For years, I have owned a 100 watt Radio Shack soldering gun with the looped tip. I use it for heavy duty soldering such as under layout soldering of feeders to bus wires.
More recently, I bought a 15 watt Weller WM120 pencil soldering iron for fine work such as soldering wires to decoder tabs.
I also have a 45 watt Radio Shack soldering iron that has seen better days, and I would like to replace it with a new soldering iron in the 45 to 60 watt range for medium soldering chores such as soldering feeders to rails.
I searched the Weller website and narrowed it down to a 65 watt WXP65 Set, and then searched for a price and was shocked to find out that the WXP65 goes for over $225. Say what?
Shouldn't I be able to find a reliable soldering iron in the 45 to 60 watt range for a price somewhere around $50?
Rich
Alton Junction
I use to used the 90 watt gun many years ago but for some years I have used the Weller WLC-100 soldering station with wedge tip for rail joiners and the pointed tip for circuit board work.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I do DCC installs for a living (that is really an over statement-I am retired) but I do installs for clinents all the time.
I used a very low cost adjustable solder station for years.
I recently got a Pace solder station with a TD 100 solder pen.
this cost me almost 10 times the cost of my original.
'I know it is over kill BUT man what a diffence it has made!
So get a good one, one that has a temperature control- you won't regret it.
Hi Rich.
I purchased at Hakko FX888 soldering station recently which allows me to digitally select the temperature and choose the tip that I want to use for about half the price of the Weller that you are looking at. I really like the ability to select the temperature that I want to use based on the task. I also like the speed that the tip heats up at so I don't have to wait minutes for the right temperature.
There are plenty of good soldering stations that are available in the $50 to $100 dollar range and I'm sure that others will give good examples.
Scott Sonntag
I always used either a Weller or American Beauty soldering iron until I retired (50 yrs). After I retired I found a very nice soldering station at MPJA (Model 301A) and I’ve been very happy with it since 2007.https://www.mpja.com/Solder-Stations/departments/480/It came with two tips and the original tip lasted 11 years. EDIT:
Sorry, it appears they got out of the soldering iron business. Too bad the one I bought works very good.
Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I use the brand Randy recommended, Xytronic. I think there is a knock off Chinese one with a very similar name, couldn't find that one on short notice.
https://www.jameco.com/z/LF-389D-Xytronic-Industries-60W-Mini-Type-Digital-Soldering-Station_2174733.html
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I started soldering as a kid in the 1950's but with the plated tips over the years and no filing, it sure made a difference.
I still have and still use the Xytronic. Mine is an older model without an LED readout - but I've had it something like 14 years now. Nice thing is - parts are still available, including a replacement handpiece, though all I've ever done is swap out some tips - and I do still have the original that came with it and that one is still usable.
About the only thing I don't use it for is soldering feeders to the bus - a realtively low power iron like this isn't really good for #14 and #12 wire. I have one of those big 100-150 watt guns for that. But electronic assembly, decoder installs, track feeders, soldering track sections together - it's just the right size.
The LF-389D is on Amazon for the same price as Jameco, so that's another source.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Wow, I just got back to my computer and to the forum. Lots of great replies. I need some time to absorb them all and then respond. Thanks so much, this all looks very helpful.
I've had my 60W Weller WESD51 soldering station for 10+ years now and really like it. It has the LED readout so that I can set it to the temperature that I want. I purchased it new on eBay for a little over $100. It's been a great soldering station and I'm still on my first chisel tip, which is still nice & shiny.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I think any properly-adjustable quick-reheating iron of that wattage range in that price range would likely be Asian -- which implies a certain caveat emptor care in choosing a model and a source to buy it from. Be sure true replacement tips are easily available and of good quality too.
I'd at least think about spending the money on a 'station' that also hosts a desoldering vacuum and a controlled-temperature spot hot air gun capable of reflow. Those are luxuries, but you quickly come to appreciate them. Like those little Ford push buttons to unlock the doors...
I confess that I cheated; I bought one of the old Radio Shack units with the blue plasma dot display for $25 -- as a parts unit, but it worked just fine when I plugged it in and (knock wood!) still does: I have not yet needed a better one for hobby work.
