Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: tunnie on 26 February 2010, 15:58:37
-
Its time i bought myself a decent iron, only one i have is a very old Draper budget. Need to do some wiring on the bike soon, now while KevinW and TB are cringing at the possible outcomes ::)
I was thinking of getting this gas powered one:
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/Electricians+Tools/Gas+Soldering+Kit+5+Piece/d10/sd170/p78242
I like the idea of no wires, i won't be needing it for any serious PCB work, but mostly just joining wires together.
-
I would say that unless you absolutely have to be able to solder where there is no power supply, you will be much better off with a mains one and an extension lead.
They are handy to have for occasional use but not as your only iron IMHO.
Kevin
-
Agree entirely with Kev....
Maplins have a few reasonable options,. but for proper ones, RS or Farnell
-
Only be used in the garage, wiring that will be done is to generate some aux power leads to my tank bag.
Something like this be ok?
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/Electricians+Tools/Soldering+Iron+40w+230V/d10/sd170/p74671
-
I have one of these, nightmare!!!!, stick with mains and get a Weller
-
.. In fact, I have (literally) just been using an Iron that I bought for occasional jobs in the office when I was stuck without one. Not great by any means but does the job nicely. Little variable heat soldering station from cr
Maplins.
Catalogue number N78AR currently £14.99. :y
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=35016
I fully expected it to be total sh1te but it has exceeded my expectations. It would be my recommendation, TBH. Delicate enough to do intricate stuff reasonably well, and powerful enough if you turn the wick up to solder reasonably hefty connections.
Kevin
-
I have one of these, nightmare!!!!, stick with mains and get a Weller
Agreed. Long in the tooth now but every time I see a Weller TCP at a junk sale I snap it up. Wonderful irons if you use one heavily.
Kevin
-
.. In fact, I have (literally) just been using an Iron that I bought for occasional jobs in the office when I was stuck without one. Not great by any means but does the job nicely. Little variable heat soldering station from crMaplins.
Catalogue number N78AR currently £14.99. :y
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=35016
I fully expected it to be total sh1te but it has exceeded my expectations. It would be my recommendation, TBH. Delicate enough to do intricate stuff reasonably well, and powerful enough if you turn the wick up to solder reasonably hefty connections.
Kevin
Cheers Kev, that looks perfect. Need to visit Maplins on Monday anyway. Half price at the moment too :)
-
.. In fact, I have (literally) just been using an Iron that I bought for occasional jobs in the office when I was stuck without one. Not great by any means but does the job nicely. Little variable heat soldering station from crMaplins.
Catalogue number N78AR currently £14.99. :y
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=35016
I fully expected it to be total sh1te but it has exceeded my expectations. It would be my recommendation, TBH. Delicate enough to do intricate stuff reasonably well, and powerful enough if you turn the wick up to solder reasonably hefty connections.
Kevin
Interesting recommendation that. I might well get one as I can't afford a "proper" one at present.
I have a 15W Antex that I bought in 1973 which appears to have acquired a 25W element at some stage. That is backed-up by a Weller soldering gun that is very good where heat loss is high such as automotive wiring.
(http://www.wellersoldering.com/acatalog/7003020a.jpg)
-
.. In fact, I have (literally) just been using an Iron that I bought for occasional jobs in the office when I was stuck without one. Not great by any means but does the job nicely. Little variable heat soldering station from crMaplins.
Catalogue number N78AR currently £14.99. :y
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=35016
I fully expected it to be total sh1te but it has exceeded my expectations. It would be my recommendation, TBH. Delicate enough to do intricate stuff reasonably well, and powerful enough if you turn the wick up to solder reasonably hefty connections.
Kevin
Yup, have a couple of them myself as backups. Only pain is the bit often comes lose when it heats up, so pliers to tighten ;D
-
I have one of these, nightmare!!!!, stick with mains and get a Weller
Agreed. Long in the tooth now but every time I see a Weller TCP at a junk sale I snap it up. Wonderful irons if you use one heavily.
