My boss ran around today and handed out christmas cards with some money in them to everyone, SO :-D
I'm now looking to upgrade into a decent quality temp controlled soldering iron to make my life easier,
So far all I have found, (that seems to have all the features i need), with (enough) quality to last:
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/elenco/soldering/solder_stations/sl5series.htm
they are 37.50 right now(List)
much less on the website.
I know some people drop 100 or even more bucks on a fancy digital display weller soldering station, I don't want to drop that kind money on one.
right now i have my $7.99 soldering iron plugged into a power strip with a switch and have to turn it off when it gets too hot.
plus the this cheap one after you recap a few boards the tip starts to deteriorate, and needs to be ground back to a point, witch is annoying.
The reviews on amazon say to stay the hell away from this one: (Velleman VTSS5U LOW-COST SOLDERING STATION)
@ around 19 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/Velleman-LOW-COST-SOLDERING-STATION-150-480°C/dp/B000I40HFQ
This one review I found most useful:
"Velleman VTSS5U LOW-COST SOLDERING STATION 50W 150-480°C - (Tools & Home Improvement)
Velleman 50W Soldering StationIn a lifetime of soldering pc boards, first amateur radio and stereo systems (Heathkits, etc.) and later (1970's to today) all sorts of computers, this is the worst soldering iron I have ever owned. It barely gets hot enough to melt the new tin/antimony solder and has very little heat left to heat whatever it is you're trying to solder. The result is globs of solder all over the place, and the connections not really soldered. It does a good job of melting the soldering iron holder which is made of easily melted plastic (a genius design). It is just a pos, so stay very far away from it."
Thread linked: Capacitor Replacement Thread . . .
I'm now looking to upgrade into a decent quality temp controlled soldering iron to make my life easier,
So far all I have found, (that seems to have all the features i need), with (enough) quality to last:
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/elenco/soldering/solder_stations/sl5series.htm
they are 37.50 right now(List)
much less on the website.
I know some people drop 100 or even more bucks on a fancy digital display weller soldering station, I don't want to drop that kind money on one.
right now i have my $7.99 soldering iron plugged into a power strip with a switch and have to turn it off when it gets too hot.
plus the this cheap one after you recap a few boards the tip starts to deteriorate, and needs to be ground back to a point, witch is annoying.
The reviews on amazon say to stay the hell away from this one: (Velleman VTSS5U LOW-COST SOLDERING STATION)
@ around 19 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/Velleman-LOW-COST-SOLDERING-STATION-150-480°C/dp/B000I40HFQ
This one review I found most useful:
"Velleman VTSS5U LOW-COST SOLDERING STATION 50W 150-480°C - (Tools & Home Improvement)
Velleman 50W Soldering StationIn a lifetime of soldering pc boards, first amateur radio and stereo systems (Heathkits, etc.) and later (1970's to today) all sorts of computers, this is the worst soldering iron I have ever owned. It barely gets hot enough to melt the new tin/antimony solder and has very little heat left to heat whatever it is you're trying to solder. The result is globs of solder all over the place, and the connections not really soldered. It does a good job of melting the soldering iron holder which is made of easily melted plastic (a genius design). It is just a pos, so stay very far away from it."
Thread linked: Capacitor Replacement Thread . . .