Homebrew PCBs

I've been quite dissatisfied with my $20 soldering iron, takes 
upwards of half an hour to get hot, the tip oxidized in no time 
despite frequent tinning and solder seemed to like it waaay better 
than the parts I work on.


Yesterday I picked up a Weller WTCPT station. Nothing fancy, no 
temperature knob or calibration touch-spots but I gotta say WOW. What 
a difference!

Heat up time was minutes, not exactly sure how long as I wasn't 
paying attention. I picked it up shortly after turning it on just to 
see if it was warm and damned if it wasn't already at full 
temperature.

Solder almost leaps away from the tip. What little I do pick up is 
easily wiped away. Quite wipe on a wet sponge and its shiny as all 
get out.

Heat transfer is way better as well. About 1 second and the deed is 
done, the old iron took as much as five seconds to heat a DIP leg.

Moral of the story - if you're still using a cheapo iron, DUMP IT NOW 
and go buy a real soldering station - the difference is amazing.