First soldering kit - recommendations?

ThomasM

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Hi - I'm going to buy my first proper soldering kit, and de-soldering tool, and would really appreciate some recommendations.

I appreciate everyone has their preferences, but would be great to tap into the community here so I don't purchase something I'll regret!

Thanks
 
What's your budget?

There are many existing (and relatively recent) threads about de/soldering equipment. You may want to search a few and check them out.
 
Ok, thanks - sorry if I'm duplicating. I'll dig deeper.

Budget - maybe $100-$200 but don't want to blow $$ if uncessary.

thx
 
Ok, thanks - sorry if I'm duplicating. I'll dig deeper.

Budget - maybe $100-$200 but don't want to blow $$ if uncessary.

thx

your probably going to have to double that high end budget to get something decent for vacuum desoldering and a soldering iron.
 
Ok - any links to existing threads or any suggestions are appreciated. Quickly searched KLOV for active threads, didn't see much. I'm seeing alot on Amazon that's 'affordable' but don't really know what I'm looking at.

thx
 
your probably going to have to double that high end budget to get something decent for vacuum desoldering and a soldering iron.

Come on, for a first time soldering / de soldering setup, he doesn't need to spend $400. No reason to blow your load on a Hakko for your first foray into soldering.

You can spend $200 on amazon and get a very very decent setup.
 
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Just get these. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, these woukd have saved me a lot of time, money and grief.

Hakko FX-888 Soldering Station https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M3U0VU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_G8.1AbWPQMPMG

Hakko FR-300 Desoldering Tool with N50-01 & N50-06 Nozzles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OABQRL6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_--.1AbJQM0X25

Anything cheaper isn't worth it. Anything more expensive is going beyond the "hobiest" level.

I'm sure you will get other opinions though.

Man, I'm still using my solder sucker and home depot iron. Its been ok thus far.
 
I agree with Yeti, if you want to just spend the money and be done with it. You'll never need to buy another set of tools, if you go that route.

However if you don't want to spend that much, any of the cheaper digital temp-controlled stations from Hakko or Weller will be fine. Spend the money on the station, and just get a good Edsyn brand Soldapullt manual sucker to desolder with.

Most of us started with a manual sucker, and a brand-name one of the larger type will do you well. The expensive guns are faster, but if you don't do a ton of work, you can get by just fine with a manual sucker. The gun just saves you time.

My only recommendation would be NOT to get one of the cheaper knockoff desoldering guns. I've used a couple, and they are not worth the money, as they are cheaply made.

Also, there are a lot of decent used stations out there. You can probably pick up a used non-digital Weller WES50 or 51 for 50-70 bucks at an electronics flea market, or used online. Then take the cash you save and put it toward a Hakko gun, if you want to spend more to get a better desoldering tool.

EEVBlog did a comparison between the Weller and Hakko stations recently, which was kinda interesting, if you want some opinions with data:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlKg6rSMPEs


There are other review threads out there as well:

https://www.reddit.com/r/electronic..._me_pick_a_soldering_station_weller_wes51_vs/
 
OP is looking for his "first proper soldering setup" and Hakko is spot on for the job. It's the perfect intersection where price meets quality.

OP wants something "he will not regret" I guarantee he will love it but if for some reason he doesn't...Hakkos hold their value VERY welll.
 
OP is looking for his "first proper soldering setup" and Hakko is spot on for the job. It's the perfect intersection where price meets quality.

OP wants something "he will not regret" I guarantee he will love it but if for some reason he doesn't...Hakkos hold their value VERY welll.

Yes, but his budget is $100-$200

A hakko is at least $300 alone
 
In your budget: https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-968A-D...r=8-2&keywords=aoyue+soldering+rework+station

A little outside of your budget but has a desoldering iron so it makes it worth it: https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Profes...r=8-4&keywords=aoyue+soldering+rework+station

I have the Hakko FX888D. If I had it all over again, I would pick up the Aoyue or a higher model of Hakko for soldering. I find my buddy's Aoyue setup really versatile and more complete for non-professionals. Also, the Hakko can be inconsistent with heating. I also have the Hakko FR300-05 desoldering pump. While I like it alot, I don't use it enough to have had justified the purchase.
 