(Yes, I still do use a 150W heavy 'stick' iron for foiling and came soldering, and I might use that for quick feeder and drop integrity 'under the benchwork', but there are torches that work as well or better if you need finer control or a smaller effective tip size...)
I also have the recommended Xytronic LF-389D and definitely would buy again. I love the fact that I can keep the tip clean.
But I obtained it after the layout wiring was completed, mainly for decoder and building lighting work. So I cannot attest to work such as attaching feeder wires to rail or heftier jobs.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Put me in the camp for Randy's recommendation of the Xtronic LF-389D. Superior to my basic pencil type iron. Night and day. Quick heat up, controllable temperature, all the benefits as stated in previous posts. That said, I would say the most important thing is the adjustable, controllable temperature feature of a station. The Xtronic is good, and I'm sure there are others just as good or better. Bottom line, get an adjustable station. Definitely won't be disappointed
Overmod I think any properly-adjustable quick-reheating iron of that wattage range in that price range would likely be Asian -- which implies a certain caveat emptor care in choosing a model and a source to buy it from. Be sure true replacement tips are easily available and of good quality too. I'd at least think about spending the money on a 'station' that also hosts a desoldering vacuum and a controlled-temperature spot hot air gun capable of reflow. Those are luxuries, but you quickly come to appreciate them. Like those little Ford push buttons to unlock the doors... I confess that I cheated; I bought one of the old Radio Shack units with the blue plasma dot display for $25 -- as a parts unit, but it worked just fine when I plugged it in and (knock wood!) still does: I have not yet needed a better one for hobby work. (Yes, I still do use a 150W heavy 'stick' iron for foiling and came soldering, and I might use that for quick feeder and drop integrity 'under the benchwork', but there are torches that work as well or better if you need finer control or a smaller effective tip size...)
Of course - but so is pretty much any Weller selling for under $200 or so. There's Hakko which are Japanese, but be VERY careful because they are the most countefeited ones out there - right down to the colors and the name. Best check that the seller is an authorized dealer. Xytronic like mine is Tiawanese. Both are solid and have parts and tips availablke long after a model is discontinued. And they both make everything from entry level to production line class equipment. Xytronic seems to always be a bit less expensive - the Hakko equivalent to the LF-389D is around $100 compared to $60.
Weller - guess it's time again for that rant. They are like many formerly well respected tool brands. Carl Weller invented the soldering gun. In my home town. They used to make their products within walkign distance of my house. The plant still stands, but it's used for other things these days. When Carl Weller retired and sold off the company, it passed through many owners before ending where they are today. The Weller family made a lot of money selling a good product. They used that money around the local community for all sorts of philanthropic causes - plenty of "Weller" wings on hospitals around the area. But the brand name has been horribly diluted, like many other former great tool brands. The soldering gun I have is actually a Weller. I got it in WalMart - it's lightweight, made in China. It does work and hasn't failed yet, but one drop and it's probably toast. But it was cheap. At the same time, there is electronic production (commercial level) equipment sold with the Weller name that's made in the USA and some of the best around. You get everything from 'homeowner' quality to top notch production gear with the Weller name on these days.
What's disturbing is seeing places like Micro Mark sell an "adjustable" Weller station for the same or more than the Xytronic costs - and it's NOT a controlled soldering station. It's an adjustable one - as in how many watts, but it is not temperature controlled. The giveaway is the handpiece plugs in to the base with a standard 3 prong line cord. Like any ordinary iron, they heat up continuously until the power in is no longer able keep up with the loss to the air. Compared to a temperature controlled station, which, regardless of the wattage, heats only to the set temperature and maintains it - they have a sensor and feedback loop to maintain the set temp. My Xytronic is actually a 45 watt unit - I've had no problem with Code 83 rail, in fact I originally bought it to buiuld Fast Tracks turnouts. The LF-389D current model is 60 watts, so should be even better.
I did consider getting one of those all in one things, but a couple of things with them. If one thing fails, say the vac pump for the desodering tool, now the whole thing is useless, or at least consumes a lot of space for a soldering station. When I thought about it, I relaeased I don't do much desoldering after all - so one of those manual "solder suckers" is good enough (I got the original Edson one, not a cheapy, not that it was expensive at all). And the hot air - well, I do not see myself ever doing surface mount, I have enough vision problems. And I use the good heat shrink which I can shrink with the soldering iron without making a melty mess all over the tip.
