New Soldering Iron

[GRAHAM99]

My old Weller iron has finally given up the ghost.
Any recommendations for a replacement?
Thanks!

[Wonks]

Budget?

I’ve got a Hakko 888 that’s about 8 years old but the current version of it looks a bit different, maybe a bit simpler to use. Around £200 but it is a well respected brand.

Other brands are available.

[GRAHAM99]

I want to spend up to £100 if possible.

[Albatross]

(I jsut saw your £100 post so the following doesn't apply but I'll leave it for people on a budget)

I just get the Draper ones from Halfords. Not the best but they do a 30w & 60w. They don't last forever but they are pretty good and cheap, always in stock and they fit in the Draper soldering kit box my wife bought me for a birthday. That was four years ago and I'm on my first replacement. I use it most weeks so not too bad. I'm no expert though so best listen to others.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I use one of these:

https://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/zd-931 ... 20stations

It's well under £100, even with a few different size spare bits.

[ajay_m]

This is what I've had for many years,Maplin sold them. There are several different tips available for them on eBay.

https://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d00675 ... I9ew9JeHxV

[GRAHAM99]

I’ve got option anxiety now!

[nathanscribe]

I've been using one of these for years and it's never let me down. Plenty of tips available as well. I use a separate desoldering station and hot air station but this is my regular iron.

https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/21-10115- ... %20station

[Tomás Mulcahy]

The Duratool is fine, but takes a while to heat up. I replaced mine with this and it is far better. Heats in seconds and has a much wider variety of tips. It’s a Hako knock off apparently.

[Bob Bickerton]

OK, over budget, I bought this one: https://cpc.farnell.com/hakko/fx888dx-4 ... 20stations

Until then, I just used cheap irons from local retailers but I had a big job of way lines to install so bit the bullet. I never imagined I'd get warm fuzzies from a soldering iron (well, that is unless I dropped it in my lap without noticing), but it was something of a revelation to use something like this.

Not saying you need this, but a temperature controlled 'station' is highly recommended.

Bob

[ajay_m]

The main thing to watch out for is tip availability. The iron I recommend here has about five or six different tip profiles available and they are still widely available on a model that's been out for ages. Unless you're only doing one task, easily replaceable tips are vital. On this iron you just unscrew the collar and slide tips on and off, so you can switch from say a fine needle nose tip for chip soldering to a wedge tip for heavier work etc

[ef37a]

Unless you do very little soldering and just pull an iron out to fix the odd cable once in a bluey, get a Hakko, best iron I ever used and I ran a Weller magnastat in various forms for 30 years+. The Hakko is even better.

If you really do only fix the odd XLR/TRS plug once every six months then the 30-50 quid stations are perfectly decent.

Dave.

[James Perrett]

On Dave's suggestion I bought myself one of these when my old Oryx iron died

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197852671141

The price has gone up since I bought mine but so far it has been fine. It takes a little time for the tip to properly warm up but that's similar to a traditional Weller iron. The cable is also maybe a bit stiffer than others but I don't find it a problem.

[Nazard]

I've had a Xytronic for well over a decade, excellent with a wide selection of inexpensive bits.

This Xytronic from Rapid is excellent value, just under £100, and at 80W has that extra power for thicker cable, etc..

https://www.rapidonline.com/xytronic-lf ... on-85-6700

[GRAHAM99]

I have ordered the one Hugh recommended.
If it’s good enough for Hugh……!!

[Wonks]

I have ordered the one Hugh recommended.
If it’s good enough for Hugh……!!

Some of Hugh's work...

[Hugh Robjohns]

[onre]

I've had a Xytronic for well over a decade, excellent with a wide selection of inexpensive bits.

This Xytronic from Rapid is excellent value, just under £100, and at 80W has that extra power for thicker cable, etc..

https://www.rapidonline.com/xytronic-lf ... on-85-6700

The choice has apparently been made already, but here's another vote for the Xytronic. I bought a 369 around 2010 and it has just worked ever since, so I ended up buying their soldering/desoldering station for the lab. That has also just worked. Interestingly, the soldering iron of that unit uses tips that are interchangeable with the Weller LT range.

[GRAHAM99]

I think my new soldering iron is arriving tomorrow!
Should I set the temperature at about 330 centigrade?

[Wonks]

It depends on the type of solder and whether you are soldering or desoldering. There are various lead-free formulas and some need it a bit hotter than average. And I find lead-free needs a higher temperature when desoldering.

So experiment with what you have to work with. Just hot enough to melt the solder within a second or so but not hotter than necessary. The smaller the tip, the more it cools down when applied, so you may need it a bit hotter when using a small pointy tip than a wider chisel tip.