Will
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Post by Will on Jan 2, 2010 16:21:15 GMT
Since starting with DIY Audio a couple of years ago, I've been using a weller mains powered soldering iron, with one of two tips. Nice enough, but limited in some instances. I looked at buying in a few more tips (thinking about some upcoming SMD work) but stumbled across this when looking around. www.circuitspecialists.eu/digital-display-soldering-station-csi-station2a-p-12.htmlLooks a nice bit of kit for £35, and I've found a couple of good remarks about them elsewhere. Anybody got any experience here, of them, or can recommend something in the same ballpark?
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jonclancy
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Post by jonclancy on Jan 2, 2010 17:31:56 GMT
How about a used Metcal from eBay, Will?
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Will
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Post by Will on Jan 3, 2010 19:52:49 GMT
Not heard of them, Jon, but had a look. The only ones I could find didn't have variable temp control. I'll keep having a look around though, cheers.
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Post by cyteen on Jan 3, 2010 22:20:57 GMT
The metcal irons temperature is governed by the tip type, change the tip (it just pulls out) change the temperature. The nice thing about the metcal system is that the temperature at the tip remains 'at temperature' even when the heating area of copper your soldering to is large. Nice to use but tips are about £12 a piece from farnell. If you go for models above sp200 the tips are readily available on ebay for less. see: www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/83501-metcal-questions.html#post965954
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Will
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Post by Will on Jan 4, 2010 7:09:23 GMT
Thanks for the info and link, cyteen.
£12 for the tip is a lot, but they do have a good reputation it seems.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 14:46:26 GMT
Will,
Did you ever plump for a particular model and if yes are you pleased with it?
------------------------
I was looking for one that has easily inter-changable tips, normal "pencil" to fine mainly. Reasonable recommendations please.
I am using a JBC30s normal iron at the mo, which has been very good but the more of this DIY lark I do the more flexibility I seem to require.
Of course, on a budget!
Chris
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Post by gommer on Apr 29, 2011 15:11:09 GMT
If looking for versatility on a budget, then have a look at Aoyue (Google is your friend).
They build by no means professional equipment, build quality shows it's Chinese, it's not sturdy. But if handled carefully with just a bit more patience than in a professional workshop, it does the job just as well as Weller, Pace, Metcal and the likes. They use the same tips and nozzles as one of the major brands (forgot which one), so choice is large.
Cheers, Marc
/edit: the link above shows a rebranded Aoyue solderstation.
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joethearachnid
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Post by joethearachnid on Apr 29, 2011 17:56:39 GMT
I have an Aoyue 936. It's a solid piece of kit for the price, but not without a few caveats. Whilst it heats up the main part of the tip quickly, I tend to find that the tip of the tip can take a while to reach the temperature it's saying it is. Not particularly helpful when the only way to solder tiny transistors is with the side of the tip...
-JoetheArachnid
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 29, 2011 20:20:59 GMT
Since starting with DIY Audio a couple of years ago, I've been using a weller mains powered soldering iron, with one of two tips. Nice enough, but limited in some instances. I looked at buying in a few more tips (thinking about some upcoming SMD work) but stumbled across this when looking around. www.circuitspecialists.eu/digital-display-soldering-station-csi-station2a-p-12.htmlLooks a nice bit of kit for £35, and I've found a couple of good remarks about them elsewhere. Anybody got any experience here, of them, or can recommend something in the same ballpark? Will.... I have been through quite a lot of "el cheapo" stations over the years and the VERY best of the bunch has deffo been the Maplin one www.maplin.co.uk/60w-lcd-display-solder-station-218050I have been running this puppy for 8 hours per day for the past three years with no problems at all. The replacement tips are cheap and last me about 4 - 6 weeks (constant use) @ 450C.... you can even buy a replacement iron / cable assembly for a few quid. I can wholeheartedly recommend this "station", it works and work and works and works...... no problems! With any soldering station / iron I always reckon that prevention is better than cure..... if, for example, you run one tip for months and months it may prove impossible to remove requiring a new iron. I ALWAYS spray a small bit of Teflon into the barrel of my tip before fitting and "religiously" remove it from the iron once a week..... keeps it mobile.... nothing worse than going to replace a tip and finding it is welded onto the iron with deposits!! You sometimes see those stations (the Maplin ones) on offer @ £39.99 but even at £69.99 they are a FANTASTIC buy.... certainly NOT junk and the tips last a very long time...... if you are only an "occasional" solderer then a tip could last you many years..... I replace mine every 4 - 6 weeks as routine. Mike.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 1:18:38 GMT
The Chinese jobby looks Ok and the Maplin comes with a high recommendation there! As I'm not in a rush, if anyone gets Maplin notifications, please let me know when they're bangin' 'em out cheap again Ta.
