[Elecraft] [K2] 60W temperature controlled iron; unknown brand of solder

[Wayne Conrad]

On 04/16/2011 08:36 AM, G. Beat wrote:
>
> What is this 60 Watt temperatrure controlled station.
>
>
>
> Forst, the reason I ask is that I have seen many newcomers/novices "hood winked" into buying
>
> stations that are NOT True Termperature Control .. but the box and form factor looks like one.
>    

Greg, It's a Circuit Specialists house brand:

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/10369

When I take off the tip and expose the element, it's glowing a dull 
orange.  If I blow on it, it glows brighter.  When I stop blowing, it 
goes back to dull orange.  That's the only direct evidence I have that 
it is temperature controlled.  It's no Cadillac, and reprogramming the 
presets is maddening, but it seems to work.  At least, I'm making 
acceptable joints with it.  No cold joints, most joints have the proper 
concave filet (a few might be just a wee bit convex, but no big balls of 
solder in any case), and full coverage of the pad.  I've got that "one 
to three second" temperature dialed in.

I started with the 40-W dummy load.  That was good practice, especially 
for learning which tip (the one that came with the iron, oddly enough) 
and which temperature setting to use.  Then I put together the audio 
filter module.  For $80, I could screw that up completely and call it an 
expensive lesson rather than a disaster.  It came out good, though.  
Better than the dummy load, in any case.  I'm working on the control 
board now.  Man, this is some fun!

> Second, many contributors here on Elecraft will bend over backwards -- to make sure you get the RIGHT tools
>
> and the RIGHT advice.
Now that's the truth.  This is a great bunch of people.  I only hope 
that someday I'll be able to help others the way this group has helped me.

Wayne Conrad