Would any of these be good irons for a beginner?

[Gyrofist]

Hey, I'm a beginner to DIY pedals (I have all my parts for my first build, but don't have the time to start yet, and haven't gotten myself a good soldering iron). I was just wondering, I'm going to need a decent soldering iron that will work well for any DIY pedal stuff. I currently have the parts for a Madbean pedal (just in case different PCBs from different people are sized differently). I want an iron that's going to work well, be reliable, and be able to do what needs to be done, but at the same time, I'm only planning on making, at the most, 3 pedals, and then doing a bit of pickup changing on my guitar, but that function's secondary. I've come across a few different ones at local stores, which it would be convenient to buy from, since then I wouldn't have to wait for anything else to be shipped. So I was wondering if any of these are decent irons:

Mastercraft (I like Mastercraft hand tools, but I have no clue about how these would be):
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/WeldingSoldering/Soldering/PRDOVR~0586301P/Mastercraft%252BSolder%252BStation.jsp?locale=en

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/WeldingSoldering/Soldering/PRDOVR~0586305P/Mastercraft%252B25W%252BSoldering%252BIron.jsp?locale=en

Weller (it seems that Weller is pretty standard):
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/WeldingSoldering/Soldering/PRDOVR~0586309P/Weller%252B25W%252BSoldering%252BIron%252BKit.jsp?locale=en

http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Tools/Hand-Tools/Mechanics/Soldering/Irons/IRON-SOLDERING-40WATT/_/N-ntm2eZ2pqfZ67l/Ne-67nZlqgj/Ntk-All_EN/R-I1138236?Ntt=soldering

So just let me know if any of those are any good, or bad too, if you have experience with them. I know that ultimately an iron with temperature control would be a good thing to have, but I'm not planning on making a very large amount of pedals, so I don't know if it would be worth it. Anyways, thanks everyone that's reading this.
Corey

[Derringer]

I've been using this particular Weller iron for many years now
I bought it at Home Depot
http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Tools/Hand-Tools/Mechanics/Soldering/Irons/IRON-SOLDERING-40WATT/_/N-ntm2eZ2pqfZ67l/Ne-67nZlqgj/Ntk-All_EN/R-I1138236?Ntt=soldering

they don't advertise much in the way of tips for it (or at least I haven't seen them)
but not to worry
tips like these:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=471
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=379

work just fine

[smallbearelec]

The biggest issue with some very inexpensive irons is short life of the tip due to poor cladding. And you won't know that you have a clunker until you have already been using the tool for awhile and you start to notice erosion.

You will generally pay more for Weller, but their tips are good; I have never had a complaint. At a minimum, make sure that what you buy has a stand with a sponge. 35 Watts is plenty of power for just about any electronic job.

Here's my shopping guide to tools generally:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/Tools/Tools.htm

Regards
SD

[davent]

Corey,

I received a flier from Active Electronics (Canada) this past week that shows the Weller WLC100 on sale for $39.97 (49 with a $10 rebate). They also have the Weller WES51(what i use) for $90 (109 with $20 rebate) which is the best price i've seen for it. There's also a few non-station Wellers on sale as well as more expensive stations and a nice Hakko station. The prices are good 'til April 8th.

Active have stores here and there across the country and i'm not sure if these prices only apply for in store purchases or whether you can get the same prices on their website but you'll want to check them out.

Also have decent prices on Hammond boxes.

http://www.active123.com/store.cfm?CKEY=CA&lang=eng

dave

[WorkBench]

Weller WLC100 rocks my world!

[Gyrofist]

I've been using this particular Weller iron for many years now
I bought it at Home Depot
http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Tools/Hand-Tools/Mechanics/Soldering/Irons/IRON-SOLDERING-40WATT/_/N-ntm2eZ2pqfZ67l/Ne-67nZlqgj/Ntk-All_EN/R-I1138236?Ntt=soldering

they don't advertise much in the way of tips for it (or at least I haven't seen them)
but not to worry
tips like these:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=471
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=379

work just fine

So do you suggest the 40W over the 25W? That's what I was thinking, since I have a 25W woodburner (not exactly a soldering iron, but pretty much the same design I think?) that I've tried on some spare components on a random board from a broken NES Advantage controller that I had laying around, and it took way too long to heat the leads and solder up, even though I was tinning the tip properly (or from what I know, properly).So you've been using that standard 40W Weller for a while? Sounds good to me. I was thinking of a station, but for the amount of work I'm going to be doing, I don't know if it's necessary. Either way, if I feel like I'm going to be doing more work later, I could upgrade to a station at any point, I'm sure I could find a deal somewhere.
Thanks for the help everyone!

