Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Phil" <phil1960us@y...> wrote:
...
> I really encourage you to not skimp on an iron - a good one will last
> a long time. cheap out and not only will soldering be harder but you
> will replace it in a year or less.
...

I agree. A ground down tip will be bare copper, which will get eaten
away by the solder very quickly.

And if you pay a bit too much for a tool that is a bit more than you
need, you're only out the little bit more you paid. If you buy a cheap
tool that is not quite up to snuff, you wasted the entire purchase price.

I bought a Weller with a fine tip for about $70 from a surplus store
here in Tacoma. He rebuilds them so they are used but in very good
condition, often with new elements. These are the kind with the tips
that you change to change the temp. I actually prefer those, I find
the temp more constant. Since the tip itself works as the temp
detector, it responds pretty much instantly to temp drops. Whereas
many variable temp irons, first the tip cools a bit and then a
thermistor must cool before the heating element gets kicked in again.
Sometimes the thermistor is in the heating element, which introduces
even more delay.

I think the ones with the hole in the back of the tip place the
thermistor inside the tip? Anyone know?

Steve