Here is a summary of the soldering irons and stations recommended by those who replied so far, along with the average cost:
1. Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station - $60
2. Pace solder station with a TD 100 solder pen - $130
3. Hakko FX888 soldering station - $110
4. Xytronic LF-389D - 60 watt - $60
5. 60W Weller WESD51 soldering station - Discontinued
~ Replaced by Weller WE1010NA
~ 70-Watt Digital Soldering Station - $130
6. Tekpower TP13,40-Watt Soldering Station - $25
The Xytronic LF-389D got 3 votes. Now, I need to take a closer look at the specs, but I am leaning toward the Xytronic LF-389D at this point.
Note: Edited to include subsequent recommendations.
Rich, I could not be happier than I am with my Weller WESD51, but it is very much on the pricey side of things.
It might not even be made anymore. Searching for it seems to come up with a lot of hits for a Weller WE1010, but none for the WESD51.
EDIT: Whoops, I see your previous post addresses the supercession.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
you might also consider the TekPower TP13 ($24) or a least it's features.
the TP13 has a knurled cap that can be unscrewed to replace the tip and an adjustable temperature control the packaging says it is "like Weller WLC100" but i do not see the knurled cap on the WLC100 and wonder how tips are replaced.
the nice thing about soldering irons with thermo stats is the indicator light usually flashes when the iron reaches temperatures.
the TP13 does not have a thermostat. its' control simply adjusts the power to the tip and i wonder if this is true with other not calibrated in temperature
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Thanks, greg, I edited my prior post to include the TP13.
On Micro Marks's site, you will see two soldering stations.
Soldering Irons & Tips (micromark.com)
One is a Weller, the other looks identical but it's a knockoff brand that actually looks like the Tekpower - knurled knob for the tip and all. NEITHER are temperature controlled. There's a reason that Tekpower has a power control yet sells for no more than a fixed iron.
The Weller, the tip itself is threaded, that's how you remove and change it - just hope it hasn't gotten too badly oxidized before you change it or it will be tough to get out.
I've been using a Yihua 939D for about 6 months and I am very happy with it. Controlled temp, silicone cord, quality construction, standard tips, fast heating. Check it out for another alternative.
George
I keep trying to post this but Kalmbach is having one of its PMS days this morning.
Three basic kinds of 'adjustable iron' probably in order of increasing cost and perhaps failure-proneness:
(1) 'rheostatic' control of the element, from 'low' to 'high'. This may have some 'temperature' calibrations marked for its knob but the actual tip temperature is a crapshoot resultant.
(2) temperature regulation at the element. This involves target-temperature setting relative to some sensing element (which may be displayed as a number) but is still not representative of what is actually happening out at the tip...
(3) actual sensor at, or even in, the tip (e.g. via constantan thermocouple junction and high-temperature insulation in the tip). These can follow soldering action very closely and the displayed number actually closely approximates what's happening 'of actual interest'.
In practice you can 'calibrate' many of the cruder units with one of those cheap IR laser-designator thermometers. With a little more time you can make an empirical table of where you set even cheap irons to get desired tip temperature, or how long it takes for temp to recover or rise when soldering particular materials or make types of joint. For ~$11 periodically, and with alternative uses particularly in this COVID-19 world where even cheap ones work better as 'forehead thermometers' than any of the ones being peddled in drug stores as non-ear noncontact "medical" devices -- you might find that a better use of 'electronics' than complicated purpose-built precision...
rrinker The Weller, the tip itself is threaded, that's how you remove and change it - just hope it hasn't gotten too badly oxidized before you change it or it will be tough to get out.
not sure. i saw what I tought was a weller similar to the tekPower that had a threaded tip. doesn't match below
the set of six tips below are described as for the tlc100. looks like the 3 screws on the iron can be removed and the tip replaced.
the set of 5 tips are for the the higher quality well soldering irons. they look similar to the ones i had with an iron that had a knurled screw cap so that the tips are easily replaceable depending on the type of work be ing done
the single longer tip is for the tp-13
Hello All,
I bought a Hakko FX888D soldering station from TEquipment for just over $100.00 and am thoroughly impressed and satisfied with this unit.
