Soldering iron under $50?

  • Thread starter Thread starter gbondo9
  • Start date Start date
gbondo9 said:
Can anyone recommend a soldering iron under $50?
My initial purpose would be to solder patch cables and what not.

Currently I have this pos: http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...ring+iron&kw=soldering+iron&parentPage=search

I find that it's fine for small electronics (as long as I break between contacts)...but for anything larger - it loses heat too quickly.

Thanks,
Todd
Click to expand...

Mines a rat shack one too... The one that comes with a base and sponge and 2 heat settings 20 watts ans 40 watts I think.
 
bigwillz24 said:
Mines a rat shack one too... The one that comes with a base and sponge and 2 heat settings 20 watts ans 40 watts I think.
Click to expand...

Does it work OK for you?

I'm seeing some fairly powerful stuff on ebay - but I don't really know what I need.
 
Excellent!! Thanks ms.

(I have to spread rep around before giving it again :mad:)
 
I have a Weller that's very similar to the one mshilarious linked to. I recommend that style, as you can adjust the temperature and there's a place to set the iron as you work.

Another tool I find essential for soldering is this:

http://www.panaviseonline.com/product.php?id=67

Unlike alligator clips, which I tried first, the Panavise holds the connectors very solidly and firmly. That definitely sped up my work flow.

And don't forget about this:

http://www.drillspot.com/products/48854/AIR-KING_9145_Clip-On-Fan?s=2

Very important for keeping the fumes away!
 
bigwillz24 said:
Mines a rat shack one too... The one that comes with a base and sponge and 2 heat settings 20 watts ans 40 watts I think.
Click to expand...

I have one of those too but I haven't been able to find replacement tips for it. Thats a problem.
 
I used to use these $1 soldering irons that were 25w but they wear out fairly quickly , I just recently bought a Black and decker soldering station which was $20 new and it has two heat settings and multiple Tips and a Cleaning sponge and 2 very strong aligator clips for holdeing your work and it also holds the Iron when not in use.....

For $20 it works quite well.......


Cheers
 
Minion said:
I used to use these $1 soldering irons that were 25w but they wear out fairly quickly , I just recently bought a Black and decker soldering station which was $20 new and it has two heat settings and multiple Tips and a Cleaning sponge and 2 very strong aligator clips for holdeing your work and it also holds the Iron when not in use.....

For $20 it works quite well.......


Cheers
Click to expand...

is this it? http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Dual-Temperature-Soldering-CI500S/dp/B000BASSKI
 
SonicAlbert said:
I have a Weller that's very similar to the one mshilarious linked to. I recommend that style, as you can adjust the temperature and there's a place to set the iron as you work.

Another tool I find essential for soldering is this:

http://www.panaviseonline.com/product.php?id=67

Unlike alligator clips, which I tried first, the Panavise holds the connectors very solidly and firmly. That definitely sped up my work flow.

And don't forget about this:

http://www.drillspot.com/products/48854/AIR-KING_9145_Clip-On-Fan?s=2

Very important for keeping the fumes away!
Click to expand...

a couple of pairs of vise grips have worked well for me at holding connectors/wire while soldering.
 
TravisinFlorida said:
a couple of pairs of vise grips have worked well for me at holding connectors/wire while soldering.
Click to expand...

When you have good solder and a decent iron, it gets much easier. I solder cables with the connector held in an alligator clamp and the wire held in my hand.
 
mshilarious said:
When you have good solder and a decent iron, it gets much easier. I solder cables with the connector held in an alligator clamp and the wire held in my hand.
Click to expand...

i agree. much easier and better results. i usually clamp the connector in a pair of vise grips, tin the wires and and connectors, and then heat the wire/connector simultaneously. one hand holds the iron, the other holds the wire.
 
Right, the Panavise is a vise grip, and a very nice one at that. I do the same thing: the panavise holds the connector, the soldering iron is in my right hand, and the solder and wire in my left.

I tried alligator clamps first, but never had any luck with those for some reason. The vise grip is just a lot more secure.

It's kind of a Zen thing when you get the iron to the right temperature and the solder flows perfectly and cools just right--all in one smooth move. Satisfying.
 
I use a 25w Weller SP23L iron and a [url="http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104639&cp=2032058.2032236.2032314&parentPage=family]Helping Hands[/url] from Radio Shack. You can get both for under $30 total. They've worked well for me thus far.
 
I know it's above $50.00 but, This thing is worth it's wieght in gold.
I have had this butane soldering Iron for several years and I could never go back to a electric iron. It goes from zero t solder in 10 seconds or so, no cord!!!!, can be taken to the job instead of bringing the job to it and it has tempeture control. I absolutley love it. Ya it's spendy, but if it ever breaks I know I will be replacing it with the same thing.

You may be able to find it cheaper but, this is the one I have got.


http://www.amazon.com/Master-Appliance-Solder-UltraTorch-UT-100SI/dp/B0000WU8M8

Oh and the helping hand (or what ever you call that alligator clip holding device) is great to have around along with a pair of those quick grip clamps (for bigger things).

F.S.
 
Freudian Slip said:
I know it's above $50.00 but, This thing is worth it's wieght in gold.
I have had this butane soldering Iron for several years and I could never go back to a electric iron. It goes from zero t solder in 10 seconds or so, no cord!!!!
Click to expand...

If you need cordless, that would be the way to go, but once you get in the $100 range, the electric irons have temperate-controlled tips, meaning that when they are under a heavy soldering load, they will increase power to the tip to maintain temperature. My iron (Weller WES51) heats up in 10 seconds, and only weighs 2 oz., vs. 5.5oz for the butane iron.

Also, I've done 4 hours of soldering already today, with another 2 to go . . . that would be 3 1 oz. tanks of butane, according to the specs, at a few bucks per tank, whereas I could leave my iron on for a week, and it would be $1 in electricity.

So electric irons certainly do have their place . . .
 
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