Soldering station?

[EdK]

(11-27-2015, 12:24 PM)Highpower Wrote: Looking at Hakko's site it says the 937 is discontinued and is replaced by the 888D. I don't know about that one. It just looks too "PlaySchool" or "Fisher-Price" to me.  

Unfortunately their whole line looks like that. I think maybe they had some Sesame Street kids do the external design on the new soldering/rework stations.  

Hakko still makes good stuff so I wouldn't let the looks bother you too much.  

Ed

[Highpower]

OK then, I'll keep that in mind Ed. I just don't know that I want to shell out $300 + for a soldering iron. For the amount of soldering work I do I really don't need an industrial quality tool. Although it is nice to be able to solder a joint without having to wait 30 minutes for the iron to heat up.

In hindsight, I really screwed up when I joined the USAF. They told me at that time, based on the aptitude tests they gave me - I could choose a job in electronics repair or aircraft maintenance. They provided all the training either way. I should have chosen door # 1 instead. It would have been a much more useful skill to have later on in life as it turns out.

I can do simple repairs, but I'm out in the weeds when it comes to designing circuits or working with chip sets and surface mount components etc. I do remember going up to the local drug store and using their vacuum tube tester when I was a kid though. They even sold new tubes!!!

[Mayhem]

You were thinking that it would be much cooler to tell women that you were a fighter jet mechanic weren't you Willie?

I have a $50 non-name analogue station that I bough over 15 years ago that meets my needs.

[EdK]

Willie,

Keep your eye out for a 936 or 937 on ebay. Those are nice, basic soldering irons that are well built.

Ed

[Highpower]

(11-27-2015, 06:48 PM)Mayhem Wrote: You were thinking that it would be much cooler to tell women that you were a fighter jet mechanic weren't you Willie?

Busted.



Actually I thought it would help me get my foot in the door at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) or at one of the airlines since I am not too far from the airport. Turns out the airlines don't fly fighter jets, (who knew???) so it was no help at all.

I found out too late that military training means absolutely NOTHING to an airline. "Come back when you have a civilian A&P license in your hands."

[RobWilson]

Hi Lads 

Interesting to see how many chaps are into electronics as well as metalwork ,more than I thought . I need to learn a bit lot to fill in a few gaps in some up and coming projects , all classified, hush hush ,black bag stuff   ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,world domination .   


Also I would like to report that Big Birds soldering iron station works a charm 



I still have a cone tip fitted ,the one it came with and found it great for the smaller solder joints , the iron heats up very quick and there was no problem soldering the larger parts ,power and probe plugs . 



Rob

[arvidj]

Any suggestions for a good hot air unit for smt work?

[RobWilson]

Bump ! 



And what flavour solder do the pros prefer for hand soldering ?   



Rob

[EdK]

(12-15-2015, 09:28 PM)arvidj Wrote: Any suggestions for a good hot air unit for smt work?

Sorry for the late response Arvid, I've been real busy.

When you say "good" I interpret that to mean you're willing to spend some reasonable bucks on one, as in hundreds of dollars. Is that true? If so, then I'd look at the Hako stuff. Avoid Pace, they've gone to $hit over the last few years.

What type of SMT components would you be working with?

Ed

[EdK]

(12-18-2015, 02:00 PM)RobWilson. Wrote: Bump ! 



And what flavour solder do the pros prefer for hand soldering ?   



Rob

Hi Rob,

For home projects I like this stuff and have used it for decades. For general purpose work I use the .031" diameter and for more delicate work I like to use the .015".

http://uk.futureelectronics.com/en/techn....aspx?IM=0

Hope this helps.  

Ed