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Forum Soldering Stations & The Right Accessories - Where to start?
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Forum Thread Details
  • State Suggested Answer
  • Replies 54 replies
  • Answers 34 answers
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  • Views 5045 views
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  • weller
  • solder tips
  • soldering_tip_life
  • commfeedback
  • weller_soldering_irons
Related

Soldering Stations & The Right Accessories - Where to start?

tbartonnewark
tbartonnewark over 7 years ago

Hi I work at Newark and I'm researching kitting soldering stations and replacement soldering tips together Assuming I start with a Basic Weller 120V 50W Station(WES51 or  WESD51WESD51 What tips sizes or shapes would you recommend for an entry level kit Any thoughts on tinners and sponges to extend tip life What would be the dream starter pack

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  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 7 years ago in reply to mcb1 +11 suggested
    Hi Mark, I actually cheated too and I also found this small ceramic thingy at the $ store. It is supposed to be used to heat aromatic oil like a scented candle but I retasked it. I have glued it to a hockey…
  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 7 years ago +10 suggested
    Hi Tom, The recommendations that have been tendered so far are all great. I have always bought a variety of tips when I bought a system but as dougw points out they almost never get used and the tip he…
  • dougw
    dougw over 7 years ago +7 suggested
    I do all my soldering with the same size tip - it is not practical to swap hot tips all the time. But extra tips of the same type are always useful. The tip should be fairly short and fairly fine to get…
  • dougw
    0 dougw over 7 years ago

    I do all my soldering with the same size tip - it is not practical to swap hot tips all the time. But extra tips of the same type are always useful. The tip should be fairly short and fairly fine to get the maximum heat to the smallest area.

    I use a wet sponge for tip cleaning - I don't know if it extends life better, but it cleans better, providing better performance. So a tip cleaner tray for the sponge is essential. A couple of extra sponges would be useful. I also keep a bottle of (preferably DI) water nearby to keep the sponge wet. Like a sports water bottle - so the water can't evaporate between sessions.

    Other useful accessories are:

    • a solder dispenser (stand with an axle for the solder reel)
    • a magnifier (ideally a stereo microscope) (even jewelers glasses can work)
    • some lights
    • a PCB holder
    • tweezers
    • solder wick
    • solder sucker
    • flux syringe
    • small nozzle hot air gun
    • a fume extractor/filter
    • a third hand
    • extra solder (two different diameters are useful)

    You can find low-cost starter versions of all of these except maybe the fume extractor.

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  • ninjatrent
    0 ninjatrent over 7 years ago

    Dreaming of a Weller...lol.

     

    I have an Atten 5O watt that has been modified for use with a Hakko T18-S4 Fine SMD Soldering Tip and a no-name cheap soldering iron as a back up.

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  • gam3t3ch
    0 gam3t3ch over 7 years ago

    Well I like soldering rework stations myself but to be honest if I was going to buy another just soldering station Weller would be off the table I would probably check the TENMA  21-1011521-10115 But this is just my preference As far as tips go I think I use between.03.07 inch on a regular basis The only thing I would suggest that could be added would be a heating element if the part is there Just had mine go on my soldering iron but I had a spare waiting To me the WES51 and  WESD51WESD51 are great units but I think more information on who you are gearing these kits too would be ideal as well

     

    But to be fair the best would be the cheapest kit possible and then go from there as far as the addons.  I only say that because realistically if I could buy a soldering iron, hot air station, fume extractor, solder, bulb, flux, tweezers, wire cutter, extra tips and elements, hot plate, and ultimately a deslodering iron in a kit just starting out that didn't suck it would be more worth my while.

     

    But to me the  WR5000MWR5000M is my ultimate which isn't going to happen but would be killer to have

     

    Everything comes back to who you are going to be gearing this towards tho.   So maybe a bit more info.

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  • jw0752
    0 jw0752 over 7 years ago

    Hi Tom,

     

    The recommendations that have been tendered so far are all great. I have always bought a variety of tips when I bought a system but as dougw  points out they almost never get used and the tip he described is also my preferred tip. I do disagree with using the wet sponge as it cleans the tip too well and one must put a lot of attention into retinning after cleaning. I have used a wire brush or better yet one of the containers with the coiled wire scrubbers. These remove the debris but leave a layer of solder on the tip.

     

    http://www.newark.com/weller/wdc2-system/attachable-soldering-tip-dry-cleaner/dp/55M4510

     

    As far as the iron itself is concerned I recently got a Tenma  21-1011521-10115 as a gift and I am really impressed with it

     

    http://www.newark.com/tenma/21-10115/soldering-station-esd-safe-60w/dp/56T2208

     

    John

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  • gam3t3ch
    0 gam3t3ch over 7 years ago in reply to jw0752

    Hey  John I was looking into that Tenma as my next station need something a bit smaller then what I have on my bench right now you got the  dimensions of it?

     

    Thanks

     

    Wes

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  • jw0752
    0 jw0752 over 7 years ago in reply to gam3t3ch

    The powersupply is 14cm X 11cm X 9CM and the holder has a footprint of 15X7 cm.

     

    John

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  • gam3t3ch
    0 gam3t3ch over 7 years ago in reply to jw0752

    Awesome!, Thanks John!

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  • mcb1
    0 mcb1 over 7 years ago in reply to jw0752

    better yet one of the containers with the coiled wire scrubbers

     

    I cheated and went and brought a stainless pot scrubber at the local supermarket.

    It works exactly the same, although it would be better in some form of housing...

     

     

     

    Mark

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  • jadew
    0 jadew over 7 years ago

    I find myself using a 1.2 mm chisel tip most of the time, since it works great on both SMD and through-hole. The next tip I use is a bevel tip, for drag soldering.

     

    The dream pack for me would also include a pair of hot tweezers or a second soldering station. I have a second station, and when I'm not picking up SMD parts, I can have it equipped with a different tip.

     

    Edit: I also use a 100 W soldering gun for wires and other things with a higher thermal mass. I'd go for a higher power gun if I were to buy it again.

     

    Razvan

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  • mcb1
    0 mcb1 over 7 years ago in reply to jadew

    Edit: I also use a 100 W soldering gun for wires and other things with a higher thermal mass. I'd go for a higher power gun if I were to buy it again.

     

    I'm curious if your iron is temperature controlled.

     

    While there is no substitue for power, the ability to keep the temperature close to the desired value means you aren't cooking the solder and then experiencing a drop when it gets loaded.

     

     

    Mark

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