Twincam Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 My old iron is not performing as it should (typically when I need it) so going to buy a decent new one. Needs to be a decent wattage suitable for typical soldering of pots etc and hopefully not too expensive. Any recommendations? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyder Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I've got a Weller WHS40. About £90. Works great for all my soldering needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I bought a 25 watt Antex iron from Maplins about 25 years ago and it's still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I have something like this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercury-703-260UK-Switchable-Soldering-Stand/dp/B000L9A08M 20W normally, 130W if you hold down the boost button - great for getting some heat into pot casings for earth points etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 the tips are the important part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1458836623' post='3011410'] I bought a 25 watt Antex iron from Maplins about 25 years ago and it's still going strong. [/quote] Those go on forever, I've got a 17w one ('cos I'm so delicate ) that I must have had for a similar amount of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1458859932' post='3011724'] Those go on forever, I've got a 17w one ('cos I'm so delicate ) that I must have had for a similar amount of time. [/quote] Same here, 17w and about the same age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 I have bought loads of irons over the years but keep going back to the Antex. One of mine is like trigger's broom, New element new tips, only the handle is original but it must be 40 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1458859932' post='3011724'] Those go on forever, I've got a 17w one ('cos I'm so delicate ) that I must have had for a similar amount of time. [/quote] I only had to replace mine as I rolled a chair over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1458836623' post='3011410'] I bought a 25 watt Antex iron from Maplins about 25 years ago and it's still going strong. [/quote] Malins didn't exist when I bought mine 40 years ago. Still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 The Portasol gas powered ones work well and don't cost the earth. Well worth checking out. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oryx-Portasol-Technic-Soldering-Iron/dp/B00419XT7W/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1458893480&sr=8-5&keywords=portasol+gas+soldering+iron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirky Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 My Antex one is great too, a vast improvement on my previous bog standard Marlins one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombie1965 Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 (edited) [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/pro-iroda-solderpro-120w-gas-soldering-iron-n14ar"]http://www.maplin.co...ring-iron-n14ar[/url] 0r http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/pro-iroda-pro-150-30w-to-125w-gas-soldering-iron-n25ed Just got this a few months back, its brilliant, solder anywhere easily. Faster than electric too. Gas was an extra £5 but will last ages. look around though cos i got mine for £32 Edited March 30, 2016 by Zombie1965 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentode Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Weller or Antex. Use a damp sponge in a stand to clean the tip and try and have a couple of spares handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 Went with this temp controlled station http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-mains-solder-station-n34fb?cmpid=ppc&gclid=COLNovvZ6csCFTUW0wodl_EIeg Had a quick go and seems really decent hopefully it will hold up as long as my old weller did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Don't like the wet sponge. Prefer to vigorously dip the tip into some of this stuff: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1459414267' post='3016239'] Don't like the wet sponge. Prefer to vigorously dip the tip into some of this stuff: [/quote] Haha at vigorous dipping of your tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 [quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1459519960' post='3017374'] Haha at vigorous dipping of your tip [/quote] Chafes a bit, but that's the point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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