Recommend me a Soldering Iron

[Eeyore]

Hello Everyone,

I never know what I want for christmas but I have told my parents that I would like a decent soldering iron. My dads one is really old and doesnt work any more and the one i got for £10 off ebay never gets hot enough.

So ideally around £50-60, im open to just the soldering iron or a soldering station. Its going to be used in the car so Im not sure which is best for that. I know you can pointy ones and flat tipped ones so I think I would prefer a flat tipped one.

Wondered if anyone had one they could recommend or had any ideas what so ever!

Thanks,
Sam

[Just Sean]

i know of one going in a field, just after junction 18 on the m4 east bound. 1 careful owner...

[Piggy]

maplins do an excellent temperature controllable one, electric though.

Consider where you may wana use it...

IE a gas one if you need to be mobile with it

[Eeyore]

It just needs to be used in the car for speaker wiring etc and for other electronics projects.

The Weller soldering stations such as the WES51 is awesome but none in the UK!

Dont know if this one is any good. It looks cheap and nasty tbh but spec wise it doesnt look terrible.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-Soldering-...485b5ae329

[306carter]

I have a Dremel can't fault it. Use it all the time at work, i solder most joints instead of using crimps ect.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DREMEL-2000-6-...2c61483e7e

[John1.4]

i got myself a maplins gas one in a kit, think it was 39.99 including gas, worked ok until i broke the tip mount, got an aldi special now, £3.99 and worth every penny - except it's pretty good tbh

[Curt]

I have a Dremel can't fault it. Use it all the time at work, i solder most joints instead of using crimps ect.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DREMEL-2000-6-...2c61483e7e

This is what I have, it's brilliant.

[bigcheez2k3]

We use Weller ones at work, they seem to be decent seeing as they're on for around 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. We order ours from RS Components I think, could try them.

[welshpug]

weller rock, RS do them, you can pick one up for less than £20 IIRC

[ozonehostile]

I've got an ersa that they were throwing out at work, best soldering iron money can buy at £600+

For every day car stuff though you can't really go wrong with a weller and a few different tips. Job jobbed

[1616six]

I have a draper gas one. Tbh I've used it for melting number plate holes more than anything, does that well though.

[DeeTurbo]

I love pace irons but weller are really good.

Maplin have a temperature controlled for £40 http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/60w-profession...n=13P12-46

[rocker8742]

Portasol super pro 125 is what we have at work and they're great, variable temp control and decent range of tips little bulky but gas lasts a decent time

[Dum-Dum]

I'd be tempted to recommend a gas one

[cully]

i use a weller station in work cracking bit of kit
be warned if you by cheap the flux in the solder will eat your tips away

were not allowed to use gas soldering iorns in the hospital due to the risk of fire/explosion when patants are on oxygen

[Curt]

You can't beat gas for working on the car IMO, it was a pain in the arse when I ran out of gas and had to use an electric one.

[londondan86]

Another vote for the Weller from me, thats what we use at work. Although at home I have the maplins one which is really good value for money http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-profession...tion-n34fb

Having said that, for mostly car stuff a gas one may be better

[miles]

Always used the Weller ones, You can find them S/H for under £60.00, One like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-W...417a7dc332

Is fine as the tips are temp rated. Mine is 15 years old now, Never missed a beat. Not on 5 days a week thou and you can buy parts without any issues still too

[daddyfixit]

antex, (the yellow ones) got 3 of these, 2 fine tip for pcb repairs and a bog-standard for car wiring repairs.

I also have a weller iron I bought in the early 80s' and its still going on the original tip !!

[bigcheez2k3]

Always used the Weller ones, You can find them S/H for under £60.00, One like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-W...417a7dc332

Is fine as the tips are temp rated. Mine is 15 years old now, Never missed a beat. Not on 5 days a week thou and you can buy parts without any issues still too

Pretty much what I use at work, except the holder is a seperate unit.

[Lego Jon]

Meh!
My 19.99 Lidl jobbie has done me proud for about 4 years.

[Dum-Dum]

You can't beat gas for working on the car IMO, it was a pain in the arse when I ran out of gas and had to use an electric one.

Yeah this. I hate using the electric for working on the car, its fine indoors (unless i'm soldering battery cable or something else stupid thick) but outdoors especially on a cold and/or windy day it just wont stay warm enough.

I regularly end up using my blowtorch to heat the electric one when I'm working outside.

[Dave]

I bought a 50W, 4.99 soldering iron off ebay about 4 years ago, kicks about in my toolbox and has been super ever since.

[C.A.R.]

Got a Weller one over here for working on my RC stuff and the fullsize car. Make sure that replacement tips are easily available, as it could be a pain if they're hard to obtain!