whats the best soldering iron
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=99239
Printed Date: May 10, 2024 at 1:22 PM
Topic: whats the best soldering iron
Posted By: rt4x4
Subject: whats the best soldering iron
Date Posted: November 21, 2007 at 10:56 PM
what kind and what type of soldering iron does everyone use?
Replies:
Posted By: Twelvoltz
Date Posted: November 21, 2007 at 11:32 PM
My tool of choice: Click
I will admit, I burn through tips every couple of months but other than that I have no complaints. ------------- Installer, IT support, and FFL. I need less hobbies.
Posted By: godd dan it
Date Posted: November 22, 2007 at 12:15 AM
Twelvoltz wrote:
My tool of choice: Click
I will admit, I burn through tips every couple of months but other than that I have no complaints.
I got the same one. Works without any problems. Weller is another good brand. -------------
Posted By: rt4x4
Date Posted: November 22, 2007 at 8:16 AM
what about one of the weller guns or do they get to hot or does that matter and what about the weller cold heat pro?
Posted By: enice
Date Posted: November 22, 2007 at 8:54 AM
I was actually looking at a weller version and looks exactly the same!!!!!! If it didnt have the weller logo I would swear its the same. My question is what kind of butane do you guys use because the ones i've had seems to go bad after a while like it gets clogged up and does not ignite anymore. Its expensive to use the butane that snapon sells but if thats the one that works then I would need to order a case. Also I actually use a weller corder iron. My snapon drop light has a power jack that i connnect the iron to and works great. Funny that its a weller and I saw it on a snap on book with the snap on logo and looks exactly the same.....maybe they are?????????????
Posted By: Twelvoltz
Date Posted: November 22, 2007 at 10:15 AM
rt4x4] wrote:
hat about one of the weller guns or do they get to hot or does that matter and what about the weller cold heat pro?
I have tried that cold heat thing. I guess it would work for board electronics but in my opinion it is crap. As far as the iron getting "too hot" the iron/gun you choose should offer a variable temperature setting. Weller is a very good brand, I have used their irons for various jobs for years with no complaints. As far as a butane/cordless iron goes the Snap-On iron I have currently (see above post) has never let me down other than the life expectancy of the tips but you can order replacement tips from Snap-On.com so you don't have to wait for the truck to come around. The local Snap-On guy here sometimes stops once a week, sometimes not for months. I assume that someone like Weller makes the Bluepoint/Snap-On iron that I have but I have not found anyone that has one that looks identical yet. I have found a few variations that look similar, but none that look identical. ------------- Installer, IT support, and FFL. I need less hobbies.
Posted By: another-kelly
Date Posted: November 22, 2007 at 11:21 AM
My RadioShack torch
i use this one from radioshack. only $20 bucks, has an iron tip and a torch tip. only complaint is the igniter is separate and not built in. other than that i love the thing
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: November 22, 2007 at 12:55 PM
I used to use that Snap-on /Bluepoint at $200 in UK untill I discovered that Radiospares (a nationwide electronics distributing company and Maplin -think Radio Shack UK) were both selling it for about $80! I've used Weller Gas Irons ever since, also Weller Gun which is useful with its tip illumination; but the gas iron runs hotter! I have found that once the first tip dies you have constant problems with the gas irons, you must be patient.
Posted By: metalface427
Date Posted: November 24, 2007 at 6:27 PM
The weller SP80L solder iron from orchard supply works very good for me i think its the 80 watts model.
Posted By: ibasspro
Date Posted: November 24, 2007 at 8:25 PM
Mine is call "THE POWER PROBE" LOL seriously, got it off either the MAC or MATCO truck 5 or so years ago, go it as a funny, but it works really well. I use the butane from the local stop N rob, & have never had a problem.
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used to be loud, used to be fast...now I am married LOL
Posted By: StealthEs
Date Posted: November 24, 2007 at 9:38 PM
Twelvoltz wrote:
My tool of choice: Click
I will admit, I burn through tips every couple of months but other than that I have no complaints.
I have this same one. Got it over 2 years ago no problem whatsoever. ------------- Cris
Posted By: nd_ducks
Date Posted: November 25, 2007 at 12:37 AM
This may be overkill, but we use this one for work quite a bit. Have to be careful with the lighter gauge wire, or just run it on the low setting.
 ------------- The Duck
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: November 25, 2007 at 3:42 AM
Any one ever thought of using a gas torch (carefully)?
Posted By: tedmond
Date Posted: November 25, 2007 at 6:34 AM
what if u accidently dropped it in the guys/gals brand new car? "sorry, we dont know why there is a big hold in ur floor carpeting" hehe wouldnt risk it =D
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: November 25, 2007 at 7:20 AM
Sorry, the gas torch was tongue in cheek except I have noticed recently in -5c (28f) the gas irons don't seem to want to know, so that might work, how do our Canadian friends manage it? Apropos ROHS solder, doesn't it wear out the bits rather quickly?
Posted By: nd_ducks
Date Posted: November 25, 2007 at 10:02 AM
I put on a brand new set before I started the last car. They still look brand new. If you're careful and have a "fire resistant" surface to place them on between soldering, you should get a lot of soldering out of a set of tips. I worked around some "not too careful" co-workers and these tips last until they accidently drop them on the floor. The other issue with this solder tool is the tips accumulate melted plastic/rubber insulation and need cleaning often as this effects the connection.
-------------
The Duck
Posted By: another-kelly
Date Posted: November 25, 2007 at 12:49 PM
howie ll wrote:
Any one ever thought of using a gas torch (carefully)?
the link i posted earlier:
it's a butane torch (both soldering tip and torch tip). i always use the torch tip except on thinner wires like passlock or sat radio antennas. been using it for over 5 years and haven't burnt up a car yet. just can't be clumsy or careless with it
Posted By: vitrox
Date Posted: November 27, 2007 at 5:15 PM
master ut100si. tips are about 17 bucks for replacements, and you can order parts to rebuild them for relatively cheap. if you do as many cars as i do you will burn through tips and irons pretty quickly. i have 6 irons right now i think. i need to order parts for a few of them.
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