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| Soldering iron recommendations | |
| Posted by: smrieck511 on 2023-03-03 08:10:03 Any favorites? Looking for something smaller of course and what is the recommended wattage for logic board work? | |
| Posted by: chiptripper on 2023-03-03 12:18:08 I went through two cheapo irons before settling on a Hakko FX-888D. Wish I’d just gone that way from the start. It’s not small, but was a total level up. If small is a must I’ve heard good things about the Pinecil. | |
Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2023-03-03 12:22:12I went through two cheapo irons before settling on a Hakko FX-888D. Wish I’d just gone that way from the start. It’s not small, but was a total level up. If small is a must I’ve heard good things about the Pinecil.I have the same Hakko, my only complaint being occasionally it isn't able to keep the tip at temperate on joints with larger thermal mass. I may find one with a bigger wattage heater at some point. Temperature controlled aside I used a 20 or 25 watt Weller with changeable tips for ages. I still use it sometimes if I know I'm going to hit a lot of ground planes, since it has better thermal mass backing it up (it feels like, anyway). I would still give the hakko FX-888D 4/5 stars. And it's been really nice for surface mount assembly or different solder compositions. It also heats up really fast, awesome for prototyping. | |
| Posted by: Phipli on 2023-03-03 12:29:53 Going to upset everyone by pointing out I got really good use out of one of these, it was excellent. Still use it sometimes. Don't underestimate cheap irons. Get the right plug and voltage for where you live. I did change the plug on mine because it wasn't a good one. | |
| Posted by: Fizzbinn on 2023-03-03 12:50:03 I really like my "Pinecil" - https://www.pine64.org/pinecil/ It replaced my TS100, which I also liked, but has improved ergonomics/performace. The Pinecil uses the same tips as the TS100 so I didn't have to rebuy those. I use a Nekteck 60W USB C Charger as the power supply, heats up super fast and has no problem handing recapping projects. oh and its pretty cheap too! ...looks like there is a "Pinecil v2" now that supports even more power | |
| Posted by: Unknown_K on 2023-03-03 13:36:01 I use all kids. WEP 938D hot tweezers for SMD caps  898d+ Hot air and soldering pencil rework station  A $12 soldering pencil with LCD display and removable tips.  | |
Posted by: Phipli on 2023-03-03 13:37:03WEP 938D hot tweezers for SMD capsI had some of these and they stopped working the second time I used them. | |
| Posted by: Unknown_K on 2023-03-03 13:39:54 Mine still works but you tend to need a bit of clearance on a board to use them and they feel a bit weird to me since I don't use them that much. Mostly I just use the hot air station and that soldering iron unless it's a quick small job then I use the cheap pencil or another soldering iron that is closer (I tend to keep all my old ones if they still work). | |
| Posted by: Unknown_K on 2023-03-03 13:43:53 Also if you do any thru hole desoldering a S993a desoldering vacuum gun is a must.  | |
Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-03-03 13:51:26Also if you do any thru hole desoldering a S993a desoldering vacuum gun is a must.Man that thing looks like a beast. Cost? | |
| Posted by: Unknown_K on 2023-03-03 13:51:52 $120-150 depending where you get it I think. | |
| Posted by: Cam on 2023-03-03 14:24:52 For irons I use a Pinecil, and/or a Rhagon RJ2090 that work great for any assembly jobs I've done. For taking things apart I use a S993a desolder gun to remove thru hole devices, and a 858d hot air station for removing SMD stuff. | |
| Posted by: avadondragon on 2023-03-03 14:55:06 I use an AOYUE INT 950+ 65W and it has both an iron and tweezers. Really great value for what it is. Here's a link: https://www.sra-solder.com/aoyue-950-dual-function-repair-station-refurbished | |
| Posted by: Daniël on 2023-03-03 15:26:08 I'm really satisfied with my Aixun T3A. It's a Chinese brand soldering station, that they sell in a couple of variants, depending on which type of soldering tip connection you want to go with. That being Hakko T12, Hakko 936 or JBC T245. I personally went for the JBC T245, because there are quite a few specialty JBC tips that are useful for specific tasks (wide broom-style tip for easily clearing BGA pads with solder wick for instance), and they are generally really performant. The station definitely doesn't hold them back in my experience.  | |
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2023-03-03 15:34:06I'm really satisfied with my Aixun T3A I too have a T3A with the JBC 245 handle, and I really like it. I like it so much, in fact, that I got a T3B as well, which is for driving smaller irons with finer tips, because for fine work I need all the help I can get. Both have been really good and solid so far. | |
| Posted by: joshc on 2023-03-03 16:28:41 I use a Yihua 862D+ SMD rework station which has a soldering iron and hot air gun in the same device. Not had any issues with it. I think they've now replaced it with a newer model, the 862BD+ | |
| Posted by: davidg5678 on 2023-03-03 17:33:23 I use this T12 soldering station: https://usa.banggood.com/V2_1S-T12-...ca&a=1677893008.7628&akmClientCountry=America I've been really pleased with it over the last few years, and it was a fantastic deal when I bought it about five years ago. One thing to note: it was only $40 when I bought it in 2018, but it is $70 now. I'm curious about the new style of USB-C soldering irons that have since gained popularity. They probably offer better "bang for the buck" these days, although I imagine a more powerful soldering iron is still required to heat up a beefy ground plane. | |
Posted by: pball52998 on 2023-03-03 18:16:35Hakko FX-888D+1 spent the money on that as my first iron. Love it | |
| Posted by: ScutBoy on 2023-03-03 18:32:57 I will also put in a recommendation for the Hakko 888 | |
| Posted by: pezter22 on 2023-03-03 19:00:22 My first soldering station was the Weller WE1010NA. It's a nice entry level station. I've purchased a much better Weller unit, but I still have it handy as a secondary station. | |
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