[Elecraft] Soldering station questions (please, no wars)

[Kirby Nesbitt]

I'm also in the market for a good variable temp station. Where is a good 
place to buy on-line?

73.
Kirb,  VE6IV



Flex-Radio SDR-1000
..a pile of K2's inside your PC
-------------


Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

>Michael N4NMR wrote:
>
>I suspect my temp controlled soldering station is going south on me.  In
>building my K2, I've noticed that it takes longer to get the solder flowing.
>
>I'll take other recommendations just in case I have to go on-line to order
>one.
>
>-----------------------------------
>Not knowing the manufacturer makes it tough to suggest ways to 'fix' the
>current one. 
>
>1- If it is a "fixed temp" tip, try a new tip. A bad thermostat can cause a
>tip to run cool. Apparently your tip is heating because you do eventually
>melt solder. 
>
>2 - If just the soldering tip is replaceable, remove it and make sure it is
>clean *inside* where it attaches. Corrosion that builds up at the attachment
>point (threads, sleeve, etc.) can really cut down the heat transfer from the
>element to the tip. 
>
>3 - If you "give up" on it, consider a Hakko 936-ESD. No, you can't get it
>today if no one in town sells one, but they are available in two or three
>days via web order if you want it shipped priority from various places. 
>
>They aren't "better" than Weller, nor is Weller "better" than the Hakko.
>After all it's just a soldering station! The magic is in the hands that
>wield it, not in the tool itself. I've used both, although I haven't use the
>newer Weller stations. When I was last in the market for a new soldering
>station, the Hakko price was the best. 
>
>I really like the front-panel knob temperature control. I think where a lot
>of ops go wrong is using too COOL of an iron. Desoldering braid is nearly
>non-functional with a 700F iron. At the least, it's likely you'll lift a
>trace by leaving it "cook" too long. Cleaning enameled wire by the "blob"
>method also is very poor at 700F, not to mention soldering larger terminals
>instead of a board trace. The ability to tweak the knob up to 800F, wait 5
>seconds, then go to work is a real advantage of the variable temperature
>stations to me. 
>
>Ron AC7AC
>
>P.S. We don't do "wars" here. 
>
>
>
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