i've used the wellers on campus and the shit radio shack ones, and the wellers are far superior

are there any better ones out there that you prefer?

2/25/2006 8:13:26 PM

I use Metcal ones at work.

2/25/2006 8:38:57 PM

http://www.paceworldwide.com/

2/25/2006 8:58:21 PM

on that note is the cold heat one actually as advertised or does it suck balls

2/25/2006 9:13:59 PM

sucks balls

2/25/2006 10:08:28 PM

wellers are all most ppl need.. maybe you should say what youd be using it for

2/25/2006 10:10:43 PM

just sticking crap on prototyping PCB, nothing especially delicate, maybe a little bit of surface mounting

2/25/2006 11:02:03 PM

metcal, maybe

2/25/2006 11:28:13 PM

Weller can do that, jsut dont get a cheap dick one and do go buy the adustable base for it.

2/26/2006 9:29:26 AM

I have a weller digitally regulated one at home ($400 {I got it for free })... its works well for through hole stuff...

but for surface mount the tips are too big... thats where wellers come in...

2/26/2006 1:39:41 PM

OMF! COLD HEAT! NOW THAT'S SMART!

2/26/2006 2:02:17 PM

kinda depends on your budget...

good sub-$100 station -> Weller WES50 series, has a good array of tips that last, adjustable temp, and heats up quick, just dont get the cheaper wellers with the orange/red base units, any of the light blue ones are of a much better quality. See the link below for example:
http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bin/scripts/product/1980-0430

over $100 -> Metcal or Hakko make good higher end stuff, but for what you are describing the Weller should be more than sufficient.

2/26/2006 4:35:29 PM

Weller all the way.

I've got one of these:
http://www.action2k.com/wewlc100.htm

Very cheap.

2/26/2006 4:44:57 PM

its the wattage and tip design that matters not the brand

2/26/2006 4:45:16 PM

back when I was big into the RC racing scene, I used a Hakko (sp?) iron. FAR superior to anything Weller ever had.

2/26/2006 6:09:58 PM

I'm happy with my Hakko

2/26/2006 6:31:59 PM

Quote :

"but for surface mount the tips are too big... thats where wellers come in... "

what a Dumbass...

I meant to say

but for surface mount the tips are too big... thats where METCAL's come in...

2/26/2006 7:40:59 PM

on a related note, where is a good place to get lots of perf board with the copper solder points online for cheap?

2/26/2006 10:38:20 PM

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category/455/Perf_Boards.html

2/26/2006 10:50:27 PM

I really like the one I use at work... I'll have to make a mental note of the brand name next week... it's far superior in comparison with the ones on campus and the ones sold at Radio Shack... but I doubt the company is well known... we got 2 prototype test models and ended up keeping them.

2/26/2006 11:09:34 PM

http://newtechinc.blogspot.com/

2/27/2006 12:06:19 PM