brokenknee

I would like to start building my own battery packs and maybe try to make some of the drivers for the LED lights that come up from time to time.

I am looking for recommendations for a soldering station. Looking to spend about $100.00. I am looking at this one https://www.hakkousa.com/detail.asp?C...ID=1250&Page=1

Any thoughts on this one? Other recommendations?

trekker pete

Weller makes a pretty sweet station, but it ain't cheap. We have one at work. I usually just use my portable butane one though.

I guess if you are going to be doing alot of soldering it makes sense, but, for my money, a 10 dollar one from radio shack will get the job done. Just buy plenty of good solder flux.

trekker pete

just took a look at feebay. Looks like lightly used wellers are going for 70-100 bucks. I would take a look at them.

brokenknee

Any particular Weller unit you would recommend?

ellerbro

The Hakko you linked to in your original post is great. It's the one I've used for the past few years. I got mine here for a bit less. I have no complaints. It comes up to temp quickly and can be temp adjusted for working on different sized things.

You might want to get a few different sized tips while you're at it, though the one it comes with is a good general purpose one for most normal sized electronics and wires. For small surface mount parts or soldering to large pieces of metal, smaller/larger tips are advised.

DaveSANYYZ

I have the Hakko and it's great.

BUT, these CSI units have great reviews at half the price. I've never used one though:
https://www.web-tronics.com/solstat.html

trekker pete

Not really. Haven't used enough different ones to know the difference. I will check out the one at work and tell you which it is.

brokenknee

I am leaning toward the Hakko, I have heard good things about it on some other forums.

I have not heard of the CSI units before, although they seem to have a very good price. For all I know they could be a very well known. I am a newbie when it comes to this stuff, but I find it very interesting.

What other tips would you suggest I get? As I stated in my original post that besides circuit boards, I would also like to be able to do battery packs.

JPMacG

I do all sorts of hobby work including soldering batteries and circuit boards with a simple 25 watt soldering pencil. $5 or $10 from Radio Shack. I use soldering stations at work, and they are nice, but honestly, not necessary for casual stuff.

dtexan

I have a $50 weller station thats been good to me for the last 10 years. https://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=372-120 I use it mostly for RC cars and car stereo work. Never had any problems with it

brokenknee

I thought of going with two separate soldering pencils. One 20 watt for boards and a 40 watt for battery packs. I looked at the ones at Radio Shack and they just looked cheap. I found some Weller at a local outlook store, but the cost of the two units was almost $40.00. I figured if I spend a little more I would get a much more versatile setup.

brokenknee

I was leaning toward the hakko, but after I thought about it I ordered this one https://www.web-tronics.com/didisostc.html I ordered two other tips (1.6mm and a 4mm) it comes with a .8mm tip. Total price with shipping came to $68.58.

Had I gone with the hakko it would have been over $100 shipped with the two other tips.