The adage, "You get what you pay for" is completely accurate with this solder station.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I'm in the Hakko FX888 camp as well. I bought it maybe ten years ago before I was aware of the Xytronic. I use it at my bench. Temperature controlled but no readout, just a blinking LED. I thoroughly enjoy using it.
Soldering-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
For "on-layout" soldering I have a nice 35 watt Weller that is probably 25 years old. I bought it when I began the layout in 1995. It is grounded and I replaced the cord with one that is fifteen feet long. I got tired of the plug snagging on the layout edge.
This Weller 7500 can take different heaters. I bought the handle, heaters and tips separately.
Soldering-2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Still have the assortment of other Weller guns and pencil types. One of these Wellers has a sleeve you have to remove to change the tip. Maybe that is the type of tips shown above?
I have a shoebox full of Weller and Hakko tips. Ya never know when you're going to need one
Soldering by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
gmpullman I'm in the Hakko FX888 camp as well. I bought it maybe ten years ago before I was aware of the Xytronic. I use it at my bench. Temperature controlled but no readout, just a blinking LED. I thoroughly enjoy using it. For "on-layout" soldering I have a nice 35 watt Weller that is probably 25 years old. I bought it when I began the layout in 1995. It is grounded and I replaced the cord with one that is fifteen feet long. I got tired of the plug snagging on the layout edge.
Ed, you raise a good point about "on layout" soldering.
I am not sure how important a soldering station is to me, since I do limited workbench soldering. I do rely on the Weller WM120 pencil soldering iron for fine soldering such as wiring and soldering decoders. But, other than that, most of my soldering activity is limited to "on layout" soldering such as feeders to rails and soldering rail joiners in place.
So, now, I am wondering if I wouldn't be better off with something like a 60 watt soldering iron with the portability to move around the layout with it instead of being tied to a soldering station on the workbench.
Thoughts?
richhotrainSo, now, I am wondering if I wouldn't be better off with something like a 60 watt soldering iron with the portability to move around the layout with it instead of being tied to a soldering station on the workbench.
don't you need a holder for a hot soldering iron whereever you use it?
gregc richhotrain So, now, I am wondering if I wouldn't be better off with something like a 60 watt soldering iron with the portability to move around the layout with it instead of being tied to a soldering station on the workbench. don't you need a holder for a hot soldering iron whereever you use it?
richhotrain So, now, I am wondering if I wouldn't be better off with something like a 60 watt soldering iron with the portability to move around the layout with it instead of being tied to a soldering station on the workbench.
Yeah, I know, hardly a best practice. So, I see your point, greg. That Xytronic soldering station has a holder, so maybe that is the answer to my needs.
Thanks for that comment.
Actually I think there is a benefit to using a station on the layout - you set the base unit on top and plug it in, and then you can solder anywhere within the radius of the cord from the base to the handpiece without worrying about dragging the line cord from a regular soldering iron all over the edge of the benchwork.
It all worked out on my last layout, as my workbench and the layout were int he same room, and since I used joiners as my power feeds, they were all soldered at the bench. The only on-layout soldering I needed to do was solder the feeders to the bus, and that was a job for the big gun. This time it will be different, my workbench is upstairs from the layout int he basement. I'm not running up and down every time I need to solder something. More likely I will do what I was going to do, and get a new station - the one I have is 45 watts compared to the 60 watts of the LF389D, and while I never had any problem soldering flex track sections together, I might use the new one down on the layout. Either way, I suspect soon I will have 2 stations, one for the bench, and one to use on the layout. It's not convenient to move one back and forth, plus with my very non-linear way of working, I might work on some track, and then come up and build some of my turnout controllers.
Rich,
I'm with Randy on the benefit of having the holder in the layout. You're still contrained by the cord for the iron itself but having the holder close by, allows me to walk away for a minute if there is something I need or take a rest room break without worrying about how or where I set the iron down.
Scott
Thanks, Randy and Scott. You have both convinced me to go with a soldering station with holder. So, the Xytronic LF-389D, it will be.