Soldering Pencil vs Station

[benallison]

I'm due. The Ratshack pencil has melted its last!

So, I'm torn: I'll be doing mostly PCB work (pedals, preamp kits, guitar electronics, basic rework, etc), and am thinking something like the Weller WES51 would be ideal.

But, would a Weller 40 pencil be enough? I'd love to be able to spend as little as possible!

[imbuedblue]

Go for the WES51, or if budget is that big of a concern try this:

http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/379.html

I own both a station and two Weller pencils. I tend to use the station for most work as it is easier to control the temperature and I like the smaller conical tips. I keep a pencil in my gig repair case for emergencies and occasionally bust out the 40-watt pencil for soldering chassis grounds in amps or onto the backs of guitar pots when a larger mass tip is necessary.

[danielzink]

Buy a station now or continue buying soldering pencils until you've spent enough to have bought a decent station..........

You can get a Xytronic 379 at Howard Electronics for 50$.......

I haven't even gotten close to replacing my first tip in a little over a year...

Dan

[benallison]

Buy a station now or continue buying soldering pencils until you've spent enough to have bought a decent station..........

You can get a Xytronic 379 at Howard Electronics for 50$.......

The thing is the Weller stations more or less use a pencil, connected to a base, so I'm unclear as to what makes one better.

You can get a Xytronic 379 at Howard Electronics for 50$.......

I haven't even gotten close to replacing my first tip in a little over a year...

Is that because of using a station, or using better tips? Or cleaning them more rigorously?

[benallison]

I wanted to get the Xytronic a while back, but shipping to Canada kills it for me.

My only real options are all Weller: standalone pencil, WLC100 and the WES51.

[Taylor]

The Radio Shack tips are really junky compared to a station's tips. The better tips (which cost about the same as the Radio Shack tips) have a special coating that keeps them from getting corroding and disintegrating. I was in your same spot for a while, wondering what makes a station so much better, then I got one and found out. I bought an Aoyue station with digital temperature readout, and it's awesome. About $50, same as the Xytronic.

So,
-tips last way longer (I haven't needed to replace the tip in the 6 months I've had it),
-the pencil is more lightweight and smaller than a one-piece iron, so handling it, getting it in tight spots is way easier.
-Having temperature control is great - you can crank up the heat and solder to audio jacks and enclosures without waiting forever.
-The iron takes just a couple of seconds to heat up instead of a minute or two.
-It actually works out the same in price as a $10 iron and a new tip every couple of weeks (depending on how much you solder)

I've been thinking for a while about upgrading to the Aoyue with a built in hot air system now that I'm doing some SMD stuff. So, if I do, I would sell my station for pretty cheap.

[alparent]

I've been thinking for a while about upgrading to the Aoyue with a built in hot air system now that I'm doing some SMD stuff. So, if I do, I would sell my station for pretty cheap.

OK! How much?

Before the end of March?

[G. Hoffman]

I can't speak for other stations, but I LOVE my two WES-51's.  (One at home, and one at work.)  One of mine is actually the WESD-51 digital version, which is a little easier to set the temperature on.  I actually think the D is worth it.


Gabriel

[PRR]

The Radio Shed junk is mostly junk, intended for doing one rush-job on Saturday. They used to stock the better stuff; half my solder tools are from the Shed. But it didn't sell (I got much of my stash on close-out). If you are going to USE your tool, shop elsewhere.

A -good- iron is a lifetime buy. I bought several Weller-grade handles, heaters, and tips back in the 1970s, and still use them. 99% the one handle, one heater, and now that I've semi-accepted iron-clad tips, just one tip since 1995. (The old copper tips would burn-up in a few hundred hours.) I got spares, but at this rate I'll out-live them.

Got a "temp controlled station", hated it. But this is very much a matter of taste and style. I'm a stone-age man, I like stone-age tools, as long as it is GOOD stone. Gabriel has been trained in a high-craft woodshop, appreciates a fine hand-gouge but also a router with micrometer adjustment.

It's possible to do fine work either way. But so many young guys and old experts like the temp-controlled solder stations, that you should probably try that before you hunt for the last of the good dumb irons.

[benallison]

So something like the WLC100... how does it compare to the WES51, as far as pure soldering experience goes (bells and whistles aside)?

[Philippe]

The Radio Shack tips are really junky...

Ditto...figure on about going through two of them just to complete a basic project.