Awesome info guys, thanks very much. I'll dig a bit more and check out the references. Definitely ok with spending a bit more upfront to get something that will last and help me confidently get into this part of the hobby.

thx
 
FWIW, here's my opinion. No one listens to me on any topic, so I'm sure the same will be true here. LOL

1. many threads on this topic; just search for hakko LOL
2. I have both a WELLER soldering iron and hakko desoldering tool and Aoyue hot air machine etc on my lab bench; I also have old school -> solder-braid and a soldapult
3. I have a microscope ... why? I find it good for checking solder, re-checking applied solder, and checking traces etc

Having all this equipment means nothing if you don't have the skill. Soldering/Desoldering is a skill learned over years of practice. So, even if you buy something expensive, chances are you will still destroy the pads/traces on a 30 year old PCB.

Want something cheap that does the job (for most applications including older PCBs and monitor chassis?): This ->

71yYl2jaQRL._SX425_.jpg


41In5FnASlL._SX342_.jpg


And various grades of:

0001661_desoldering-braid-wick_260.jpeg



Want something "newer" and perhaps more power? Then this to START with ->

hakko-soldering-station-fx888d-500x500.jpg


(worry about getting a desolderer later)

When desoldering - add solder before removing solder, this adds flux. Or buy a bottle of flux and add to the board.

As always - YMMV. :)
 
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Thomas, what do you intend to work on? A Hakko FX-888 with various tips, solder wick and an Edsyn Soldapullt will serve you well for general applications, including the odd bit of PCB rework.

I've got an FX-888 that you can borrow if you'd like to give it a try (I haven't used it since I got my Pace PRC 2000 :D).
 

Was he looking for hot air desoldering?

I have an Aoyue 701A++ soldering/vacuum desoldering station https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Function-Soldering-Desoldering-Absorber/dp/B009Q5ZH58

Aoyue is total Chinese knockoff of Hakko but the soldering iron is good. I do a lot of soldering and the smoke absorber is very nice to avoid breathing in fumes but it can get in the way on certain tasks.

The desoldering side is weaker but still very functional for volume desoldering and vastly superior to a manual sucker. The pump is lower quality than a Hakko but since it is in the main unit the Aoyue gun is significantly more compact than the Hakko or Denon hand held units. I've owned mine for 3 years without any problems. I also have Aoyue hot air (that I don't like) and Hakko hot air stations.

If you do get the Aoyue, pcb-soldering in the UK is a lot cheaper for parts than the US distributor. I just bought a set of 6 tips for $20 shipped from UK.

For the $185 shipped price you'll struggle to do better. For hobbyist use I question the statement that you need to double your budget to get something "decent" but noone was ever fired for buying IBM.
 
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My soldering/de-soldering setup is a Weller WLC100 station (I believe that's the model) which is a lower end one that does a good enough job.

For de-soldering I have a Hakko FR-300. I wish I had gotten this first instead of wasting my time using solder braid or a mechanical thing like a solderpullit. Even if you only use it once, you'll think that the FR300 is WAY worth it. Besides, how many of us said "well I'll only be doing this one time" then wound up doing it dozens of times and going "Man, I wish I had a Hakko when I started."

So yeah, I'm not a fan of the "start out cheap and then get expensive later." I feel you should start out and save up to get good tools. In the end, you'll be happier.
 
Was he looking for hot air desoldering?

I have an Aoyue 701A++ soldering/vacuum desoldering station https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Function-Soldering-Desoldering-Absorber/dp/B009Q5ZH58

Aoyue is total Chinese knockoff of Hakko but the soldering iron is good. I do a lot of soldering and the smoke absorber is very nice to avoid breathing in fumes but it can get in the way on certain tasks.

The desoldering side is weaker but still very functional for volume desoldering and vastly superior to a manual sucker. The pump is lower quality than a Hakko but since it is in the main unit the Aoyue gun is significantly more compact than the Hakko or Denon hand held units. I've owned mine for 3 years without any problems. I also have Aoyue hot air (that I don't like) and Hakko hot air stations.

If you do get the Aoyue, pcb-soldering in the UK is a lot cheaper for parts than the US distributor. I just bought a set of 6 tips for $20 shipped from UK.

For the $185 shipped price you'll struggle to do better. For hobbyist use I question the statement that you need to double your budget to get something "decent" but noone was ever fired for buying IBM.

I have this, and it has served me well. Amazon tells me I purchased it January 24, 2015. I don't use the vacuum for the regular solder iron. I just place a small fan pointed away from me.

My one complaint with this set is that you shouldn't use a wet sponge on your iron or it will shorten the life of your solder tip. It should come with a brass sponge.

When I first tried the solder pump on this device, I became angry at myself for not buying one years earlier.
 
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