Soldering iron recommendations

TrentGuitars

Evening all!

My soldering iron crapped out on me, it was an ebay style soldering station, it wasnt bad at all if im honest but I'd like something that lasts this time round..

Any recommendations? Doesnt have to be a station, just solid and reliable

gretschthumper

Hakko FX888d is what I use - well made, and the variable heat is useful …
https://www.hakko.co.uk/product/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-blue-yellow/
£150 from Amazon

robinbowes

Yeah, the Hakkos are great. Watch out for fakes. Buy from here:

https://www.hakko.co.uk/product/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-silver/

Corvus

I use an Antex, 660 I think it is. Wanted simple and reliable, it's analogue so one control plus indicator light. Was about £100.

Philtre

Hakko FX888D.

You won't regret it.

FelineGuitars

I have two soldering irons on my bench - the aforementioned Hakko , and a trusty Antex XS25 with a huge #52 chisel tip bit 

The Hakko is superb but the latter is unsurpassed for backs of pots, tremolo spring claws etc - the big tip acts as a heat reservoir that works instantly at transferring heat to the back of a pot without cooing the pot.

TrentGuitars

Thanks so much guys! Invaluable info 

Philtre

robinbowes said:

Yeah, the Hakkos are great. Watch out for fakes. Buy from here:

https://www.hakko.co.uk/product/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-silver/

Indeed. Hakko fakes are a thing. There are YouTube videos about it.

ThePrettyDamned

I'm thinking of grabbing one of these from maplins, or a similar one from CPC.

https://www.maplin.co.uk/atten-at938d-60w-digital-lead-free-soldering-station-5055189030909?ff=157&fp=36986&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiqWHBhD2ARIsAPCDzan_jt4AN4-89bMQ0htFF2Au5k-B7MVKOO2kysq4G3-fgNnSni7sOAoaAgAjEALw_wcB

But not sure whether they're much cop. It won't be used heavily. If anyone knows what these are like, I'm all ears! 

Jonathangus

ThePrettyDamned said:

I'm thinking of grabbing one of these from maplins, or a similar one from CPC.

https://www.maplin.co.uk/atten-at938d-60w-digital-lead-free-soldering-station-5055189030909?ff=157&fp=36986&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiqWHBhD2ARIsAPCDzan_jt4AN4-89bMQ0htFF2Au5k-B7MVKOO2kysq4G3-fgNnSni7sOAoaAgAjEALw_wcB

But not sure whether they're much cop. It won't be used heavily. If anyone knows what these are like, I'm all ears! 

That's what I've got.  Does fine; like you, I'm not a heavy user.  I got a pack of tips including a chisel tip for doing pots.

It features in the videos from @sixstringsupplies - although I think he's now moved on to a Hakko.  He's obviously using them for several hours a day, though.

thermionic

Hakkos are not expensive if you consider what you’d pay for say, an electric drill that you’d get similar use out of (I use a soldering iron far more often than I’d use a drill!) Having worked in electronics for a few years, I was tempted to get an industry standard Weller. Very pleased with Hakko.

equalsql

ThePrettyDamned said:

I'm thinking of grabbing one of these from maplins, or a similar one from CPC.

https://www.maplin.co.uk/atten-at938d-60w-digital-lead-free-soldering-station-5055189030909?ff=157&fp=36986&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiqWHBhD2ARIsAPCDzan_jt4AN4-89bMQ0htFF2Au5k-B7MVKOO2kysq4G3-fgNnSni7sOAoaAgAjEALw_wcB

But not sure whether they're much cop. It won't be used heavily. If anyone knows what these are like, I'm all ears! 

I've got one. It's a fair price but I find that it doesn't appear to transfer the indicated heat into the tip. The tip, on mine, is not seated snug enough against the heating element so I have to tighten the sleeve with pliers and dial in 400c to be able to use it when lead-core soldering on to jack plug tags etc. Not a touch on the old Weller soldering station I had at my old iob.

gretschthumper

robinbowes said:

Yeah, the Hakkos are great. Watch out for fakes. Buy from here:

https://www.hakko.co.uk/product/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-silver/

Oh the irony! (see what I did there??) I’d never heard of Hakko fakes, checked mine over and it is one! So, obviously not as well made as I thought … still, I’ve had it 8 years & it’s been fine so far 

ThePrettyDamned

thermionic said:

Hakkos are not expensive if you consider what you’d pay for say, an electric drill that you’d get similar use out of (I use a soldering iron far more often than I’d use a drill!) Having worked in electronics for a few years, I was tempted to get an industry standard Weller. Very pleased with Hakko.

Drill = prime day/Black Friday bosch deal  

sixstringsupplies

Hakko all the way - the only uk distributor is that link above,  H K Wentworth Group.

a worthy investment if you solder regularly. 

sixstringsupplies

And considering I bought mine from Maplins 4 years ago I too am wondering if mine is a fake! Oh well. It works very well after 4 years very heavy use. 

TrentGuitars

Lovely, I'm going to get a XS25 to tide me over - they have an excellent rep and then once I get even busier I'll pick up a Hakko and have the XS25 with a big tip on it for utility tasks,

Thanks so much gang.

Dave_Mc

Philtre said:

robinbowes said:

Yeah, the Hakkos are great. Watch out for fakes. Buy from here:

https://www.hakko.co.uk/product/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-silver/

Indeed. Hakko fakes are a thing. There are YouTube videos about it.

I think mine's legit, at least after watching one of the Youtube vids. I got mine from Amazon (actually sold by Amazon, not fulfilled or marketplace or anything like that). IIRC I got mine for more like £115, but I had to wait a while for the price to drop to that (I think it was around 6 months ago, maybe?).

Ossyrocks

robinbowes said:

Yeah, the Hakkos are great. Watch out for fakes. Buy from here:

https://www.hakko.co.uk/product/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-silver/

I’m going to go for one of these, my Weller has just bitten the dust.

I have a question about tips. The kit comes as standard with a T-18B, but the others available are a little bewildering. Can anyone recommend a couple of other useful tips? I’ll be mostly working on vintage amps.

Cheers

Philtre

Ossyrocks said:

 

Can anyone recommend a couple of other useful tips?

Yes - don't touch a hot soldering iron with your fingers. Use good solder.

robinbowes

Ossyrocks said:

robinbowes said:

Yeah, the Hakkos are great. Watch out for fakes. Buy from here:

https://www.hakko.co.uk/product/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station-silver/

I’m going to go for one of these, my Weller has just bitten the dust.

I have a question about tips. The kit comes as standard with a T-18B, but the others available are a little bewildering. Can anyone recommend a couple of other useful tips? I’ll be mostly working on vintage amps.

Cheers

https://www.instructables.com/Uses-of-Different-Soldering-Iron-Tips/