Soldering Iron Suggestions

So decided I could do with getting a half decent soldering Iron, nothing too fancy

1. because of the price
2. because I wouldn't use it a great deal
3. I was thinking about it and no idea about what temperature I would need

Pretty much use it for fixing cables, making cables, patch panels, etc so not planning on doing any tricky stuff really just a good basic one that will last.

Maybe some tips on how to keep them clean and what solder and flux you would recommend would be an idea as well.

Just got sick of having a plethora of half working/shitty soldering irons

Thanks in advance guys :)

yes agreed with the crappy irons ok for smaller jobs, i was fortunate i was given a weller 100w , and will never go back its a beast will 2.5,4mm pis@ easy the tips are also a beast compared to the cheaper ones. solders with ease and very quick

I use a weller soldering station, Its a similar soldering iron in the bottom link, they solder with ease and heat up quickly.
Different tips change the temperature aswell depending which weller soldering iron it is.

For £30-40 budget, then an Antex 25 Watt Iron, spare bits and a replacement elephant.
Don't forget also a stand with sponge to clean the bit.

These will do most of your listed connections and run at a suitable temperature for Lead-free Solder.

Also a Gas Soldering Kit will let you easily do larger cable sizes, >1.5mm, and provide a small heat gun option for heatshrink. These kits are also very useful in your toolkit which you take to gigs!
Something like this:
http://uk.farnell.com/iroda/pro-50k/kit-soldering-iron-400-deg-gas/dp/1296822
Temperature of these are set with a gas valve so more gas = hotter.

Temperature controlled Irons are good if you are going to run them all day on a bench but as you mention more occasional use then may not be within your budget...... cheap ones of these are cheap for a reason!

Also a very good idea to get a desoldering pump and/or desoldering braid.

hope this assists
Mik

Re: "Replacement elephant?.... whaat exactly have you been doing???"
Tis the part that heats up and melts the 'lektric glue

They fail every so often so a spare one is useful!

Mik

Edited by audiomik - 03 October 2013 at 7:30am

I've got one of these still in the box which I haven't used as yet.....