Recommendations for Soldering Stations

[David King]

To step back a bit I have a hakko 936 with a 927 24V 50W handpiece. It eats tips. You leave it on overnight by accident and the tip is worthless.

I've always wanted a Metcal RF iron. Rock steady temp control and much more power available at the tip when you need it.
Metcal


The best solder suckers have a silicon rubber tip instead of the hard teflon. I used one in Denmark 20 years ago but still haven't found one for sale in the US.

[salvarsan]

I've always wanted a Metcal RF iron. Rock steady temp control and much more power available at the tip when you need it.
Metcal

The best solder suckers have a silicon rubber tip instead of the hard teflon. I used one in Denmark 20 years ago but still haven't found one for sale in the US.

The Metcal is always over $400 US. If you need the nearly instantaneous
temperature regulation and solder a lot, then it's worth it.

For through-hole desoldering, I use an old PACE MBT-201 that runs off shop
air. There was a time when they were cheap and abundant on eBay, so I
bought three dead ones and made a live one. At $400+ used today, they are
unjustifiably overpriced. A new Hakko can do just as well for half the price.

-drh

[Berman]

If you use a Weller TCP (The old version with temperature set by changing the soldering-tip), please be cautious at working near magnets. The soldering-iron can be damged (or get false temperatures) from magnetic fields.

Greetings Hermann