The Radio Shed junk is mostly junk, intended for doing one rush-job on Saturday.
A -good- iron is a lifetime buy. I bought several Weller-grade handles, heaters, and tips back in the 1970s, and still use them. 99% the one handle, one heater, and now that I've semi-accepted iron-clad tips, just one tip since 1995. (The old copper tips would burn-up in a few hundred hours.) I got spares, but at this rate I'll out-live them.

Those older, traditional style Weller handles/heaters/tips are sturdy & dependable over the long haul.  Trying to compare them to the current RS stuff is like...no comparison.

[benallison]

Ditto...figure on about going through two of them just to complete a basic project.

Dude, I was replacing a 1/8" plug on a pair of headphones... the Radio Shack tip didn't even last for two leads. It was covered in black gunk after 5 minutes, even though I religiously cleaned the tip as a I went.

GARBAGE!

[benallison]

Well, the WES51 was $150, and the WLC100 was on sale for $50 (living in Canada blows) so I grabbed a WLC100.

We'll see how she goes! Worst case scenario: I end up buying a WES51 (or similar) down the road.

I got some tip cleaner, and the brass sponge, so I plan on taking good care of my tips.

[Renegadrian]

I usually buy "pencils", some just don't last enough as the tip gets ruined and can't find replacements
Then I recently bought this one and it's quite good
Then also this one and it's a good too, plus it has a replaceble tip (but I guess it will last long) and a LED to light up the board, so handy for those lat at night sessions...
Also got a station, my GF's brother got it from me, it's quite cool!!!
Here it is, a little cheaper then the others you suggested.

[KazooMan]

I have been using a simple Weller pencil iron.  I also had trouble finding replacement tips and when I did I found that they cost about the same as a new iron.

So.....  I bought some 3/16" copper rod off the Internet.  I already had a set of taps and dies and found that the 10-24 threads were the right ones for the iron.  I thread one end of the rod and then cut off the proper length.  I screw it into the iron and then use a file or bench grinder to shape the tip the way I want.  Heat it up and tin it all over and I'm good to go.  I can make all the tips I need for pennies apiece.  I also can afford to make a custom shaped tip if I need to, such as a needle fine point or a curved tip that can reach under components.  The tips don't last any better than the originals that came with the iron, but I no longer care.  The thin tips burn up pretty fast, but they get the job done.

On the other hand, the stations look very nice.  I see one in my future real soon.

[benallison]

Wow.

So I fired up the new iron today... WHAT A DIFFERENCE.

In the time it took me to just WARM UP the old Radioshack iron, I had FINISHED the job I was working on! 5-10 minutes. The same job took over an hour on the Radioshack iron, and the joints were horrendous.

The job was a simple headphone plug swap.

The solder flowed smoothly... the tip didn't get all gunky. I timed it and the WLC100 heated up in about 1.5 minutes.

Just a joy to work with.

[jkokura]

The right kind of tip helps a lot to. I usually use a Weller 25 watt pencil. I can change the tips, and have probably gone through 3 or 4 since Christmas. However, today I decided to use a flathead screwdriver style tip - WOW - what a difference. I love this tip because it's waaay easier to use, keep clean, and I found myself working quicker than normal while retaining my usual anal retentive attention to detail. Fun.

I do want a station with heat control to be able to get hotter or cooler if I need. I'm sure that will help protect my tips too.

I also find it helpful to use a damp sponge not a wet one. It's much easier to clean on a damp sponge than a wet one because the extra solder stays hot and melted. A wet sponge cools the tip down too quickly and instead of having the extra solder come off, it clings to the tip when it gets cold too quickly. Damp sponge + clean often + right tip, right heat = easy soldering.

Jacob

[benallison]

I also find it helpful to use a damp sponge not a wet one. It's much easier to clean on a damp sponge than a wet one because the extra solder stays hot and melted. A wet sponge cools the tip down too quickly and instead of having the extra solder come off, it clings to the tip when it gets cold too quickly. Damp sponge + clean often + right tip, right heat = easy soldering.

You should try one of these:



WAY better than a damp sponge. Gets the tip super clean. I find the sponge can add gunk over time. The brass sponge is killer.

[Taylor]

Where do you get that brass sponge thing? I've wanted one but can't find it at Mouser or ebay. I suspect I'm just not calling it the right thing.

[humptydumpty]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6380


or

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34154