[Elecraft] soldering station info, from a guy who does it all day: slightly OT

[Bob Nielsen]

On Apr 14, 2006, at 12:40 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

>
> The Pace and Edsyn soldering stations are in the $130 range. The  
> OKI (was
> Metcal) soldering stations like the Wellers with front-panel  
> temperature
> controls get up near $200. Of course, they all have special purpose  
> tools
> that cost much, much more, but which do different things such as  
> provide far
> higher heats one would ever use on a PCB (up to 1000F), desoldering  
> tools,
> etc.
>
> Like you, I have a Hakko 936. The reason I like it over the Weller  
> in a $100
> soldering station is for the Hakko's front-panel temperature  
> control instead
> of changing tips to change temperatures. Of course Weller offers  
> front-panel
> temperature change too, but at substantially more money than the  
> Hakko.
>

The premium for a Weller soldering station isn't quite that much if  
you shop around a bit. There are several variable-temperature Weller  
models available.  The one which is most like the Hakko 936 is the  
WES-51.  I bought the predecessor WES-50 for about $90 a few years  
back and a quick Google search found the WES-51 for $99 at Action.  I  
also have a Xytronic which is quite similar and was in the $60 range  
when I bought mine about ten years ago.

73,
Bob, N7XY