Suggestions for a Soldering Iron

[1 ADAM 12]

I may be looking to buy a soldering iron. What brand and power output would you soldering experts suggest for CB mods and repairs?

[dirtyjob]

i personally like Weller, I have been using mine for a number of years, it's adjustable with a max wattage of 40, i have no complaints with this old Weller, it has served me well for a long while.

[gunner57]

I use Weller TC201.

['Doc]

I have two soldering irons, one a smaller tipped 'pencil' type, the other a soldering 'gun' for 'larger' things. Which to use depends on what I'm soldering. Weller is a good brand, but so is the smaller one I have, it's made by Radio Shack.
- 'Doc

[Bombero]

Hey..

I do a lot of soldering, so I need a dependable iron.

Hakko 888D.. [Please login or register to view this link]

And a Weller SP40L for quick and easy stuff...[Please login or register to view this link]

Stay away from the battery powered irons...they aren't reliable.

Bombero

[Skipper 169]

Yes, "OLD" Wellers are great, new Wellers are made by miniature people over in china somewhere these days. The one I bought is cheap junk, although it wasn't cheap. Look around and with any luck you can buy one you can look at before paying for.

[1 ADAM 12]

Thanks for the answers. I currently have a Craftsman soldering gun. It has the large 1/4 inch tip. I seem to have trouble using this on smaller items. Is this larger tip causing me to have problems or my low soldering skill level? Would buying an iron with the pencil tip help me learn faster and make it easier?

[Bombero]

Is this larger tip causing me to have problems or my low soldering skill level? Would buying an iron with the pencil tip help me learn faster and make it easier?

Hey..

The smaller tips seem to work better for me, and you buying one is not going to make you learn faster or make it any easier...remember 'Practice makes perfect'

Find some old radio boards and practice soldering and unsoldering.

Good luck.

Bombero

[Slyguy]

Just a quick note...when soldering coax connectors on the larger coax like RG8 or similar, the bigger the soldering iron the better. You don't want to have to wait all day to get the connector hot enough. You need to get it done in a hurry or you'll melt the dielectric.

[dirtyjob]

yep, for larger jobs i have an old stand buy Archer 75 watt gun, heats up almost instantly.

[Deleted User 14541]

Just a quick note...when soldering coax connectors on the larger coax like RG8 or similar, the bigger the soldering iron the better. You don't want to have to wait all day to get the connector hot enough. You need to get it done in a hurry or you'll melt the dielectric.

A micro torch works great on pl259s. Takes some practice though.

[MDYoungblood]

I have a Loner 971 temp control iron that is my go to but I see nothing wrong with the pencil tip irons at RS, Walmart, etc. It really all depends on how much soldering you are going to do, a small tip 20w iron for PCB work, a 40w iron for coax connectors and larger stuff, and a soldering gun for large power cables and such. I use all the above.

3's

Greg

[LocomtvBreth]

I have found that careful use of a propane torch works really good for coax connectors.

[MDYoungblood]

I hope are talking about a micro torch and not something a plumper uses to sweat pipe together. I have seen it done and the connectors look kind of ugly afterward.

3's

Greg

[Bombero]

I hope are talking about a micro torch
3's

Greg

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[Slyguy]

Just a quick note...when soldering coax connectors on the larger coax like RG8 or similar, the bigger the soldering iron the better. You don't want to have to wait all day to get the connector hot enough. You need to get it done in a hurry or you'll melt the dielectric.

A micro torch works great on pl259s. Takes some practice though.

I use a 175 watt Weller. Never tried a micro torch. I might give that a shot.[ external image ]

['Doc]

I wasn't going to mention it but I use a propane torch also. Doesn't take much heating time, and you DO have to learn how to do it. PL-259's are a snap with that torch. You will burn a few up learning though...
- 'Doc

[Deleted User 14541]

Just a quick note...when soldering coax connectors on the larger coax like RG8 or similar, the bigger the soldering iron the better. You don't want to have to wait all day to get the connector hot enough. You need to get it done in a hurry or you'll melt the dielectric.

A micro torch works great on pl259s. Takes some practice though.

I use a 175 watt Weller. Never tried a micro torch. I might give that a shot.[ external image ]

I need to get a hotter iron. I use a cheap Weller station with adjustable temp and its fine for radio work but a little on the cold side for amps with copper boards. The center conductor solders easy with almost any iron but I'm super OCD about soldering the braid even though some don't. The micro torch is the only way I do them. Once you get the hang of it looks just as clean as one done with an iron.