[Derringer]

I was into amp building before I started messing with stompboxes.
My first iron was a pos radio shack brand that proved to be inadequate for soldering onto the back of pots.
So I bought that weller for something like $18 and have had it ever since.

Now if I recall correctly, it comes with some pretty heavy-duty tips and a resting stand. It may come with a pencil tip but all I remember were the big chisel tips that were great for amps.
See if you can get a couple of those ".03" Pencil ST-7 " tips when you order it. Get a tin of somecleaning/tinning paste too.

I like having all that heat the 40watts produces because you can work more quickly. At the same time though, you have to be aware that you're using a lot of heat so make sure to use heatsinks when working on certain heat-affected components (diodes, transitors etc)

As for cleaning sponges, I just have a metal container fashioned from the bottom part of a coffee can that I keep a damp sponge in.
Those copper-scrubbies you can get at any supermarket are nice to have too.

[sgmezei]

I have the Mastercraft with a blue base they sell at Canadian Tire at the $40 range. It has a 25W or 40W switch which comes in handy but the tips are absolutely garbage. They corrode very fast and dont like being on for over 10 minutes. I have spent more on tips than I paid for the iron. I tried everything from different sponges to the ball of wire type tip cleaner.

Speaking of which, I want to upgrade to a Weller seeing as everybody raves about them and says their tips last. I tried looking on Mouser and there were so many items it was a crazy mess. Does anyone have any good recommendations? I like the ability to switch power settings for working on amps and pots on guitars as I have a few amp projects coming up. Any help would be great because there seems to be so many of them.

Thanks Team!
Scott

[Derringer]

everything here is quality

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Categories.bok?category=Tools+-+Soldering

but otherwise I've never "needed" to use a 25 watt iron
Just be good with the 40watt
ymmv

[davent]

You people in Canada check out prices at Active Electronics, stores across the country, and Tip Top Electronics in Winnipeg.  The orange 40w Weller $21 , the orange 25w Weller with 3 tips, solder and stand $20, Weller WLC100 $39, Weller WP35 $40 and on and on... Help support what few decent suppliers we do have!

http://tiptopelectronics.com/home.asp?ProdDetail=SP40LCSA

http://www.active123.com/eng/storeSection/redirect.cfm?sectionID=b2c/style/productDetails.cfm&itemID=WP35&itemcategorylevel1=&itemcategorylevel2=

Another but haven't dealt with but looks interesting is RP Electronics in Burnaby BC.

http://www.rpelectronics.com/

dave

[sgmezei]

Thanks Davent, I am checking them out as I type. Thanks for the tip. I was tired of the ridiculous radio shack prices.
Scott

[davepedals]

ha - i use a radio shack 30/15 var iron. el-cheepo... i've never had any problems. i do very well on the low 15 watt setting as a matter of fact!  i file the tips to "more" workable shapes.

[genghistron]

I got one of these on sale from parts express for $10, I've owned a few radioshack irons that have done well but for the price, you might as well get good control over temperature + a decent base & sponge.  Get the extra tips set too, smaller ones make pcb/perf board wiring easier and more precise than the bulky tips that comes standard on alot of irons.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=374-100

Tips: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?PartNumber=374-102

[Gyrofist]

Yeah, I live in Dundas, just about an hour from Toronto, so I may take a trip to Active Electronics in Toronto when I get a chance and pick up a WLC100. Seems to get some pretty good reviews, and that's the best price I've seen anywhere for sure.

[Gyrofist]

Sorry, forgot to ask this before, but what kind of tip should I be using? Should I use a conical tip, or is there another type that would work better?

[davent]

Nutech on Parkdale in Hamilton show they carry the WLC100. It might be worth a call though they're just a small mom & pop store so don't have the buying power of a national chain but sometimes can surprise ya'.

http://nutechelectronics.com/products/?start=30&keyword=soldering

The Active price is good 'til April 8 and includes a $10 rebate.

dave