Happy Modder.

[vereybowring]

I've not been active for some time for various reasons, some of them health and well being related.
Another biggie was my old soldering iron was not quite up to the job.
I'd started using better quality solder with slightly different properties (mainly the silver content for better conductivity), the main one being a higher melting point which the old iron was barely able to work effectively. I could have just gone back to the cheaper solder but since I ended up with a quite large spool of the better stuff it would be a shame not to use it.

Today a lovely analogue temperature controlled solder station came to my possession.
Don't get me wrong it is not expensive, but I'm on benefits and have debts so any outlay is expensive but I thought it would be worth it.

Now I just need to get some practice in with it to get used to the higher temperatures it can produce and how the solder will behave.
I notice already the density of metal used in the solder tip seems at least twice that of my previous one meaning better durability.
It doesn't have a display telling me the exact temperature so there will be a little trial and error getting it set just right.

Here's to getting back to modding soon !

[alvoram]

You'll go through tips faster at higher temperatures verey, I'm sure you know that, but if you don't something to keep an eye on.

[vereybowring]

Yup, but as I sort of mentioned the tips seem of a better construction to partly allow for that. The tips weigh about three times as much as the cheapo ones but are about the same size leading me to conclude the material density is far higher and the tip itself seems to be harder.

I'll get a chance to play with it this evening hopefully, but it was a worthwhile outlay since I've been soldering alot in the last year.

NB. Just had a better look at it and those lovely germans have made the tips from pretinned ceramic.
Explains the huge weight difference (I was actually reading the instructions to notice that).
I've never used a ceramic tip before so will no doubt have a bit of learning to do with it but the tip should wear very well.

[Scylla]

I bought a soldering iron, cheap battery operated model, purely for burning the sides of my cartridges when they were too loose for the atties It didn't last long, it stopped responding to button-push.

Glad to see you're getting back to modding, Verey - when you're unwell it's so good to have something you're really interested in to concentrate on

[vereybowring]

I had a quick play with it last night and have to say it is definitely worth the money.
Pretty quick to heat up and the tip didn't show any signs of use afterwards.
Importantly I now have the temperature set to where the solder I'm using flows easily and quickly.

I bought two spare tips for it and may not have to buy any for some time to come.

Got it off ebay from this company -
It was the cheapest one (model 28020) but the others look very nice too I just can't afford them.
Apparently there are several makes of the same irons just with branding differences.

If you mod and don't yet have a temperature controlled station I reckon you should have a look.

[DiscoDes]

I'm lucky enough to have one of these : www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELLER-PU-3D-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/220990134236?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item337409d7dc it's about 30 years old but works fabulously.

[warlordxxx - (Mark)]

You got the same station as i have Verey it's very good and the temperature control works nicely

[alvoram]

Apr 3, 2012 15:04:01 GMT DiscoDes said:

I'm lucky enough to have one of these : www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELLER-PU-3D-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/220990134236?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item337409d7dc it's about 30 years old but works fabulously.

Used the newer weller stations before Des, reliable little irons. We then got some new JBC stations in, they were amazing... see if I can find one.

[alvoram]

Station here...

www.jbctools.com/stations/stations/soldering/231-soldering/323-hd-heavy-duty-station

Auto feed, for wiring etc, here...

www.jbctools.com/stations/stations/soldering/231-soldering/354-al-automatic-solder-feed-station

The JBC autofeeds are really good though, not like the old weller auto feed guns, I hated them. These JBL auto feeds really help in situations were you just haven't got enough hands, like wiring.

No idea how much these cost btw.