Soldering Irons

Hello,

I had Solomon SL30. Chinese station, couldn't locally get the tips, so had just the default conical one. The temperature setting and reading was accurate of about +/- 100 centigrade. I think all similar stations would be better without showing the nonsense temperatures, but just levels 1-10 with no units.

I was considering ERSA iCon 1 (which seemed to me as 1 level up, "good quality with the usual heating element"), I also got a recommendation from a friend. However after viewing a few comparison videos like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyt0X2CGDRM  , ended up with JBC CD-2BE (which is 2 levels up, "heating element embedded into the tip").

It is a masterpiece. Ambient temperature to sleep temperature (180 C) takes about 3 seconds. Sleep temp. to soldering temp, also 2 seconds. The soldering iron definitely waits for the operator, not the other way

Tips are more expensive, but I personally think that if treated well, they will last similar time as the classic ones. They also don't handle that high temperature, thanks to a precision control.

Last words: support a well known manufacturer. I have seen videos with rip-off soldering stations for a fraction price. They might work, but definitely do not contribute to better quality and long lasting products.

David

I'm using an ERSA iCON pico (£151 from Farnell) for surface mount work and I'm please with it (I have two with different sized bits in one small for 0402 - 0805 and one hollow for 0.5mm pitch TQFP).

I'm very happy with them (and they do have real temperature control with numbers and turn themselves down after a while so forgetting to turn them off doesn't cost you a new bit (or a fire))

MK

Hi Jade,

Here is a great soldering iron that was given to me by a good friend. I have been using it every day for about a year and it is still on the first tip. You can set the temperature anywhere you want on three push button selects. I wrote a blog about it which is attached.

https://www.element14.com/community/people/jw0752/blog/2017/06/14/tenma-21-10115-temperature-controlled-soldering-station

John

Thank you guys so much for being helpful!!!!

Got an update for y'all, I used a coupon code I found and got it for 116 including shipping. The iron was only used a couple of times and you can tell caue it has that new iron shine on the handle.