Re: soldering iron stations
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:07 pm
McSpunckle wrote:the Life Aquatic wrote:anyone ever seen this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Stahl-Tools-Varia ... DRZV3E4NNT
i may get it and start attempting to build pedals again
One thing to note, wattage adjustment doesn't really mean temperature adjustment. The thing might idle at like 900 degrees regardless, which can eat a tip pretty quick. Not that it's not a good iron, but it might not work any different than, say:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9507...Which is only $10.
The advantage of temp-controlled irons is that they keep track of the temperature of the tip, and throttle the power (basically turn it off and on really quick) to keep the temp close to steady, and usually a much lower temp. So, if it's sitting idle it hardly needs any power, and it can sit there burning at 600 degrees instead of 900, but when you need the power (as in, you're actually soldering), it'll use the power as needed. Without temperature control, if you have more power than you need, it could be too hot for sensitive components (or just fry them faster). It doesn't take much power to solder an IC to a board, for instance, and soldering at 900 degrees could fry it. But, then again, the lower power settings on that thing may very well let the heat drop enough even when soldering small things. But, of course, if the power was too low, you'd have to solder longer which could also fry it. w00h!
But, yeah, I'm sure that thing is fine, but I kinda doubt it would be much better than a decent iron that just plugs into the wall.
That looks like a "clone" of my weller station. It's the iron I've been using for about 2 years. I don't know what temp it actually goes to, but it works really well with the wattage setting around 10oclock on mine. I just leave it right there. I have only gone through 2 tips (still using the second...and tbh I smashed the first one in a fit of rage while it was hot).