Kevin
Has i bit of trouble with my TCP (now sorted), was so lost without it, started getting a collection of the irons (only got one base station though)
-
Tunnie, the little Antex from craplins aren't too bad either, though probably better for smaller work
-
My recommendation
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Weller-WTCP-51-Magnastat-Soldering-Iron-Station_W0QQitemZ150417928032QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item23059b6f60
-
Weller @ £45 is a tad more than i was planning to spend, i think something like that far beyond my skill level, think that £15 from Maplins should do the job, only going to be joining a few wires
-
Weller @ £45 is a tad more than i was planning to spend, i think something like that far beyond my skill level, think that £15 from Maplins should do the job, only going to be joining a few wires
Worth every penny imho though...
-
Indeed.....and you cna run the irons off a car battery at reduced output.
-
Weller @ £45 is a tad more than i was planning to spend, i think something like that far beyond my skill level, think that £15 from Maplins should do the job, only going to be joining a few wires
get some of yer money spent tightwad :P
-
Weller @ £45 is a tad more than i was planning to spend, i think something like that far beyond my skill level, think that £15 from Maplins should do the job, only going to be joining a few wires
Plus £13.00 postage if you win.
But a good iron
-
I sold an 8 year old TCP Weller not long ago, it went for £50. Weller irons do last a long time.
Ken
-
I have one of these, nightmare!!!!, stick with mains and get a Weller
Agreed. Long in the tooth now but every time I see a Weller TCP at a junk sale I snap it up. Wonderful irons if you use one heavily.
Kevin
Yup, certainly second that, I'm on original element & have only ever had to replace the bit a few times
-
noted, missed the lidl effort last week.
-
I have an old Weller that is at least 25 years old and it is fabulous, been thrashed for most of of it's life and still works perfectly (an ex company one that was in continual use for at least 10 years before I got it)
-
I have about 4 life times worth of bits for them....which were errrr.....'found'
-
Totally agree on the Weller thing, having said that I do have an old RS Plastic Gas solder iron in the tool box, been with me for about 20 years now, still going strong, not sure if I'ld want to rewire a Bike with it though.
As with all irons and their tips though, dont forget to use them with a wet sponge, tips will maintain there shape and last a lot longer. :y :y
-
Totally agree on the Weller thing, having said that I do have an old RS Plastic Gas solder iron in the tool box, been with me for about 20 years now, still going strong, not sure if I'ld want rewire a Bike with it though.
As with all irons and their tips though, dont forget to use them with a wet sponge, tips will maintain there shape and last a lot longer. :y :y
Nothing so drastic, just making an aux power lead to run from the ciggy connection under the seat to my tank bag :)
-
Totally agree on the Weller thing, having said that I do have an old RS Plastic Gas solder iron in the tool box, been with me for about 20 years now, still going strong, not sure if I'ld want rewire a Bike with it though.
As with all irons and their tips though, dont forget to use them with a wet sponge, tips will maintain there shape and last a lot longer. :y :y
Nothing so drastic, just making an aux power lead to run from the ciggy connection under the seat to my tank bag :)
Probably work fine then Tunnie, as said before no subsitute for a Weller but a handy addition to the tool box, use my RS gas one a least once a week, mainly RF Connecters, still has the original Tip.
Have bought a few Gas ones since then (different models) but didn't last 5 mins. So my old fav orange one comes highly recommended. :y
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg299/zirk-photos/oof/DSC01322.jpg)
-
Spoke too soon
The element in my Weller TCP3 has just failed after 30+ years
Anybody got a spare element?? :(
-
Sorry no but i am sure you can get them from RS
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=retrieveTfg&binCount=229&Ne=4294957561&Ntt=weller&Ntk=I18NAll&Nr=AND%28avl%3auk%2csearchDiscon_uk%3aN%29&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&N=4294953972&Nty=1