Before I buy?

[No Longer Active]

Hi,

I am looking to buy a better soldering iron than the Iron that I currently have.

The Iron I have is wide boddied, chunky, 25watt, the cable is too stiff and you really cant do good soldering at all.

I am looking at the Antex soldering Irons, as I have heard that they are one of the best on the market, but would like to know what wattage.

Personally I am thinking that a 15watt will do nicely, but what abou the 18watt, whats the difference.

I will mainly be soldering encoders and switches, and that's it really, but not too sure on the wattage, I am thinking 25watts is a little too much, but the 15watt or 18watt is what I am deciding on:

Either this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antex-C15-15W-Soldering-Iron-Approved-Antex-Stockist-/230465383768?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item35a8cead58#ht_500wt_848

Or:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antex-cs-18-watt-230-volt-/290353521670?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Consumer_Professional_RL&hash=item439a6b2406#ht_500wt_1074

Just don't know what's best?

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Alex

[mpl330]

Hi Alex,

I had a cheapo soldering iron (£5 job from ebay) and had to replace it so I got a 15w antec, unfortunately I just couldn't get on with it, for some reason it just didn't seem to melt the solder enough for it to run cleanly onto the joints, it remained in a ball. This was probably due to my poor technique but I didn't have these problems with the cheapy 30w iron I previously used. Needless to say I have gone back to a cheap 30w as I can get a number of these for the price of the antec and I can solder succesfully... I wonder if the 15w just didn't get hot enough???

Just my recent experience...
Cheers
Mike

[Sean Nixon]

Hating all things wired, I got a gas soldering iron from my local electronics shop. I haven't used it much as I'm not ready for soldering yet, but I tried it out and it works fine. The freedom from a stiff flex was wonderful.

I got the cheapest one they had, 40W for £12. Ronson lighter fuel is £1 a large can from local newsagents.

http://www.esr.co.uk/electronics/tools-soldering-gas.htm

[No Longer Active]

Thanks for that advice.

Maybe the extra 3 watts will make all the difference, maybe it would be a good idea to ask everyone what soldering iron do they use, my instinct tells me that the 18watt is the better option.

To be honest, I just want something that's light, and thin and easy on the hand.....

Thanks for your experiences though!

Alex

EDIT: Sean, really like the gas soldering Iron idea! Do they come with a tip or is that an extra?

Cheers!

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

hi alex.......
i use an antex csl18. cracking iron, i've had it for years and it's great with lead free solder too :o
18watt is the way to go.........
good luck

ian

[No Longer Active]

I was thinking the 18 watt version, my instinct was right then!

Cheers Ian, once again! :)

Alex

[No Longer Active]

By the way, I think that nothing beats this for price £9.00!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180443105887&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1440wt_831

These retail usually at between £18 - £23, thinking this is a good buy.....ooops just bought one, lets give it a shot, I cant see much in difference beween this and the Antex.....

[wojteku]

Hi Alex,

Hava a look at this one as well:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/50w-Variable-Temperature-Control-Soldering-Station-Iron-/360188952867?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item53dcef4123
I got one myself a while back and it's great. You can also get different tips for it from almost any maplin store or online.

Ooops, I just noticed you''ve bought one already...

[No Longer Active]

Hi,

Thanks for that, I do indeed like the vari temp irons, but I don't do too well with the chunkier irons as I tend to prefer the slim line irons (like holding a pen - my soldering is better)....

A very good buy, it appears that 360 people have bought one, must be good!

Good find!

Alex

[No Longer Active]

I bought this earlier, to help me solder small parts such as encoders etc, this is a very good tool for very little money......

For a few quid, the uses are endless....a very handy tool! Bargain!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200483421437&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_500wt_848

Alex

[caKus]

Hi all,

I have been using a CS 18W for years. It is the one a prefer for soldering PCB.

Patrick.

[mpl330]

Hi Alex,

I've got one of these handy tools - money well spent I've used it loads!

Cheers
Mike

[riche543]

Hi guys
over time ive found that most of the irons ive owned, the tip breaks down, im sure this is caused for having the iron on for long periods of time. But is there an iron out there that has a small tip yet will with stand long soldering jobs ??

[caKus]

Hi,

Well, you can make the tip usable for a longer time if you keep it clean (use a wet sponge in order to clean it after each soldering), put regularly a little solder on it and unplug the iron if you don't use it for more than 10 minutes.

But anyway, sooner or later, the tip will brake or get worn by oxydation !

A new tip is unexpensive (around 5 €), so it's a good solution to choose an iron for witch change tips are available (Antex for exemple).

Patrick.