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Will
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Post by Will on May 2, 2011 10:05:28 GMT
Hi Chris, In the end, I bought an Aoyue 937 from here www.pcb-soldering.co.uk/index.php?target=products&product_id=140 along with a few different bits. It's certainly done me well over the last year or so, and worth the money. Having said that, it certainly does not get the same level of use as Mike's, so that recommendation looks bullet proof, for relatively little extra money. Mike, is there a brand name or number on the station you've linked too, perhaps Chris could find one locally at a good price?
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Post by Garage1217 on May 13, 2011 19:06:19 GMT
Ha! I cannot beleive I did not see this thread. Circuit specialists is actually about a 20 minute drive from my office. The iron you WANT AND NEED from them for lead / lead free is this unit here... www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9749Their irons are made in the same factory as some very good names however these are a fraction of the price. I have used the bk3000lf for around 2 1/2 years and it's older version for close to 8 years. They are killer units. Order a lf16d tip and enjoy! Best kept secret in soldering. Oh and scroll down to see the huge selection of tips. - Heat up, to the time you are ready to use / full temp is around 10-15 seconds with audible temp confirmation. Tips are quick change. You can calibrate the iron if you wish, mine have been close to dead on out of the box. Iron is good to 480C. Build quality is EXCELLENT. Also the driver is a 70w unit for the iron. Another awesome feature is that from where you hold the iron, from that point to the length of the tip is rather short compared to most irons so you have very precision control when doing detail work. I sling solder for repair and assembly for part of my living... trust me... this is one heck of an iron! Oh... and for those that get one, thank me later
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 13, 2011 22:32:25 GMT
Ha! I cannot beleive I did not see this thread. Circuit specialists is actually about a 20 minute drive from my office. The iron you WANT AND NEED from them for lead / lead free is this unit here... www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9749Their irons are made in the same factory as some very good names however these are a fraction of the price. I have used the bk3000lf for around 2 1/2 years and it's older version for close to 8 years. They are killer units. Order a lf16d tip and enjoy! Best kept secret in soldering. Oh and scroll down to see the huge selection of tips. - Heat up, to the time you are ready to use / full temp is around 10-15 seconds with audible temp confirmation. Tips are quick change. You can calibrate the iron if you wish, mine have been close to dead on out of the box. Iron is good to 480C. Build quality is EXCELLENT. Also the driver is a 70w unit for the iron. Another awesome feature is that from where you hold the iron, from that point to the length of the tip is rather short compared to most irons so you have very precision control when doing detail work. I sling solder for repair and assembly for part of my living... trust me... this is one heck of an iron! Oh... and for those that get one, thank me later You like it so much why don't you buy the company? Maybe you own the company already
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 13, 2011 22:37:50 GMT
Victor Kiam liked ( liked licking it) so much he bought the company..... An essential Muff Diver's tool....... "Hi, I'm Victor, I want to shave your vagina"
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2011 12:04:28 GMT
;D ;D ;D ;D
I liked vagina so much I bought the queen but realised I spelt it wrong too late.
HRH Prince Philip
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2011 12:12:29 GMT
Off to the Tower with you ! Elizabeth Regina
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2011 12:55:57 GMT
Off to the Tower with you ! Elizabeth Regina What's happened to our relationship? You said I could call you Vaggie. And little Charlie was our Vaggie Mite since we were thinking of sending him to Ozzie for having big ears.
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jonclancy
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Post by jonclancy on May 21, 2011 22:32:54 GMT
Ha! I cannot beleive I did not see this thread. Circuit specialists is actually about a 20 minute drive from my office. The iron you WANT AND NEED from them for lead / lead free is this unit here... www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9749Their irons are made in the same factory as some very good names however these are a fraction of the price. I have used the bk3000lf for around 2 1/2 years and it's older version for close to 8 years. They are killer units. Order a lf16d tip and enjoy! Best kept secret in soldering. Oh and scroll down to see the huge selection I suppose 220 Eurovolts is out of the question?? Price is spectacular, but shame they are not universal input voltage.
