good soldering iron

[brian s]

need a new soldering iron,want something decent (not the rubbish b&q sell) for wiring speedo`s etc, any suggestions

[dale]

If you want a mains one, I'm told these are very good:

http://www.toolbox.co.uk/weller-sp80l-watt-240v-3442-80598?CAWELAID=268757820

You'll just need a different tip (a few sizes are available).

If you want a 12v one, the only option is the Spec Racing one (no website, but contact details are here):

http://www.racing-cars.com/page2/scp/Dealers/products.asp?partno=SP007

[sosidge]

Since soldering cells is more or less a thing of the past (hurrah!) you won't need such a hardcore iron as in the past.

I'd be looking at 40W minimum, with a medium chisel tip (3mm or so). The red handle Weller's that you find in mainstream shops are OK, the blue handle ones are better because they are temperature controlled and have a wider selection of tips.

[brian s]

Have just had a look on the toolbox website at the weller irons, and like the look of the 80w iron (should do everything i need).
The temperature controlled ones seem very expensive though.

[JonMack]

I've got one of these 50W solder stations from Maplin.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35016

I bought mine years ago, haven't used it loads but it does the odd solder job fine.

[Big G]

I had a SPEC one and it was awesome, but 1 day just died :(

[GRIFF55]

i got a weller 60w i think, and it is a great bit of kit. (orange handle):thumbsup:

[Zipper]

I use this with the chisel tip;

http://www.toolshopdirect.co.uk/item.php/site/froogle/sn/SD1240

Cheap but really good. Does corally connectors, esc's motors etc perfectly and can be used track side to.

[Big G]

do you have a link to the tip you use? the one photo'd looks tiny

[Zipper]

It came with two tips, a pointed one (in the photo) which I have never used and one like a flat screwdriver tip. I'll post a pic tonight if you want to see it?

[Balders]

Hey Brian,

The soldering Iron that you and Martin were using the other friday was this one:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=4085

I have put a differnet tip on it though because the standard one is rubbish.

[brian s]

hi mike, i thought that was ben`s. have just been out and got a weller 40w, looks ok, so sorted.

[SlowOne]

Antex are the ones to have. Because the heating element is inside the tip, you get more heat in the tip for any given wattage than the Weller or other alternatives. I have this one...

http://www.antex.co.uk/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=180&P_ID=823

..which costs £22 with a silicon cable (great for not pulling the iron around when you're trying to get into awkward spaces) and an iron-clad tip that doesn't burn. I've had three in 20 years - one went 'phut' after 10 years, and I lost the last one after 10 years by leaving it at a race meeting!! Best iron I ever had, never replaced a tip. I had a Spec 12v for cells, but that's just gathering dust now. HTH :)