Recommend a soldering iron
 

I have never done any electronics assembly, unless you count the Radio Shack 75-in-1 Electronics Project set from Radio Shack that Santa brought one year. (This was the one with all the components mounted on heavy cardboard and attached to springs, so that to build circuits you inserted the wires into the springs.) But after reading about this gadget (which actually would have come in handy a couple times), I had a hankering to try my hand at building it or maybe some of the other stuff on her site.

The problem is, Lady Ada is quite adamant about the evils of cheap soldering irons with no/poor temperature control, and I believe her. But the kit she recommends runs about $100, and I'm just not prepared to spend that much at this point.

Can any of you electronics gurus recommend a cheaper setup that will be adequate for the task at hand?

For that matter, any other neat projects like this suitable for a beginner? Radio Shack and Heathkit (RIP) used to have such, but not so much any more. (I didn't have the cash for them at the time anyway and my parents ("you'll put your eye out") weren't inclined either.)

what?!

recommend a soldering iron? just stop it. buy a cheap one and use it until you decide that you know what the hell you;re doing and can benefit from a super deluxe model.

sorry about the tough love

Ditto

No, I've done this before. Not with soldering irons, but with other things. It always turns out the cheap stuff really is a piece of shit that causes more problems than it solves. And I always end up wishing I had spent some more money (but how much??) on something that would be more capable (even if not top-of-the-line).

I can tell you what *not* to buy. Don't buy one of those stupid goddamn "Cold Heat" battery powered gizmos. Sucks. Useless.

get a weller http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/weller/

I can personaly and profecionaly recomend the brand .
Many different models to choose from ,
we have a few of these kicking around the shop ,
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brand...c=037103059963
Easy to use for the Ludites umong us ( the bigger the glob the Better the job ),
Even the folks trained in Micro stuff can deal with them ( "visible solder ?!!? Fuck I'm a Ludite now !!!)

You don't have to spend much money and you can pick up a Weller iron pretty cheap. Just make sure you use a heat sink to protect components.

Did you look at - http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/hk/

I have no idea about electronic type soldering, but I've used a big Weller for years for my leadlighting and it's held up well. It was pretty expensive, though.

We have several inexpensive soldering irons. But when I built my K2:

http://www.elecraft.com/k2100/k2100d.jpg

They recommended a temperature-controlled soldering station. Kind of expensive.

http://www.tessco.com/productimages/300x300/6768.jpg

Soldering has always been my bane, but I've discovered that keeping the joint (and iron) clean is an absolute requrement for making a good joint...and the correct temperature is a close second.

That said, for projects of the complexity you're contemplating, simpler is probably better. A Weller station like mine isn't cheap.

Good information here.

I got a cheapy from Radio Shack to do this one:

http://static.flickr.com/9/14940344_d57dd327de.jpg

It was barely up to the task, but then so was I, not having done any soldering since junior high school. I'd probably go for the expensive one, if I had it to do over (or if I get the hankering to do more soldering).

I would recommend a grounded iron (3 prong plug not 2 prong) to reduce the chances of stray electrons stampeding through the field. :cool:

So, umm, what is that, HM?

The control box for a glowing tape model. Click it for a few more pics and a video of it in action.

Having taught soldering to military specs at two different jobs, I gotta say you need good temp control. As with anything, quality is SO important. Of course, like I said it was soldering to mil specs which is nothing like the sometimes lax quality in commercial soldering, but I'm a perfectionist OC freak. I think Weller is your best bet.

Edit: there are some great Wellers, and other brands out there, with temp controls, not like the Weller pictured. You should never use any more heat than you need to make the solder "bridge" and complete the connection within approx 3 seconds.

I like the pen style irons. Having arthritis I wrap the stretchy medical/sports tape around it (they kind they use when you give blood). Mucho comfy.
Also, get the tip package, you will be VERY happy you did, you never know when you will need different sized tips.