Solder station

[Cipher]

What are you solder mad folks using?
Amazon stuff looks slick but the quality is sketchy

[Nessism]

Hakko FX888D

About $100 USD. Works great.

[eil]

Around 15 years ago, I bought a Weller WLC100 40-watt soldering station. Back then it was $35. I got it because it was the cheapest "serious" soldering iron I could find and took standard Weller tips. Almost traded it up for a Hakko several times but honestly it has done everything I've ever asked of it. The only part I don't like is it takes several minutes to come up to temperature. And obviously it does not have temperature feedback and control. I put it at half-power and that does 99% of my soldering jobs.

The new kids on the block are the digital "pencil" soldering irons like the TS100. They are small, offer precise temperature control and flexible power options. (You can run them from a decent USB power bank if you so choose.) These are quickly becoming the go-to recommendation for people who currently have zero soldering irons.

I got one of these for Christmas but haven't had a chance to play with it yet. The Pinecil: https://www.pine64.org/pinecil/ $25 for the iron but I plan to splash out another $25 for a decent selection of tips.

[GSJim]

My son "borrowed" my Weller so I bought a Hakko. I'm happy.

Jim

[Gorminrider]

...it's the power cord that is the bane. Thick and clumsy. But reliable. Cheapest works well enough. Butane- powered Weller is pretty good after 10+ years, especially outdoors. Wears out at the catalytic tips though. Buy extras. Made in ireland. other brands have not been as good.

....The usb ones look great -will try someday-but so far, my experience with similar usb lighters has been a fail, given their poor battery's fail and no easy replacement.

[earlfor]

...it's the power cord that is the bane. Thick and clumsy. But reliable. Cheapest works well enough. Butane- powered Weller is pretty good after 10+ years, especially outdoors. Wears out at the catalytic tips though. Buy extras. Made in ireland. other brands have not been as good.

....The usb ones look great -will try someday-but so far, my experience with similar usb lighters has been a fail, given their poor battery's fail and no easy replacement.

+1. For use on a job at a moments notice, butane is great and refills are small and easily carried. For a work bench, I'll stick with a plug in. Both are always trouble free. One thing I have found useful that most probably don't have is a suction bulb for removing melted solder. When one is needed, nothing else works as well.