[R-390] soldering equipment

[Cecil Acuff]

Brad,

        I recently upgraded my soldering hardware to all Hakko.  I picked up 
a nice used dual station that has a small tipped pencil iron and a large 
chisel tip iron.  It's handy to have both available as some joints only need 
a little heat to work and others need quite a lot.  Both are temperature 
controlled and they are fast heaters...they can come up to set temp from 
room temp in about 30 seconds or less. I also picked up a nice Hakko 
desoldering station that makes quick work of unsoldering junctions buried 
deep in a chassis.  It has a long tip on it like the irons.  Makes working 
on the tube gear nice.  All of it was picked up used on the auction site. 
Most of it comes out of production shops but is still in nice shape and 
parts are available quite readily.

I have used just about everything over the years....Weller, Ungar, Wahl, 
Pace....guns, pencils.  I like what I have now about as well as anything I 
have ever used.  My second choice would be a temp. controlled Weller 
station.  Pace is nice but most of their irons are little short stubby 
things and you can't reach down into the chassis with them.  The are 
specialized for PC board work.  I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a nice used 
outfit....probably won't spend any more for a used high end station than you 
would pay for a new low end station.

Anyway....that's my experience....

Good luck!

Cecil.....


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brad Huff" <huffb at avalon.net>
To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 8:05 PM
Subject: [R-390] soldering equipment


Hello,
I'm new to the list although I've been an electronics hobbyist for many 
years. I'm looking to upgrade my soldering equipment from a common variety 
pencil iron to something more state of the art. What would you folks 
recommend that I purchase to work on the R390A modules? Most of my hobby 
activities deal with tube equipment and antique radios.-Brad KB0WHL.
_____________________________________________________________
Win a new Icom IC-756PROIII and help QSL/QTH.net
Details at: http://mailman.qth.net/index.html
_____________________________________________________________
R-390 mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Unsubscribe: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/options/r-390