[sdiy] Soldering iron recommendations

[Mattias Rickardsson]

Regarding the OKi (Metcal) PS-900:

On 8 July 2014 16:03, Dan Snazelle <subjectivity at hotmail.com> wrote:
> interesting....you got it used? and no issues eh?

Nope, feels like a solid piece of gear. Heavy cast aluminium main
unit, handy little handpiece, flexible cable, steady holder with place
for cleaning brass sponge.

> are there any negatives?

I'd say no! I'd guess only users of expensive pro equipment would find
things to nag about. :-) Or perhaps people needing to quickly change
between different soldering temperatures. The tip sets the
temperature, so you'll need to change it. But I've never had an issue
with that. For normal electronics soldering, one temperature fits all
components. (On other soldering stations I tend to adjust temperature
just because the tip doesn't provide enough heat quickly enough when
heating up a ground plane etc, but I've never encountered that slow
behavior with the OKi PS-900.)

> are tips expensive?

Not at all, just above €10 if I remember correctly.

Btw the soldering tip of these Metcal-patent-derived units is really
the heating element AND the temp sensor. As I understand it the tip is
subject to induced currents from a high-frequent magnetic field from
the handle. These currents heat the tip - more so on lower
temperatures than higher, depending on the crystal structure in the
tip. The result is a remarkably immediate self-adjusting heat energy
transfer to the tip, reacting the exact same second as the tip
temperature changes. Quite superior to more remote-sensing,
remote-heating methods.

> i think ill try one out!

Why not, it's not a huge investment if it makes your work easier! :-)

/mr


>> On Jul 8, 2014, at 6:21 AM, "Mattias Rickardsson" <mr at analogue.org> wrote:
>>
>> I got a used OKi (Metcal) PS-900 for $200 off eBay, and have never
>> been happier. What a solid heat transfer, it's like cutting through
>> lukewarm butter with a laser sword! Far better than every sub-$200
>> iron I've ever used - it actually makes their old temperature
>> regulation methods (and need for a temperature dial to compensate)
>> feel like a joke. Highly recommended. :-)
>>
>> /mr
>>
>>
>>> On 6 July 2014 23:10, john slee <indigoid at oldcorollas.org> wrote:
>>>> On 7 July 2014 05:14, Timothy Daugard <daugard at cox.net> wrote:
>>>> I went Weller for standard parts, no problems with weekly use over ten
>>>> years.
>>>
>>> I'm kinda wishing I'd investigated the parts situation before buying a Goot
>>> (RX-711AS) station many years ago. Tips seem to be rather less available
>>> than Weller/Hakko
>>>
>>> That said, the Goot is a joy to use
>>>
>>> John
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