I haven't soldered much in years but will soon need to. There are a ton of soldering stations on Amazon and I could do with some guidance.

I have a small 12W soldering iron for miniature work but it has no warning light or temp control.

What would be a decent solder station for light work like soldering transistors, DIL chips and other small components onto PCB and stripboard etc?

There are lots on Amazon and they are like 100W, usually that's excessive for delicate soldering but are these temp controlled these days, so OK?

 

I have a MetCal station that I got at TRW's bankruptcy auction/sale and I can't say enough good things about it. At the time I got it (for $85), those units sold for about $3k. But many years later they were selling units for under $200. I have no idea what they go for now, or how those units stack up to the one I bought. I've literally soldered a fine-pitched SMD part (0.5 mm pitch) and heavy wire to a grounding stud using the same tip (though I bought a bunch of different tips at the same sale). I've been using the same unit for nearly three decades now -- I bought three units and sold one to my employer (they are still using it), and one for backup (have never needed it). One of the nice things I like about it is that it heats up almost instantly. Turn it on and you are soldering within just a couple seconds. It is probably one of the two best equipment purchases I have ever made, the other being the stereo binocular microscopes that I got at the same sale.

 

I have a MetCal station that I got at TRW's bankruptcy auction/sale and I can't say enough good things about it. At the time I got it (for $85), those units sold for about $3k. But many years later they were selling units for under $200. I have no idea what they go for now, or how those units stack up to the one I bought. I've literally soldered a fine-pitched SMD part (0.5 mm pitch) and heavy wire to a grounding stud using the same tip (though I bought a bunch of different tips at the same sale). I've been using the same unit for nearly three decades now -- I bought three units and sold one to my employer (they are still using it), and one for backup (have never needed it). One of the nice things I like about it is that it heats up almost instantly. Turn it on and you are soldering within just a couple seconds. It is probably one of the two best equipment purchases I have ever made, the other being the stereo binocular microscopes that I got at the same sale.

So are these babies temp controllable?

 

So are these babies temp controllable?

The temp control is in the tip via Curie point transitions. When the temp falls below the Curie point, the base unit sees this as a change in impedance (via reflected wave, I think) and sends full RF power to the tip, but when it rises above the Curie point, the impedance mismatch changes the reflected signal and the base station removes RF power to the tip. This happens within microseconds. Makes for a very responsive soldering station that can put out a lot of power when needed for heavy work while not overheating fine work. They hold the set temperature within about 1°C,

 

A Weller soldering station used to be the station of choice for reliability. Now for price, you may want to look at a Hakko soldering iron or a station.

There are two things you will need:
1) ability to select the temperature, from 700 °F to 800 °F. You need the higher temperature with lead-free solder.
2) ability to change the tip size, from 0.031" to 0.015". You need the smaller diameter for SMD work. In order to avoid having to change tips, I have two stations, which is also handy if you need to desolder resistors or capacitors.

Also, you will need two different diameters solder with rosin core, 0.015" for SMD and 0.031" for thru-hole.

Add to that, a microscope or a digital microscope. I bought this one:

 

Definitely a Weller for me. The old and reliable TCP iron doesn't do well with lead-free.
I have a WE1010 at work and a WSP81 at home. The WSP81 is better, and both do much better with lead-free solder than the TCP.
It's the shape of the tip that makes all the difference. If you see a good value-for-money soldering station that comes with a tip with a point like a dart, don't buy it!

 

I'm still using my Weller W-TCP (mostly with a 700F 1/32" conical tip) from the late 1970's, with a power switch added to make it a W-TCP-L. When the heating element went out several years ago, I bought a replacement heater on eBay and two more Weller stations (W-TCP-L, and W-TCPN) so I'd never be without again. They're all 48W.

Photos from a random document on the internet:


For a "microscope", I bought a used Elmo document viewer on eBay. A predecessor of this:


For surface mount work, I use an Aoyue 2702:

It has a soldering iron that isn't worth using, but the solder removal tool comes in handy. Purchased new on eBay.

 

The trouble I had with my Weller WTCPN soldering station (or one the looked just like it) before the heater in the handle failed was that the tips went obsolete and became almost unobtainium. Same tip problem with a Metcal station.

Definitely look for something using commonly available tips.

 

The trouble I had with my Weller WTCPN soldering station (or one the looked just like it) before the heater in the handle failed was that the tips went obsolete and became almost unobtainium. Same tip problem with a Metcal station.

Definitely look for something using commonly available tips.

I had the same problem with my Weller, after using it for many years. I bought a cheap Hakko replacement handle cw cord, element and a set of bits. A thermocouple is in the element for controlling the temperature. I did a bit of experimenting and built my own simple temperature controller. It has been working flawlessly now for over 10 years.
BGA Soldering Station Solder Iron Handle For Lukey HAKKO 936 902 702 701 8586 Repair Rework Station With 5pcs Solder Iron Tip - AliExpress

 

So guys, if you were to peruse Amazon (US) can you see something that you'd buy, or recommend?

There's a lot there, and I'm confused about power. When I was a teen I used like 15W iron for soldering TTL/CMOS/transistors, this was recommended back then for delicate devices.

But many of those on Amazon are like 60W or 100W but is that because they are temp controlled? is a 100W temp controlled iron as safe as a 15W iron when temp is set right or am I coming off the rails here?

 

I'm a cheap SOB and still stand by this one. It used to be under $15 when it went on sale but those days are gone I suppose.
https://www.parts-express.com/Stahl-Tools-STSSVT-Variable-Temperature-Soldering-Station-374-100

I like the fact that I can get a range of replacement tips. Even the finest point lasts quite a while. This will be the last soldering iron I have to buy.
https://www.parts-express.com/Stahl-Tools-TSRT-4-Piece-Soldering-Tip-Kit-for-TCSS-374-202

The topic of soldering irons comes up a lot around here. Here are just a couple threads.

https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/comparing-irons-for-a-beginner.105414
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/which-soldering-station-would-you-advise.157645

 

So guys, if you were to peruse Amazon (US) can you see something that you'd buy, or recommend?

This is the model I use, temp set at 700F.
Soldering Iron

 

Variable temperature is not temperature controlled.

More power is not a problem in a temperature-controlled iron.

 

My personal choice is Weller which I am not seeing on Amazon. However there is no shortage of soldering stations available on Amazon. You don't mention a price point? I am with Wayeh as to selecting one. Just make sure you have plenty of tips for your choice.

Ron

 

Whatever you decide on, just be aware there are a lot of clones (fakes) out there...Hakko comes to mind.

 

Variable temperature is not temperature controlled.

More power is not a problem in a temperature-controlled iron.

Hmm, so what's the diff??

 

This is the model I use, temp set at 700F.
Soldering Iron
View attachment 363407

OK that has a good reputation, lots of 5 star feedback. But some of the poorer reviews concern me:

 

I don't use those features.
Just turn it ON and wait till the temp reaches the setting and get to it.

 

I don't use those features.
Just turn it ON and wait till the temp reaches the setting and get to it.

What do you mean "features"? one reviewer said it sometimes keeps heating, past the set temp. Other speak of tips lasting just a short time at high temps...

I'm very tempted to get it, but don't know what these complaints might indicate.

 

Hmm, so what's the diff??

A temperature regulated will likely cool down on large surfaces, as the power is restricted.
A tempererarure controlled has feedback of the temperature and will raise the power when the tip is cooled down by the large surface to keep the temperature steady..

Bertus