[Boatanchors] OT A BIT....What Do You Solder With?

[Phil]

Hi Don,

Actually, depending on the job I use a number of different soldering 
tools.  In order of the amount of use they are. . .

1.  Temperature controlled dual-iron soldering station.  I have one iron 
set up for very small/fine work such as SMD stuff, the other set up for 
more normal soldering such as routine PCB work, most tube work (such as 
tube sockets etc) and so forth.  It replaced a very old Temp controlled 
station made by Phillips. It's convenient in that the two irons can be 
set up with different tips (each iron has 3 memories), and it's 
convenient when building/repairing to have two hot irons of different 
sizes.  If you forget to turn the station off it can be set to either 
shut down or go to sleep (go to a low heat) after a period of non-use.  
That also prolongs tip life as it heats quickly.

This is the 'station' I use for these tasks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QU25JNA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2.  Two different soldering guns, a Weller 100/140W one and a Weller 
200/260W unit.  They only get occasional use, though the 140W one is 
frequently used for the quick wire/cable repair and so forth.

3.  Finally, a Sears Craftsman Iron with a chisel tip.  While it's only 
45W, it seems to transfer a LOT of heat and is ideal for PL259 
connectors and so forth.

73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair"
Phil, KO6BB
http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/  (Web Page)

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On 7/7/2016 2:45 PM, Don Merz via Boatanchors wrote:
> Seems a simple question. Maybe not.
> I recently became disenchanted with my old Tenma soldering station. I also have a box of all the usual old soldering irons and such I could use (but don't). I started thinking that maybe for the next 10 years I should just buy something good and be done with it.
> A friend of mine swears by the Metcal soldering stations. They are not cheap, but maybe a good investment.
> What do you use that you like?
> 73, Don Merz, N3RHT