Soldering Iron Question
laotzu61
Posts: 327
is a 15 watt soldering iron adequate for most diy/kit building-electronics applications? thanks.
"The symbol is not the reality"
Post edited by laotzu61 on
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No, a low wattage iron is more likely to ruin whatever you're working on. I would look for a 40 watt or an adjustable temp iron from Weller."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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or an adjustable temp iron from Weller.
That's the ticket.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
This is the low power iron I recommend if you don't want to invest in a full station; and it does make a difference.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=372-112 -
I have a 30 watt "pencil" with a fine tip I use for most circuit boards, and an adjustable 0-50 watt for crossovers etc. A 15 watt is ok for VERY fine work, but it's very limited in what it can do. You'll spend more time waiting for things to heat up, and like other have said, you can damage certain components with prolonged heat.is a 15 watt soldering iron adequate for most diy/kit building-electronics applications? thanks.Home Theater/2 Channel:
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I have seen the adjustable Wellers locally for like $33.
I think they are 0-40 watt IIRC.
The Weller WES-51 is the best I have used, and roughly $99?
Once you buy it you will never have buyers remorse.:cheesygrin:
You might get away with doing the smaller stuff, with a 15 watt if you clean and flux everything and use good solder.
I would definitely be looking for better tho!
Edit:
They are 5-40 watts!
Weller wlc-100:
Around $35.
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/weller/solder/wlc100.htm?ref=gbase&gclid=CPDZir-a7LcCFXRo7AodpDcApgTesting
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My Weller adjustable station is great, and I spend less time waiting for the iron and the components to heat up. The stations are also much easier to use as the electronics aren't in the handle.
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I use the WS-51 and it may not be in the OP's price range but I strongly suggest you stretch you budget.
Well worth it, extremely capable tool!
I went through several other types before this one (going on 2 years).
Never looked back, sweet piece of equipment.
About $100.
The Hakko's have a great following/reputation also, never tried one, but a simple search will reveal the feedback.Testing
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I've been using the WS-51 for about 4 years now and still love it."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Which one.
Analog for $86.57
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WES51-Analog-Soldering-Station/dp/B000BRC2XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371514011&sr=8-1&keywords=weller+ws-51
Digital for $143.
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WESD51-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B000ARU9PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371514011&sr=8-2&keywords=weller+ws-51Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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thanks, guys. the wc-51 is the one i'm snooping at. the wes-51 in the future. thanks again."The symbol is not the reality"
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Which one.
Analog for $86.57
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WES51-Analog-Soldering-Station/dp/B000BRC2XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371514011&sr=8-1&keywords=weller+ws-51
Digital for $143.
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WESD51-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B000ARU9PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371514011&sr=8-2&keywords=weller+ws-51
Sorry, typo, I have been using the WES-51 (prolly the same Zingo mentioned) and love it after 2 years.
You'd have a hard time getting it out my shop!
Excellent always, with everything I have thrown at it (Large speaker cables. large shielded grounds/drains, thick spades, car audio which gets pretty large, ect. ect.).
Its the real deal, hard working tool for tweaking, cables, whatever, worth every penny!Testing
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http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/weller/solder/wlc100.htm----this is the one i'm looking at to start with."The symbol is not the reality"
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I am sure most of you guys know, soldering takes 5 seconds, where as prepping all the components, cleaning, tinning, flux ect. takes 2 hours (if you got alot to do)!
Alot of people concentrate on the solder part.
Pfffffffffft!
It is the prep that kills ya, especially if you are re-soldering (de-solder, clean, flux, tin, ect...)!:eek:Testing
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that's nice. the link page doesn't show up. anyway, it's the WLC100. I've heard that before, pepster. have some homework to do---."The symbol is not the reality"
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The Hakko's have a great following/reputation also, never tried one, but a simple search will reveal the feedback.
Yep. I have the Hakko FX-888. Hard to say anything bad about a Weller, but I actually think the Hakko is built a little better, and gives you more features for your money.
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Which one.
Analog for $86.57
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WES51-Analog-Soldering-Station/dp/B000BRC2XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371514011&sr=8-1&keywords=weller+ws-51
Digital for $143.
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WESD51-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B000ARU9PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371514011&sr=8-2&keywords=weller+ws-51
Both work very well, and I can't find a preference between the digital and analog control. -
I have both a Weller WES-51 and a Weller WTCPT. I use both depending on what work I am doing. They are both spectacular soldering units. One absolutely great thing about the Weller WTCPT is that it keeps a "constant" temperature at the tip and is great for binding posts, and other high heat requirement applications. The Weller WES-51 is better for more fine work or anything that needs temperature adustment due to heat requirments. That's my take on it....
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."![:\](https://forum.polkaudio.com/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
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I replaced my Wes-51 with a jbc.
http://www.jbctools.com/compact-category-10.html.
I have not noticed any difference in the soldering that I do between this super expensive unit and the relatively inexpensive Wes-51. Both will last lifetimes. But for some reason I look forward to soldering with the jbc. -
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Picked this up at last years MWAF: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=374-100
I used it for tinning cable. Currently $15. Looks like the Weller in another color. -
Habanero Monk wrote: »Picked this up at last years MWAF: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=374-100
I used it for tinning cable. Currently $15. Looks like the Weller in another color.
While the above station is OK for the price. It does sometimes take it awhile to rebound to temp if doing a lot of circuit work. I used it for awhile and looked for something better I could live with without spending a C note. I found this station and it is very accurate the temp on the front is TRUE temp(I tested) and it can be calibrated if by chance it is off.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi-station1a.html -
wow!! thanks for all the info; all of you. hey pitdogg2; I am really going to have to check that puppy out. thanks."The symbol is not the reality"
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I would go ahead and spend the C-note and get a Hakko (or Weller). IMO a soldering iron is one of those tools you don't know you need until you have one, then you wonder how you lived without it. I bought mine for a single project but I've used it numerous times since.
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
