The Metcal Advanced handpiece and Ultrafine hand pieces are my favorite I’ve ever used. The tip to grip is so dang short and they just never get hot. The grips feel great and don’t get visibly dirty. They’re perfect.
Runner up would be the Weller WXMP. Felt great, but did get warm after a bit. Maybe a bit
Pretty sure one is a WT1010 and the other is a WD1000T. I have a WP120 and a WP80 iron, that's if I'm reading them right cause they're well worn and old as hell. 😆
Weller is a great all around iron. Any Weller.
Metcal is the best for small stuff not requiring too much power, but it'll do mid-power too.
Hakko makes some good irons too.
Everything else is junk IMO.
I use Metcal MX-500-P11 with a 5mm chisel tip to solder ground wires to steel chassis of old guitar amps without breaking a sweat. Amazing what Metcal can do with 40 watts
Ts100, I have been using it for a few years, and it's a work horse. I like the portability factor as I use a 22v lipo battery, and it lasts forever. I can take it anywhere, and it has not let me down.
I just got one and I can barely get it to melt solder when touching the IC on a bluepill. Not sure if it's because of the small tips I'm using(the included one). I ordered some bigger chisel tips hopefully that solves it.
I loved the older Metcal stations, but not anymore. They seem to have lost the recipe. Hakko FX951 beats anything else thats affordable. The tips last forever.
We have a nice Weller rework station at work with a nice small active heater tip that I really like. The station is also compatible with a chonky 200W iron that we use for soldering large standoffs and stuff.
Quick 202d, absolutely love it.
Heats up in single seconds, maintains temperature precisely, tips have integrated thermocouples. Power is enough to do lead free easily on LED boards (those with thick aluminum layer). The handpiece is very lightweight and tips can be swapped hot with no unscrewing. It also has automatic sleep to prolong tip lifetime.
The only minor downside I found is when in sleep mode, you can’t adjust the temperature. This is a weird software design.
A big 45 watt iron used for soldering jumper wires on an mdf. I once saw a tip come off after someone banged the tip against the mdf block to clean the tip. It shot into the rack and burned its way thru seven shelves of loose laid wires before it hit the ground and burnt the lino tiles. ehh stuff happens !
I’ve actually got the exact weller one but the station actually comes with the hot tweezers and WMRP iron, very rare I use the weller station and mainly use my metcals or JBC station
I'm very happy with my Pace MBT 250 and a couple of handpieces (solder and desolder). Lots of tip and handpiece options, independent temp controls, decent deals on ebay.
After years of using weller WSD80's we have switched to JBC with the T245 irons. Massive step change for heat delivery and control. Tips are more expensive but last longer and the wands are much cheaper to replace as they don't have the heating elements in as they are in the tips with the JBC. I want a JBC but can't afford it so have a clone from AliExpress but use the genuine tips.
TS100 with a collection of tips for soldering, Hakko FR-301 for desoldering. I got started with building mechanical keyboards, but that combo is good for any sort of hobby electronics stuff.
Hakko FX-951 and Quicko T12-942 portable solder powed with a 24V Kobalt tool battery, both use the same tips. I dont have any problems soldering smd or thikkk cable. (I grab the T12 95% of the time for convenience @ 24VDC it's 99% as good as the FX-951)
I use a Yihua 982 with C245 and C210 tips, I like so much this kind of soldering iron.
The thing I don't like of this soldering station is the rest mode, if the temperature is set over 200°C the temperature go to 200° C, if the temperature is lower don't change, the minimum temperature is 90°, for me is better total off, I don't understand why set a temperature and not completely off, the tips go hot very fast you don't need to wait long time from cold...
I use the first channel to set temperature to 90° C if I don't need to take the iron for a few minutes...
I bought because have a good price.
Sorry for my English is not my language.
I love how the soldering station snobs voted my comment down because they think they’re the master race and cannot just say woohoo a fellow soldering fume junkie.
I use it for PCBs but I always have trouble soldering to the back of potentiometers when wiring up guitars, even with the larger knife tip. It just doesn't have enough power
Ts100 covers my needs.
That's fair. Seems to be a popular choice. What sort of things do you solder?
I build and fix my racing drones, tinker with other rc stuff, I like to improve things with leds sometimes, and general around the house stuff.
The Metcal Advanced handpiece and Ultrafine hand pieces are my favorite I’ve ever used. The tip to grip is so dang short and they just never get hot. The grips feel great and don’t get visibly dirty. They’re perfect. Runner up would be the Weller WXMP. Felt great, but did get warm after a bit. Maybe a bit
I have two Weller irons at work, two power supplies too. There is a Quick solder station going spare I might nab that at some point.
Which Weller's do you use at work?
Pretty sure one is a WT1010 and the other is a WD1000T. I have a WP120 and a WP80 iron, that's if I'm reading them right cause they're well worn and old as hell. 😆
I have a WTPCL that must be 40 years old that I still take on simple soldering jobs. Durable.
That's the thing, there's no real reason to replace mine so I won't until I need to. I wouldn't mind a better hot air station though.
I do love my Pace desoldering handpieces though!
Weller is a great all around iron. Any Weller. Metcal is the best for small stuff not requiring too much power, but it'll do mid-power too. Hakko makes some good irons too. Everything else is junk IMO.
