I posted in the FPV forum but thought I would get a good sampling from the DIY forum as a soldering iron is a must. I have a cheapo $7 radio shack iron and wanted something better since my birthday is coming up. I do work with soldering small electronics (like ArduPilot boards and the like) but I also do stuff for my general r/c like Deans connectors and general purpose connections for servo connectors and extending antennas for FPV. What irons do you use and what would you recommend?
Thanks!

http://www.antex.co.uk/product.asp?s...D=185&P_ID=892

Very good indeed.

Can cope with Deans connectors through to surface mount stuff, just use the appropriate bit and the temperature control.

Those are great soldering stations, but a lotta bucks in USD
Here's a good Weller station, more readily available on this side of the pond.
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brand...ing%20Stations
The WCL100 is a nice, reasonable priced unit. If the irons heating element goes kaput, you just buy a new weller 40W iron, as the cord from the iron to the station is just a normal wall plug.
Pete

If you're doing light work and soldering deans connectors, for example, you need more than one iron, and more than one tip for the smaller one, most likely.

Look at a 25W for the light duty stuff, up to and including mini-deans, servo connectors, etc. Then a 40W weller with a chisel tip for the heavier stuff. I have never needed anything more than the 40W - guns are junk*, stay away. Most importantly, keep the tips clean, and wipe on the provided, dampened sponge before, during and after use.

..a

(* yes, there are a small number of high quality, expensive instant-heat industrial soldering guns out there)

Hi Andy,
The Weller station is 40W at full power, but easy to get the heat you need for the job. Good selection of tips available too.
One could just take a good 40W iron and make up a variable heat control using a standard incandescent lamp dimmer, an electrical box, duplex outlet and cover plate for not a lot of money.
Pete

If you're serious about good soldering capability across the board there is absolutely nothing even remotely comparable to the Metcal line of soldering irons. Very low thermal inertia (due to how they work), wide range of tips, and the entry-level is only USD250.

Serban

I have used this soldering station for years, and it works great. It has been dropped, kicked, burned up in a lipo fire, but it just keeps on working. I use it for soldering through hole, surface mount, and I turn up the heat, use the thick part of the tip and solder Deans connectors. It heats up in about 30 seconds, and it costs $42.00. I really need to buy another one so I'll have one at the shop, and one at the house.

It's the only iron I use

Dan

The Weller station is 40W at full power, but easy to get the heat you need for the job. Good selection of tips available too.
One could just take a good 40W iron and make up a variable heat control using a standard incandescent lamp dimmer, an electrical box, duplex outlet and cover plate for not a lot of money.

Just a note to explain the difference between a soldering iron with a power control and a true temperature controlled iron.

If you control the power going to a soldering iron, it will eventually stabilize at a temperature based on the rate it can transfer heat to its surroundings. When you touch it to the circuit you are soldering, it is like putting a heat sink on it and the tip will cool down. Because the power is set to a fixed point, it will stay at the cooler temp until it is removed from the circuit.

A temperature controlled iron has a temperature sensor and regulates power to maintain a constant temperature, based on feedback from the temperature sensor. It can apply full power to the iron if needed to maintain temperature. The irons usually have so much power that they would burn up if the temperature control failed so they heat up faster than irons which are not temperature controlled.

Because the fine tips used for smaller parts have little mass and loose heat quickly, the difference between a power controlled and a temperature controlled iron is noticeable.

As far as I know that Weller WCL100 has a power control and not a temperature control.

I've never seen tips for the 40w iron as small as I like to use for fine soldering work. The 25w irons are physically smaller.
..a

Originally Posted by Andy W

I've never seen tips for the 40w iron as small as I like to use for fine soldering work. The 25w irons are physically smaller.
..a

The OKI PS900 I use delivers, IIRC, 60W to the tip (90W supply) and is very slim. Tips go down to 16mil in width and I can easily do TSSOP pins with it. And using a 0.2" chisel tip, I can easily solder 8AWG wire to a 4-layer, 3oz. copper PCB. The unit takes about 20 seconds or less to heat up and it only takes 5 seconds or less to change tips. Automatically goes to standby if unused for 15 minutes.

Just an amazing unit. And no need to adjust temperature either.
http://www.okinternational.com/product_soldering/ps_900

Originally Posted by JohnMuchow

The OKI PS900 I use delivers, IIRC, 60W to the tip (90W supply) and is very slim. Tips go down to 16mil in width and I can easily do TSSOP pins with it. And using a 0.2" chisel tip, I can easily solder 8AWG wire to a 4-layer, 3oz. copper PCB. The unit takes about 20 seconds or less to heat up and it only takes 5 seconds or less to change tips. Automatically goes to standby if unused for 15 minutes.

Just an amazing unit. And no need to adjust temperature either.
http://www.okinternational.com/product_soldering/ps_900

Glad to see I'm not the only one praising the performance of Metcal (now OKI) soldering irons

For deans and 14 AWG and bigger wires I use plain 60W iron on a dimmer. For smaller electronics and servo-size wires I very much like Aoyue 936. It's based on Hakko design and use Hakko tips. The best iron I had!

http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Solderin.../dp/B001RNG2PG

I don't think many here consider spending that much for an iron. I was referring to what's generally available.

Absolutely, if you're willing to spend the $$, your options open up considerably..
..a

Originally Posted by _Sergey_

For deans and 14 AWG and bigger wires I use plain 60W iron on a dimmer. For smaller electronics and servo-size wires I very much like Aoyue 936. It's based on Hakko design and use Hakko tips. The best iron I had!

http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Solderin.../dp/B001RNG2PG

I have had one of these for years and have been quite happy with it. http://www.web-tronics.com/cispdeesdsas.html It is shows as on sale for $29.95.

It is also a clone of the Hakko 936 and takes the same tips which are readily available. Availability of tips is one thing to consider when buying an iron. If you get an off brand iron, make sure it uses the same tips as a major brand so you can be assured of availability of tips.

That's a great deal! For 30 bucks? Hard to believe...