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Post by Garage1217 on May 29, 2011 6:41:00 GMT
They are a pretty large company, not sure if I have enough to buy them in my wallet lol I just endorse the solder station Ha! I cannot beleive I did not see this thread. Circuit specialists is actually about a 20 minute drive from my office. The iron you WANT AND NEED from them for lead / lead free is this unit here... www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9749Their irons are made in the same factory as some very good names however these are a fraction of the price. I have used the bk3000lf for around 2 1/2 years and it's older version for close to 8 years. They are killer units. Order a lf16d tip and enjoy! Best kept secret in soldering. Oh and scroll down to see the huge selection of tips. - Heat up, to the time you are ready to use / full temp is around 10-15 seconds with audible temp confirmation. Tips are quick change. You can calibrate the iron if you wish, mine have been close to dead on out of the box. Iron is good to 480C. Build quality is EXCELLENT. Also the driver is a 70w unit for the iron. Another awesome feature is that from where you hold the iron, from that point to the length of the tip is rather short compared to most irons so you have very precision control when doing detail work. I sling solder for repair and assembly for part of my living... trust me... this is one heck of an iron! Oh... and for those that get one, thank me later You like it so much why don't you buy the company? Maybe you own the company already
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 29, 2011 21:12:00 GMT
Hi Will,
The only markings on the station are MAPLIN.... it is obviously Chinese made but no clues as to by who either inside or outside.... all I CAN say is, it is a quality piece of kit, extremely reliable and WELL worth the asking price.... as I said earlier, mine is on for most of the day, EVERY day, and it just keep going and going.... as long as you replace the tips (which are CHEAP) every now and then you are good to go for years.
Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 29, 2011 21:47:28 GMT
BTW.... £4.99 for FIVE spare tips.... code N27FZ..... I would tend to buy twenty of them as, sometimes they are out of stock and there's nothing worse than having a soldering iron without tips!! If you search for N27FZ on the Maplin website "no results" will come up.... you actually have to click on the "accessories" tab to find them www.maplin.co.uk/60w-lcd-display-solder-station-218050I bought three of these stations when they were on offer, 5 spare irons and a cornucopia of tips thinking that if one of them packed in I would have back up..... the bastards are BULLET proof! Antex my Royal arse.... license to print money.... my last station was a very expensive Antex type and it ATE bits... it "literally" went up in a puff of smoke one day, I would never trust them again. Anyways..... I recommend these stations / bits wholeheartedly..... I like them so much I may buy the company..... I have already renamed the Lady Remington to the "Muff clipper" and sales have gone crazy from Muff divers around the globe..... here is some feedback I have received: "since using the muff clipper on my wife I have been enjoying my morning toast a lot better.... so much nicer without hair in my teeth.... thank you for such a wonderful product!" "Muff divers of the world unite!.... your Muff Clipper has made the experience sooo much nicer on my tongue.... I can actually "see" when my wife has thrush now.... a big thanks to the Muff Clipper" "I'm a back door rimmer and your muff clipper has been invaluable.... no more klingons to chew on.... this is rimming at it's finest (rimmingtongue) , many thanks!" Believe me folks.... the Maplin temperature controlled station is to DIY'ers what the Muff clipper is to snatch divers
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elysion
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Post by elysion on Jun 23, 2011 23:32:07 GMT
I've seen this thread just after it had been started and I've read it with great interest.
This Maplin soldering station is exactly what I'm searching for. I'm still searching for good/reliable sources for soldering equipment here in Switzerland. I know there are many sources, but until now I wasn't able to find a good soldering station in the price range of that Maplin model.
I've seen also cheaper soldering stations on Swiss auction plattforms (ricardo.ch), but I've some doubts that I could get spare parts in the long term. And I simply don't know how good they are (while being still more expensive as the Maplin soldering station).
I could get also ERSA and Weller equipment without problems, but the prices are far beyond what I can spend for soldering at the moment (at least for the better models and with some spare parts like tips).
Perhaps a good idea to buy from Germany or UK at the moment. Currently, Pound Sterling and Euros are very weak compared to Swiss Francs.
BTW: 480 degrees Celsius is rather high for a soldering station. The range of most soldering station ends at 450 degrees Celsius.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 18:43:09 GMT
Ooooooooooooooooooooh, I found this Maplin station on special. Is it safe to assume that it's effectively the older model of the one Mike pointed out? £40 UK delivered! Either way, is it as good as it looks? I'd take the precaution of nabbing a few tips and possibly a spare wand in case it later became deleted.
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elysion
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Post by elysion on Aug 21, 2011 19:36:34 GMT
It's a hot price. I have to look if Maplin ships also to Switzerland. (I really WANT to begin with soldering.)
The other soldering station mentioned above is also great (and would also fit my budget).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2011 2:31:37 GMT
It's a hot price. I have to look if Maplin ships also to Switzerland. (I really WANT to begin with soldering.) Christian, If they don't or won't ship to Switzerland, I can buy it for you here and ship it to you - you could PP me the cost of the station plus shipping. (One good turn deserves another) EDIT - Just checked the Maplin's website Christian, if you want me to get this for you and ship it over p.m. me and we'll get the ball rolling, Jeff
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