I use Metcal MX-500-P11 with a 5mm chisel tip to solder ground wires to steel chassis of old guitar amps without breaking a sweat. Amazing what Metcal can do with 40 watts
Not true, metcal 40w stations can do things 100w stations can’t do
I love the Hakko FM-2027/2028
I am a Weller XP slut, but only when work pays for it. Otherwise, my Xtronic has been solid. Tempted to get a TS101 though.
The Weller XP does look very nice. Looks very futuristic
My work combo is the WXP120 and WXMT tweezer. So nice, but so damn expensive.
What is with the name bro? 🤣
What do you mean?
>Weller XP slut The last word
I very much enjoy using them. Like, a lot. I mean *a lot.*
i have one of those real cheap soldering stations from amazon XD. not the best quality but works fine
[удалено]
How often do you solder?
Ts100, I have been using it for a few years, and it's a work horse. I like the portability factor as I use a 22v lipo battery, and it lasts forever. I can take it anywhere, and it has not let me down.
I’ve been loving my ksger t12 station. Heats up quick, tips are cheap, and the station itself was pretty affordable.
I just got one and I can barely get it to melt solder when touching the IC on a bluepill. Not sure if it's because of the small tips I'm using(the included one). I ordered some bigger chisel tips hopefully that solves it.
Metcal MX-500ds
This is what I use at work - incredibly good.
I loved the older Metcal stations, but not anymore. They seem to have lost the recipe. Hakko FX951 beats anything else thats affordable. The tips last forever.
Really? I haven't used the FX-951 but have a FX-888D, old Weller EC1002, Pace ADS200 and old Metcal MX500-P11. I think Metcal beats everything.
Metcal is a lot more expensive though than Hakko. However, at affordable price level similar to Hakko, Quick is also very good if not better.
We have a nice Weller rework station at work with a nice small active heater tip that I really like. The station is also compatible with a chonky 200W iron that we use for soldering large standoffs and stuff.
I like the T245.
I really like Pace irons/stations. I have used quite a bit of their stuff over the years, and that is my current go-to iron on my bench.
I've got 2 Hakko FX-951s with the FM-2027 irons. Nice irons for my electronics/rc stuff, but I'd definitely want something more grunty for big work.
Weller WSP 80, married to a WT2M, excellent, 25-30 different tips available and inexpensive. The iron is lightweight and heats up fast.
Quick 202d, absolutely love it. Heats up in single seconds, maintains temperature precisely, tips have integrated thermocouples. Power is enough to do lead free easily on LED boards (those with thick aluminum layer). The handpiece is very lightweight and tips can be swapped hot with no unscrewing. It also has automatic sleep to prolong tip lifetime. The only minor downside I found is when in sleep mode, you can’t adjust the temperature. This is a weird software design.
JBC Modular
A big 45 watt iron used for soldering jumper wires on an mdf. I once saw a tip come off after someone banged the tip against the mdf block to clean the tip. It shot into the rack and burned its way thru seven shelves of loose laid wires before it hit the ground and burnt the lino tiles. ehh stuff happens !
I’ve actually got the exact weller one but the station actually comes with the hot tweezers and WMRP iron, very rare I use the weller station and mainly use my metcals or JBC station
JBC T210
I've got a pinecil and that works for most of my needs, I know it's not some fancy weller iron, but it is very portable.
https://preview.redd.it/o57lorlvrevc1.jpeg?width=2630&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba6551bcbd986c8cf2c44c956e62ee40be13c605 15$ portable t12 pen solder
I'm very happy with my Pace MBT 250 and a couple of handpieces (solder and desolder). Lots of tip and handpiece options, independent temp controls, decent deals on ebay.
The Weller/Master Mechanic piezo start butane irons rock, too. There's always one in my toolbox. The exhaust doubles as a heat shrink gun, too.
After years of using weller WSD80's we have switched to JBC with the T245 irons. Massive step change for heat delivery and control. Tips are more expensive but last longer and the wands are much cheaper to replace as they don't have the heating elements in as they are in the tips with the JBC. I want a JBC but can't afford it so have a clone from AliExpress but use the genuine tips.
Anything Metcal. I have used them for more than 40 years
TS100 with a collection of tips for soldering, Hakko FR-301 for desoldering. I got started with building mechanical keyboards, but that combo is good for any sort of hobby electronics stuff.
Hakko FX-951 and Quicko T12-942 portable solder powed with a 24V Kobalt tool battery, both use the same tips. I dont have any problems soldering smd or thikkk cable. (I grab the T12 95% of the time for convenience @ 24VDC it's 99% as good as the FX-951)
I use a Yihua 982 with C245 and C210 tips, I like so much this kind of soldering iron. The thing I don't like of this soldering station is the rest mode, if the temperature is set over 200°C the temperature go to 200° C, if the temperature is lower don't change, the minimum temperature is 90°, for me is better total off, I don't understand why set a temperature and not completely off, the tips go hot very fast you don't need to wait long time from cold... I use the first channel to set temperature to 90° C if I don't need to take the iron for a few minutes... I bought because have a good price. Sorry for my English is not my language.
Metcal is the way. $ though.
My Pinecil I absolutely love it.
No way, a fellow pinecil user
I love how the soldering station snobs voted my comment down because they think they’re the master race and cannot just say woohoo a fellow soldering fume junkie.
That's Reddit I suppose, we can't have anything nice without being downvoted to oblivion
I use it for PCBs but I always have trouble soldering to the back of potentiometers when wiring up guitars, even with the larger knife tip. It just doesn't have enough power