Soldering station recommendations
Discussion
Buy this then let me know if it's any good 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/YIHUA-Soldering-Lead-Free...
Will be interested to see what options this topic turns up as I'm thinking about getting something myself.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/YIHUA-Soldering-Lead-Free...
Will be interested to see what options this topic turns up as I'm thinking about getting something myself.
be really good to find one that works well that includes the hot air gun and the other accessories. Ah, I hadn't checked the reviews on that one. They look rather...mixed. That's a shame as what I have read previously Yihua seem a decent branded Chinese option. The iron and gun are on connectors so could presumably be upgraded if necessary.
I was originally looking at this but its a chunk above your budget. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldering-Charging-Voltme...
When you say PCB work, I was assuming you mean surface mount and therefore the hot air gun is pretty much a requirement. This is at the point where I am now - struggling to do surface mount with an iron. Even though I have a basic soldering station (iron only) I actually use a cheapy USB iron for through hole stuff.
I was originally looking at this but its a chunk above your budget. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldering-Charging-Voltme...
When you say PCB work, I was assuming you mean surface mount and therefore the hot air gun is pretty much a requirement. This is at the point where I am now - struggling to do surface mount with an iron. Even though I have a basic soldering station (iron only) I actually use a cheapy USB iron for through hole stuff.
You don't really need hot air for surface mount - I've done it many times with a largish tip (2mm).
I only use hot air for pulling chips off boards for reuse.
I would always recommend getting the highest wattage you can - it helps with heat soak if you are soldering something big (such as a thick wire or a large ground plane).
I have an Aoyue 2930 which combines the tips with the heater element. It makes them a bit more expensive, but if an element dies, I just need to change the tip.
I also have an Aoyue 857A++ hot air reflow to go with it.
I got them from pcb-soldering.co.uk; the 2930 is just over budget though (£108).
I only use hot air for pulling chips off boards for reuse.
I would always recommend getting the highest wattage you can - it helps with heat soak if you are soldering something big (such as a thick wire or a large ground plane).
I have an Aoyue 2930 which combines the tips with the heater element. It makes them a bit more expensive, but if an element dies, I just need to change the tip.
I also have an Aoyue 857A++ hot air reflow to go with it.
I got them from pcb-soldering.co.uk; the 2930 is just over budget though (£108).
I would be tempted to go for something used. Weller irons good all rounders for PCB work and easily available for £50 in good nick. But if I could find a Metcal used for less than £100 I would buy one.
I used Metcal in work for years and my present one has lived with me for the last 20 odd years, Nice bits of kit to use.
I used Metcal in work for years and my present one has lived with me for the last 20 odd years, Nice bits of kit to use.
Have a look for D00675 on farnell. It used to be sold by Maplin.
https://uk.farnell.com/duratool/d00675/soldering-s...
I've had one for years. It's great, heats up almost instantly, nice to hold, plentiful cheap tip availability.
£66.
Used it for many PCB builds with ICs.
https://uk.farnell.com/duratool/d00675/soldering-s...
I've had one for years. It's great, heats up almost instantly, nice to hold, plentiful cheap tip availability.
£66.
Used it for many PCB builds with ICs.
I found this Weller which looks good ergonimically but the price is way out there:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-Professional-1010-...
It's got a wide temperature range - but do you really need it to go down to 100 deg C or is it 350 deg for most things?
Is it really worth £150? I'd like to think it's all nice inside but I'm not so sure.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-Professional-1010-...
It's got a wide temperature range - but do you really need it to go down to 100 deg C or is it 350 deg for most things?
Is it really worth £150? I'd like to think it's all nice inside but I'm not so sure.
pistonheadforum said:
I found this Weller which looks good ergonimically but the price is way out there:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-Professional-1010-...
It's got a wide temperature range - but do you really need it to go down to 100 deg C or is it 350 deg for most things?
Is it really worth £150? I'd like to think it's all nice inside but I'm not so sure.
The main reason for the temp diff (for me) is when switching between leaded and lead free. I always use leaded now. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weller-Professional-1010-...
It's got a wide temperature range - but do you really need it to go down to 100 deg C or is it 350 deg for most things?
Is it really worth £150? I'd like to think it's all nice inside but I'm not so sure.
I have two weller irons too, and to be honest, they get on my tits. The one in my workshop has to be run through a voltage dropper to stop it overheating, and even then, chews through bits, and now, you can't buy bits for it , adn it's not an old model! (used in a semi factory environment - powered on for 2-6 hours at a time, regularly cleaned and always tinned)
Edited by Griffith4ever on Tuesday 23 January 18:47
What you are paying for is the 70W rating as this heats the tip up faster which can cope with soldering a bigger joint, 50W is probably the minimum for a half decent iron.
The cheaper 25W irons take forever to heat up before you can do anything and then stick to the work as they lose the heat and the solder solidifies.
For perspective on price take a look at the Metcal ones, heat up in seconds but not cheap.
The cheaper 25W irons take forever to heat up before you can do anything and then stick to the work as they lose the heat and the solder solidifies.
For perspective on price take a look at the Metcal ones, heat up in seconds but not cheap.
I would ask about spares such as tips and heating element, easily available for known brands but for very light duty I can see the attraction.
Critical thing to check if you buy is the 13A plug, this must be fused, if the earth pin is metal it should not be partially sleeved and the plug is similar size to other plugs you have.
There are lots of dangerous UK plugs out there which are undersized and unfused so worth checking and return product if you get one with a bad mains plug and report to trading standards.
I bought a 3d print filament dryer from Amazon, known brand with dangerous mains plug, same design from a different brand had a review where the power supply had exploded after a few hours use.
Critical thing to check if you buy is the 13A plug, this must be fused, if the earth pin is metal it should not be partially sleeved and the plug is similar size to other plugs you have.
There are lots of dangerous UK plugs out there which are undersized and unfused so worth checking and return product if you get one with a bad mains plug and report to trading standards.
I bought a 3d print filament dryer from Amazon, known brand with dangerous mains plug, same design from a different brand had a review where the power supply had exploded after a few hours use.
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