Soldering Irons

[big_teee]

I picked up the Circuit Specialists 60w station. It's on sale until the end of May. (More on this later).

60watt Analog Style Soldering Station

When You get it let us know what you think?
I may want one too!
T

[JoeM]

Well, it's here. I bought some extra tips too, (heavier, comes with a fine point conical). Apparently not much QC on these. UPS came and my younger son opened the box. I didn't have a chance to look at it immediately, but when I did the temperature control knob was loose. I thought UPS dropped it or my son was heavy handed unpacking it. Figured it was broken, but then I noticed I could push the pot back in and it seemed to slide right in, as in a socket or something. Opened the unit up and the pot wasn't even soldered to the board! Soldered it in and it worked fine. Heats up very fast. One important issue, you must match the tip size to the type of work you're doing. Overall a nice unit, but I don't know how the pot wasn't even soldered.

[J M Fahey]

*ZERO* quality control.
Can't ask for a full functional test for every unit, but an unsoldered pot is caught by the simplest visual inspection.
Oh well.

[big_teee]

Well, it's here. I bought some extra tips too, (heavier, comes with a fine point conical). Apparently not much QC on these. UPS came and my younger son opened the box. I didn't have a chance to look at it immediately, but when I did the temperature control knob was loose. I thought UPS dropped it or my son was heavy handed unpacking it. Figured it was broken, but then I noticed I could push the pot back in and it seemed to slide right in, as in a socket or something. Opened the unit up and the pot wasn't even soldered to the board! Soldered it in and it worked fine. Heats up very fast. One important issue, you must match the tip size to the type of work you're doing. Overall a nice unit, but I don't know how the pot wasn't even soldered.

That's Ironic!
I bet you had to have and use another soldering iron to fix your Soldering Iron!
B_T

[JoeM]

Yep! I used my trusty old Weller to fix it.

[JoeM]

*ZERO* quality control.
Can't ask for a full functional test for every unit, but an unsoldered pot is caught by the simplest visual inspection.
Oh well.

Yes, very weird. I was going to send it back, but the pot coming in and out so easily was strange so I opened it up had a look. Clean pins on the pot, never soldered. All the other parts surface mount.

[big_teee]

Yes, very weird. I was going to send it back, but the pot coming in and out so easily was strange so I opened it up had a look. Clean pins on the pot, never soldered. All the other parts surface mount.

Outside of the UnSoldered Pot, How do you rate the New Soldering Station?
1to 10 ?
Which tip do you like the best for Tube Amp work?
Does the temp keep it where you want it?
So many ??? so Little time?
Terry

[copperheadroads]

I agree on the kester 44.
I have been using solder left over from 40+ years of Communications work.
I just started using the 44, and Wow.
It is nice pretty and it is clean when your done.
My old solder, always left a yucky rosin residue.
It was a pain to get it off, if you wanted it clean looking.
So Kudos on the Kester 44.
T

Is everybody using the kester 44 that Mojo sells
I do find that it cools not SO shiny like a cold solder joint ,Even though I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM with it .............Just curious
So Kudos on the Kester 44.

[JoeM]

Outside of the UnSoldered Pot, How do you rate the New Soldering Station?
1to 10 ?
Which tip do you like the best for Tube Amp work?
Does the temp keep it where you want it?
So many ??? so Little time?
Terry

I havent done much with it, but hopefully over this weekend will get a chance to work on a couple of amp projects. I used it to change an OT on my old Princeton using a 2.4mm tip. The tip was a bit light for that. OK for the tube socket pins, but needed something with more mass for an eyelet. I have a 3.2mm, I'll use that for now on with any eyelet board stuff. Compensating by increasing the temp didnt really help, but it worked OK. Nice light weight iron, my other irons (an old Weller and an old Ungar) are a bit awkward by comparison. This iron does heat up real fast. Overall, especially for the money a very nice station.

[big_teee]

It's been a few weeks now, but I finally got a New to me, Used Soldering Station.
I found a Weller WTCPT Station at a Industrial Surplus supply.
It is in great shape, and works perfect.
I already had a box full of different heat temp tips to fit it, left over from Tech retirement.
With the different 700, and 800 degree tips it is very versatile.
Perfect so far for the misc. amp and Pickup work I use it for.
T