soldering iron advice please

[noelex]

The TS100 is excellent for the price.

The modern direct heating system it is a significant improvement. I have a more expensive soldering iron and the TS100 has many of the same advantages at a bargain price.

 

[elton]

Of course, but the OP did ask for basic £20 - £30 iron recommendations. Antex do soldering stations too, by the way.

Any Antex iron will do for light work. For intricate electronics 15W will suffice. No need for a heat sink or temperature control in the hands of a skilled user,

 

[Skylark]

........For intricate electronics 15W will suffice.

+1
I rarely solder these days but I have 4 irons.

The multipurpose gas iron is handy to keep on a boat. I last used it to solder red led night lamp inside my steering compasses. These work remarkably well outside. They are very good with heat shrink and sealing rope ends. I also have a 12v iron on my boat but it’s still unused in its box.

I posted here a while back when my very old 25w iron died and bought a 40w Weller Medium Duty as a result. I’ve since discovered that 40w is too big for my domestic needs. I don’t like it.

Just yesterday I had to resolder a broken wire to the steering column horn ring on my 50 year old car. I used a 50+ year old 15w Henley Solon iron and it was a delight to use.

Bigger isn’t always better. Having clean surfaces and a good flux is more important than a fanciful iron. Keep it simple ?

 

[noelex]

I posted here a while back when my very old 25w iron died and bought a 40w Weller Medium Duty as a result. I’ve since discovered that 40w is too big for my domestic needs. I don’t like it.

This was likely because the particular 40w iron was too hot, physically too large, or the tip was too large.

These problems are all fixable with technology, and this need not be very expensive. High powered soldering irons can have a small, light hand-piece that can fitted with a very small tip when this is required and of course will keep the temperature constant.

They will supply 25w or less if this all the power that is needed, but can supply much more power if the components are acting as large heat sink.

 

[LadyInBed]

Tips are the thing. You need different sizes. You need to replace them from time to time.

Another Tip (pun intended)
For fine work I wrap a length of appropriate gauge copper wire around the tip (I use wire stripped from old solid core household wiring), then file the end to a flat or point.

 

[lw395]

This was likely because the particular 40w iron was too hot, physically too large, or the tip was too large.

These problems are all fixable with technology, and this need not be very expensive. High powered soldering irons can have a small, light hand-piece that can fitted with a very small tip when this is required and of course will keep the temperature constant.

They will supply 25w or less if this all the power that is needed, but can supply much more power if the components are acting as large heat sink.

I agree.
I've spent a fair few hours soldering small stuff with 50W irons under a microscope. Change the tip and I can use the same iron for soldering 50Amp power supply components.

It looks like Rapid have discontinued the irons I bought about 4 years ago. :-(

 

[vas]

am I the only one that has problems with the dremel gas thing? started playing up and now will either not start or if it starts it goes ballistic and cannot regulate/turnoff?
Further tip is completely messed up worn way too much

tempted to try the first suggestion (Always like cheap things :-D )
V.

 

[Rappey]

I did a mobile phone internals transplant and broke some tiny soldering.
Wrapped a piece of ring main earth wire around the soldering iron tip , filed the end of the wire to an angle and successfully resoldered.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Just yesterday I had to resolder a broken wire to the steering column horn ring on my 50 year old car. I used a 50+ year old 15w Henley Solon iron and it was a delight to use.

For a while I earned my living testing superconducting wire. A sample about 30cm long was wrapped round a tubular copper mandrel and then held in place by dipping flux and then a solder bath. That was the easy bit. The hard bit was attaching two voltage sensing wires three turns apart in the middle because the sheer copper bulk of the assembly meant that it soaked up almost any heat you threw at it. For this job only we kept a real antique. Made by Wolf, maybe pre-war, wooden handle, huge lump of a tip and a flattened oval housing 8" long in between which held the element. We called it "the electric cricket bat". Unfortunately elements didn't last long and had to be made in-house by The Technician Who New How so if it was unavailable the job had to be done with a proper soldering iron - a lump of copper heated with a blow torch.

 

[rogerthebodger]

You mean like these

I used to use one of these many many years ago heated on the kitchen gas stove.

 

[JumbleDuck]

You mean like these

That's babies. Temperature controlled soldering stations hah.

 

[sarabande]

I have gone for a digital bit of kit.

Preciva Soldering Iron Station, 60W Professional Digital Soldering Station, 90-480℃ Temperature Adjustable Repair Tool Kit with Soldering Tips, Solder Wire and Frame, Sponge, Suction Device, etc.: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools


Delivery tomorrow