Recommend me a soldering station please

[brumbrum]

I am fed up of buying cheap and the irons breaking. I have about £80gbp to spend. Bare in mind that this will equate to about 80-100 U.S dollars worth of goods.

I am looking for a station that is heat adjustable. Mainly being used for all e-bike applications and proofed for others apps when needed.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[amberwolf]

some info
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/search.php?keywords=solder*+iron&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sk=t&sd=d&sr=topics&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/search.php?keywords=solder*+station&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sk=t&sd=d&sr=topics&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

 

[Farfle]

Ill reccomend this guy if you have a sears in your area:
Nickle plate tips last a long time, variable heat works well and it has good ergonomics and tip selection.

Btw, cooper tools is sears re-brand of weller, which is pretty reputable

http://www.sears.com/cooper-tools-soldering-station/p-00954054000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

 

[izeman]

Ill reccomend this guy if you have a sears in your area:
Nickle plate tips last a long time, variable heat works well and it has good ergonomics and tip selection.

Btw, cooper tools is sears re-brand of weller, which is pretty reputable

http://www.sears.com/cooper-tools-soldering-station/p-00954054000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

40w may be a bit low if you wish to solder 4mm2 cable and up. better go for 80w.
i can recommend the ersa rds 80.
edit: sorry just checked the price. it's way over your limit can't remember that i spent that much

 

[brumbrum]

The main problem i have with most is the Ac voltage. It is 120 U.S and 220-20 UK. The good weller and hakko ones tend to be 120vac

Do cheap 120 to 240 step up transformers exist. I undertand hakko do a220v for china but the market is flooded with fakes.

Any thoughts?

 

[Ypedal]

for small to medium jobs, a Hakko 936 is what i use

for large gauge wire ( multiple 12g or bigger stuff + ) get a 2nd iron, biggie 80w with a large tip to hold lots of heat..

you really need 2 irons in this hobby imo.

 

[brumbrum]

Thanks for the help, i will look into the various suggestions

 

[NeilP]

Check out your local Maplin. they do some

http://www.maplin.co.uk/productsearch?criteria=solder+station

60Watt one there for £70.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/60w-lcd-display-solder-station-218050

Or
http://www.maplin.co.uk/60w-professional-lcd-solder-station-with-esd-protection-511927

I usually use RS components, and they have a much bigger selection..but they are the much more expensive ones. I have yet to see a small cheap one that does more than 60Watt

http://export.rsdelivers.com/product/rs/ds50/rs-ds50-digital-soldering-station-eu-uk/0186719.aspx



If you are looking to remove FETS, I use an even bigger one. a 300W plumbers style iron. The FET barely gets warm. The heat and thermal mass of such a big tipped iron means the iron is only on the trace for seconds..or less
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toolcraft-High-power-hand-soldering-iron/dp/B003A699ZS/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=soldering+station

Amazon UK...Toolcraft 100Watt station for £70
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toolcraft-ST100-D-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B003A5UVSI/ref=sr_1_21?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1361717663&sr=1-21

 

[nicobie]

I really like my Hakko fx-888. 30 sec heat up!

 

[brumbrum]

Thanks Neil, i have an RS Components near my place of work, comes in handy though as you say v.expensive. Will visit local maplins


Nicobie, the hakko 888 can be got at 220v but from china with a 90% chance it will be a copy, i will keep looking.