorized brush wheels that you shoved the tip into and it automagically cleaned it. Probably the most convenient setup you can have for the "dual-sword" SMD techniques.

[Noel Grassy]

I lurv my Hakko 926 ESD. I've replaced the heater element and 2 tips in 15 years of hearty use.
Dartanion that price seems exorbitant. I don't think I paid over $30 bux at Fry's.

I remember Velleman kits from when I first got bit by the 'lectrisickles bug.

They sold a decent enough Hi-Fi tube amp kit that just needed better xfmrs
and passive components.http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/produ ... ?id=350535

Bruciep07 gets the eye spy WMLE award! Thanks for the links.

Noel Grassy.

[Bruciep07]

Bruciep07 gets the eye spy WMLE award! Thanks for the links.
Noel Grassy.

You're welcome!

What type of tips do you guys use on you iron? I only have very small pointed tips for mine; just over .5" long and come to a pointed tip. I tend to bend them slowly from applying pressure to turrets, so they kind of get a slight "hook" shape to them... Which actually works out pretty well when soldering to turrets, it gets more of the iron in contact with the turret and sort of "holds on" to it a little better. But I want to try something different from what I have, maybe something with an angled flat tip? here are my options...

http://www.madelltech.com/images/900M_s ... g_tips.JPG

Any suggestions before I order?

[XgamerGt03]

We use the Xytronic LF-8000 at work. Its a combined soldering and desoldering station. I think Howard offers the 988D for something like 300. Its great to have, and the brass cleaning pads are much better than sponges.

The LF-349D is what I am looking at buying for home use.

The brass shavings are worth buying themselves. It keeps the iron much cleaner.

[Structo]

I am just a bit disapointed with the new Xytronic station I bought.

It has the same pencil as the 379 unit I am replacing.
While the digital readout looks cool, it doesn' mean a thing if you can't get it hot enough.

What temperature do you guys set your iron for when soldering eyelets?

I use Kester No Clean 63/37 .031" solder.

[Bruciep07]

I am just a bit disapointed with the new Xytronic station I bought.

It has the same pencil as the 379 unit I am replacing.
While the digital readout looks cool, it doesn' mean a thing if you can't get it hot enough.

What temperature do you guys set your iron for when soldering eyelets?

I use Kester No Clean 63/37 .031" solder.

With my Madell iron, using the same solder as you, I find that my iron has to be way hotter than it should to melt the solder, say 700 deg. Im sure it has to do with the thin tip I'm using, hence wanting a thicker tip. I apply a dab of solder to the tip of the iron and press it against the eyelet/turret, it's hot enough to flow solder within a second. Anything lower than 700ish and it probably takes 3 times as long to flow the solder...

[Structo]

Yeah, that pretty much mirrors my experience.
I didn't know if it was the solder or iron.

I like the "No Clean" solder but I don't think it wets as well as the rosin core.

[Bruciep07]

Agreed, I can also use regular rosin core solder at a much lower temperature that the Kester no clean...