Preferred soldering iron

[ghotiphry]

I've got a cheapo, and I hate it.  I'm looking to replace.  I'm eyeing the Weller WES51 as a more versatile, die-hard type machine, but I thought I would weigh in with you guys and see if you have an iron of choice, and why you chose it.  I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I'll be damned if I can find anything.

 

[ghotiphry]

Can't do image links anymore?

 

[mayfly]

Weller is a solid choice.  I've got two of them and I'm not jonesing for something else.

Cagey has pointed out "american beauty" irons in the past.  They look great.

https://americanbeautytools.com/Soldering-Irons

 

[ghotiphry]

Two Wellers?  Same models?  Do you have a preferred wattage?  One of the reasons I liked the Weller above is because of its wattage variability.

Cagey, if you're lurking, what do you prefer?

 

[mayfly]

two different wattages.  One is also temp controlled.

Update:  One is a 60W, and the other a 30W.  Use depends on what I'm soldering.

 

[rgand]

I also have two Wellers. One large and one with a fine tip. Been using them for some 30 years and all I do is replace the tip now and then. I have no idea the wattage but they're outstanding.

 

[PJ Potamus]

Can't do image links anymore?

Thanks for pointing that out- The image button is back up and working.

 

[Cagey]

I have two irons, both pencil-type. One is a 5-40 watt Weller adjustable/isolated soldering station, and the other is good old-fashioned 50 watt American Beauty. The Weller is fancier than I need for guitar work. I don't ever adjust it down, and I don't need isolation. The main reason I bought it is because 40 watts is about right and it comes with a built-in stand for the iron, as well as an on/off switch. Plus, it was on sale ridiculously cheap so I couldn't say no.

The American Beauty is exactly that. Simple, rugged and reliable, designed to work forever in a production environment. Might be the last iron you ever buy, which would be a Good Thing because they ain't cheap. But, if you want to solder ground wires to trem claws or pot housings, it's a good way to get on and off the part quickly so you don't overheat it to death.

 

[ghotiphry]

Wow, interesting.  I'm looking at the American Beauty now.  It comes with a 1/4" tip.  Isn't that a bit large at times?  Or did you replace the tip?  It looks like a conical style tip is available.

So, basically the adjustable temp isn't really needed.  Better to buy high quality?

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, the tip that comes with them is a bit large. I replaced mine immediately with one of these. It's large enough to do bigger jobs, but small enough to work with pots and switches.

Another nice thing about their irons is they have some mass to them, so you don't get heat fluctuations like you do with the flimsy little isolation stations with their variable temp controllers and whatnot. This means when you go to solder something, you don't have to wait on the part for 30 seconds cooking it while the iron recovers from the heat sinking effect of the part itself. You're ready to solder almost immediately.

And no, the adjustable heat isn't necessary. I think that's more of a gimmick than anything else. You have to get up to 400 degrees to melt solder whether you like it or not, so what are you adjusting? And there's nothing in a guitar that's static sensitive, so isolation isn't an issue. If you were working on PC boards loaded with TTL chips, SM devices or something like that, then I could see getting a bit fancy. But otherwise, the American Beauty is the thing to have.

 

[ghotiphry]

Thank you very much, that tip is basically just what I was missing from the equation.  I think I'll follow your recommendation.

 

[mayfly]

You know, I might just get one as well - just because I can  ccasion14:

 

[Cagey]

You'll all be glad you did. They're nice units. Back 100 years ago when I was an engineering tech, we'd plug those things in first thing in the morning and they'd be on 10-12 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week, and they'd go for years. All the ladies on the production line did the same thing. We also took them on the road with us where they spent a lotta time in heavy industrial environments. Usually the only time they got replaced was if they walked off.

 

[ghotiphry]

He sold it pretty well, didn't he.  :sign13:  Cagey, you should get some kind of commission from American Beauty.  ccasion14:

 

[Cagey]

I had the same thought after posting that last one. Should've signed it "American Beauty's Mother" :laughing7:

 

[ghotiphry]

Took possession last night of the 50 watt American Beauty, and replacement tips (also got the conical one.)  Tried it out.  The difference from what I was using and this is unreal.  Thanks for the guide, Cagey.

One thing I need to do now is find a stand, as the one that ships with the iron is a joke, and the iron doesn't fit into the one that I have currently.

 

[Cagey]

You're welcome.

It's tough to find a good heavy duty stand. I like the design of this one...

...it's priced well and I may end up ordering one to replace what I have, but I need to find a way to add some weight to it. It's only 12 oz., which to me is too light. Probably wouldn't get knocked over easily due to its footprint, but I could see it moving around the benchtop in normal use. Plus, that American Beauty has a fairly heavy duty cord on it, so the typical springy stands tend to be a bit saggy under the weight. Don't want something sitting at 700+ degrees to be anything but well-placed.

 

[mayfly]

I just modified a cheap stand from digi-key (drilled it out so the iron would fit) and bolted it to the wall.

It's kinda funny that we can all get so worked up about a soldering iron 

 

[ghotiphry]

Load it up with solder and there's plenty of weight there.  Not a bad find.  The new iron doesn't even fit through the opening of my current stand, I'm not sure that one has a larger opening?  "Holds most pencil style soldering irons" is what they have to say.

Yeah, I was trying to think if there would be a sagging or positioning problem with something like this:

 

[ghotiphry]

I just modified a cheap stand from digi-key (drilled it out so the iron would fit) and bolted it to the wall.

It's kinda funny that we can all get so worked up about a soldering iron 

Good tools, man... What's not to get worked up about?  ccasion14: