Best soldering station UNDER $50?

[TechGeek]

I have a Weller soldering gun, NOT built for recapping. Too bulky, and not precise enough. On a tight budget(just did computer upgrades(over $500)), so I don't want to spend more than $50-$75 on one(if there even is one). Can anyone help me here? Thanks.

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Generic 40w soldering iron.

[TechGeek]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Generic???

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Literally yes, im not messing here. I have owned a maplin 40w no brand soldering iron for nearly 3 years now. Still heats fine, and im able to solder fine with the stock tip I have been able to solder Ic's woth alot of pins fine. Its more about your technique than the tool when it comes to soldering.

[Sparkey55]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Generic???

Only a poor carpenter blames his tools for shitty work.

[dmill89]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Under $50, Hakko 936 clone (or if you check Ebay you can sometimes find used "real" Hakko 936s for around $50, though $70-80 is more common): http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-AO936-AO...ords=aoyue+936

or for a little more ($60) a 937 (ESD safe and digital display)clone: http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-937-Digi...ords=aoyue+936

~$100 will get you a "real" new Hakko FX-888D: http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-2...5%3A2470955011

[diif]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

I use a generic 40w fitted with a chisel tip. The only time it shows its cheapness is when heating something large and the heat it sucked away quickly.

[stj]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

you can get a T12 clone for under $50 now.

[comptek]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

i have one of these heats up really quick been good so far

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMD-Rework...0AAMXQlgtRoyOj

[bc989]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

i'm also looking for below $50, these caught my eye for its apparent portability. anyone have tried?

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?&SearchText=BK950D

[rievax_60]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

I have been using one like this for years. It is best to get the 936A version which has the Japanese heater.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/60W-SOLDE...kAAOSwd4tT0ytH

[TechGeek]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Is this good?

http://www.xtronicusa.com/#!/X-TRONI...ion/p/46116629

[rievax_60]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Is this good?

http://www.xtronicusa.com/#!/X-TRONI...ion/p/46116629

It is variable power, not temperature controlled.

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

only a poor carpenter blames his tools for shitty work.

+1

[stj]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

a poor carpenter wont improve wih shit tools

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

Im a poor carpenter but dont need to improve well not for the work Im doing Tv wise

[eccerr0r]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

I'd have to say that nichrome (typical heating element wire) has some implicit temperature control as long as you supply constant voltage like either plugged in or using a dimmer; however the design of the tip and how it thermally connects to the heating element makes a huge difference on how well it actually regulates heat. That being said, it's still no match for a well designed feedback control loop system.

[stj]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

i'm also looking for below $50, these caught my eye for its apparent portability. anyone have tried?

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?&SearchText=BK950D

that is probably good, it uses T12 bits.
check ebay, i'v seen them about and you may get a better price.
i'v seen a kit without transformer, just iron and control board for about $18

[kaboom]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

a poor carpenter wont improve wih shit tools

Exactly.

Remember those awful "shipped with kit" soldering irons? With terrible tip-to-heater contact (setscrew, loose tolerances) and overpowered heater, that tip got blazing hot! And lost its temperature the moment you held it to a joint. If you did manage to "solder" with one of these, the joints were bad from overheating/oxidation. You'd actually see the tip oxidize away if you left it on for half an hour. Waaay too hot, which still didn't "make up" for the lousy thermal interface, not in the least.

Should've been called "rip the traces off" irons...

TG, scrounge a used Weller TCP from ebay. Proven design and tips a'plenty.

[stj]

Re: Best soldering station UNDER $50?

magnastat - eww nasty!