Psychobear85 | 141 Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Upgrading from my radio shack cheapo one, budget is no more then $150.00. Not really using it to do crazy soldering work just changing batteries on carts or soldering wires here and there, once in a while do some modding. Few I’m leaning towards Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station FX-888D FX-888 (blue & yellow) KSGER T12 Soldering Iron Station OLED DIY Kits STM32 V2.0 Any input will be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegHead | 127 Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 I just have the orange Weller soldering station, and the cost was hard to beat. I don't know enough about high end ones to really be much help, sadly, but I'd love to hear feedback from someone who does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICrappedMyPants | 302 Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Lord Voultar likes the KSGER T12, that’s good enough for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNESNESCUBE64 | 532 Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 (edited) I've been using the Hakko FX-888D for two years now, I love this thing. It has been reliable, the tips and wands are cheap, and it retains its heat very well. In my opinion, this is the best $100 soldering iron. I kind of have my doubts about the one Voultar recommended, there aparently is a crappy version of it and there is no real easy way to tell without dissassembly, where as with the Hakko, you are garunteed quality. Personally, I've had no issues with this iron, it's great with ground planes and has a wide variety of tips available. The only irons that I have used that have been better, are $800 metcals thst we have at work. Boy are those a dream to use, they are perfect in every way, but they are way too expensive for the average person. Edited October 23, 2019 by SNESNESCUBE64 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neodolphino | 267 Homebrew Team · Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 I use an analogue Weller WES51. It seems it has been replaced by the WE1010NA, which just has a digital temperature adjust. I like mine a lot and have had 0 problems with it. I figure the same will go for the 1010. Also, pretty good price right now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WE1010NA-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B077JDGY1J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrels | 125 Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 I'll be watching this thread. I needed something quick so bought a $15 set off of Amazon solely to just to mod one of my Atari 7800's. While I was ultimately successful, a real station would have been a godsend. A cheap setup and old solder points to remove is a bad combination. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefaultGen | 5,399 Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 3 minutes ago, neodolphino said: I use an analogue Weller WES51. It seems it has been replaced by the WE1010NA, which just has a digital temperature adjust. I like mine a lot and have had 0 problems with it. I figure the same will go for the 1010. Also, pretty good price right now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WE1010NA-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B077JDGY1J I've been using the WES51 for about 6 years, good stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychobear85 | 141 Posted October 23, 2019 Author Share Posted October 23, 2019 4 hours ago, neodolphino said: I use an analogue Weller WES51. It seems it has been replaced by the WE1010NA, which just has a digital temperature adjust. I like mine a lot and have had 0 problems with it. I figure the same will go for the 1010. Also, pretty good price right now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WE1010NA-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B077JDGY1J Just ordered it, thank you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neodolphino | 267 Homebrew Team · Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 20 minutes ago, Bear85 said: Just ordered it, thank you Great to hear! Let me know how it works out for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acromite53 | 337 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 At work we used an Aoyue A968A+. This also had a hot air gun though. This had a fume vacuum to suck up the soldering fumes. It was such a blessing. I hate suffocating at home using my Weller WLC100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a3quit4s | 4,092 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) I watch TronicsFix a lot on YouTube and I have bought some of the tools he uses. I think his soldering stuff is expensive though. His Amazon storefront is here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tronicsfix YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOrKQtC1tDfGf_fFVb8pYw Edited October 24, 2019 by a3quit4s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pendragonx | 117 Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 I've been using the Hakko FX888 for a while now.. hasn't let me down! Do Recommend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMR | 519 Posted November 15, 2019 Share Posted November 15, 2019 I have the Hakko FX888D. It's a good soldering station, but I wish I had the one with the dial. I hate all the button holding crap and keying in stuff that new electronics use. Just give me a switch and a dial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MachineCode | 159 Posted November 15, 2019 Share Posted November 15, 2019 +1 on the Hakko FX888D. Used it on everything from consoles and carts to vintage tube amps. Of course on the latter if I have to solder down to the chassis, then I breakout the big fat old school Ungar. But seriously, for what you are looking to do, the Hakko is great. Make sure to use good quality solder as well such as this stuff Kester 63/37 .031 . I find the 63/37 mix easier to work with as it seems to set faster compared to 60/40, leaving less time for parts to shift around and make cold joints while the solder is still in that in between plasticine type phase. I also prefer the .031 diameter to the thicker strand stuff as I find it easier to get just the right amount of solder to make a nice joint and not get all blobby on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeatherRebel5150 | 1,055 Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 Another vote for the Hakko https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B00ANZRT4M/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hakko&qid=1573995053&s=hi&sr=1-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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