I've decided I will stimulate the economy with a few extra dollars for a soldering station...I don't want to spend upwards of $50 or so before shipping, however. The main purpose will be to wire N scale decoders, but I'm also hoping to get away with wiring track feeders to ME code 55 rail with the same gear. I've done a bunch of reading of old threads here and elsewhere. Barring scoring some kind of ridiculous eBay deal on a name brand soldering station (Weller or Hakko), I am leaning towards this product. It's supposedly a clone of the Hakko 936, without the name, or so someone said on an electronics forum somewhere. (It looks similar enough.) -Anyone have this soldering station? -If you have the Hakko 936, is it good for the kind of work I want to do? -It comes with a find point (0.8mm) tip. Good for decoder work? -What type of tip should I order for doing track feeders? -How many extra tips should I order? I kind of want this to last me at least a couple years. -Anyone think this one looks better? Thanks in advance.
I have a Hako soldering station and use it mainly for installing decoders. I use a very fine electronics tip for doing the installations. The digitally controlled Hako unit makes fine soldering very easy. I also use a very fine electronics solder from Radio Shack.
The http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307 looks like a good deal for 39.95. If you like the http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/6438 @ 41.95... I would spend the 3.00 extra and get the digital http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7508 @ 44.95 I like the seperate solder iron holder. Made of rugged aluminum, it is a seperate piece from the main station & allows the user maximum convenience.....you don't have to reach all the way back to the station to store the iron. I also like the way the iron connects to the station via an easy screw-on connector making iron replacement a snap. I would buy at least a couple extra tips now. A few years from now...who knows if you will be able to find em. JMO .
OK, so I buy a digital read out station. At what temps do I use it, say for soldering wires to track? Cheers, Jim CCRR
I use a Hakko 936 for decoders and building wire harnesses. It is awsome. The Weller is O.K.. Supposedly older ones are better than newer ones. If you can find the Hakko on sale, buy it.
Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. Seems there are some Hakko fans out there. I'm still watching out for an opportunity on eBay, will post again when there's something to report. I'm all ears for more discussion on soldering tips and what type of solder to use, and where to get it. Oh, and also advice on operating temperatures.
You guys have me interested... Did you watch the video demo on this Hakko 938. Pretty awesome! Here is the product: http://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_938.html It appears not to be available in the US...
Just a note for anyone, avoid Radio Shack soldering irons like the plague! The tips are substandard, and will not heat evenly and are pretty useless. Didn't use to be that way. I did notice that Radio Shack is now back in the flux business after a long hiatus. This time the flux is in a tin, and purports to be acid free. I'm going to try it for hand laid track work, since paste solder is the way to go for that process.
I bought a real old soldering station from a garage sale that looks similar to your second choice and I like it. Every one gives me a lot of criticism for using it because you can do all most all of the same stuff with a 40w Weller and I have one of those with 4 sizes of elements too. I like a soldering station because everything is together and in one place. Also the holder is attached and helps to keep things where they belong. I don’t know how many times I burned myself or my clothes when the Weller fell off the table. It’s nice to be able to make heat adjustments as well. I have six different sizes of tips, but so far I have only use the chisel and the pointed. Oh I don't know is you see this, but for 10 bucks it works great.
