What's a good soldering iron?

[EunSoo]

Hello! I am looking for a soldering iron that will last me a while. The primary use will be for keyboards but I'm sure that I'll use it for many other projects. I don't know much about electronics so I'm not sure what specifications I should be looking for. I don't kniow what kind of budget I should have so whatever is good for a person trying to get into hobby electronics but good enough so that I can use it for more advanced projects. Thanks!

 

edit: I also need a heat gun if you have any quick suggestions for that. thanks again

[dany_boy]

Hakko FX888

[EunSoo]

1 minute ago, dany_boy said:

Hakko FX888

thanks mate. One more thing. Do you have any recommendations for a desoldering pump or whatever can desolder?

[dany_boy]

1 minute ago, SCGazelle said:

thanks mate. One more thing. Do you have any recommendations for a desoldering pump or whatever can desolder?

De-soldering vacuum pump +  solder wick will get 95% of the jobs done.

[EunSoo]

Just now, dany_boy said:

De-soldering vacuum pump +  solder wick will get 95% of the jobs done.

would something like this

https://www.amazon.com/LyonsBlue-Desoldering-Vacuum-Solder-Removal/dp/B003FHYL7I?th=1

and this

https://www.amazon.com/Aven-17542-Desoldering-2-5mm-Length/dp/B01K89GERA?th=1

work?

[dany_boy]

Just now, SCGazelle said:

would something like this

https://www.amazon.com/LyonsBlue-Desoldering-Vacuum-Solder-Removal/dp/B003FHYL7I?th=1

and this

https://www.amazon.com/Aven-17542-Desoldering-2-5mm-Length/dp/B01K89GERA?th=1

work?

For solder pumps, pretty much anything will do, but a metal one will last longer. Don't cheap out on solder wick, you want a good one. MG chemicals, radioshack or elenco are good stuff.

[EunSoo]

1 minute ago, dany_boy said:

For solder pumps, pretty much anything will do, but a metal one will last longer. Don't cheap out on solder wick, you want a good one. MG chemicals, radioshack or elenco are good stuff.

is this one better?

https://www.amazon.com/Aven-17537-Desoldering-Pump-Anti-Static/dp/B019IUHGRM/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1495924413&sr=1-3&keywords=metal+desoldering+pump

 

I found this elenco solder wick. Is this what I'm looking for?

https://www.amazon.com/SW-3-Desoldering-Wire-Handy-Dispenser/dp/B0002LLW5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495924376&sr=8-1&keywords=elenco+solder+wick

[Bananasplit_00]

well when i repaired my K70 i just used my cheap 30W iron, its slow but it works lol

[dany_boy]

I still have my doubts about the wick you linked but if you get some flux it will work just fine.

[Arc_Jester]

I recommend you get 0.5mm/0.6mm 63/37 0r 60/40 rosin core solder, it's the easiest to work with.

[vanished]

For a heat gun, try this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NDX7O6/

There are some that are a bit cheaper, but they are very cheap and have all sorts of problems judging by the reviews.  There's probably also more expensive ones but idk what for, I have one of these and it's been great so far.  Haven't used it a whole lot yet though.

[EunSoo]

34 minutes ago, Arc_Jester said:

I recommend you get 0.5mm/0.6mm 63/37 0r 60/40 rosin core solder, it's the easiest to work with.

something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Miniatronics-Corp-1064004-Rosin-Solder/dp/B0006O933K

9 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

For a heat gun, try this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NDX7O6/

There are some that are a bit cheaper, but they are very cheap and have all sorts of problems judging by the reviews.  There's probably also more expensive ones but idk what for, I have one of these and it's been great so far.  Haven't used it a whole lot yet though.

k, thanks. I that one will do just fine. it is for vinyl.

1 hour ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

well when i repaired my K70 i just used my cheap 30W iron, its slow but it works lol

eh, I think I want something a little more high quality as I am planning on doing a lot of projects with it.

1 hour ago, dany_boy said:

I still have my doubts about the wick you linked but if you get some flux it will work just fine.

ok. Thanks for all your help.

[Arc_Jester]

1 hour ago, SCGazelle said:

something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Miniatronics-Corp-1064004-Rosin-Solder/dp/B0006O933K

 

Yes, that should work in most situations.

[Bananasplit_00]

14 hours ago, SCGazelle said:

something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Miniatronics-Corp-1064004-Rosin-Solder/dp/B0006O933K

k, thanks. I that one will do just fine. it is for vinyl.

eh, I think I want something a little more high quality as I am planning on doing a lot of projects with it.

ok. Thanks for all your help.

oh yah, dont get a crappy cheap iron if you are planing to use it a bunch, im just saying that even cheap stuff works pretty good unless you need something better  

[Mr_Random_Guy]

just remember to tin the iron the first time you turn it on

also not so funny story my first soldering iron was 99p off ebay and while soldering the hot tip fell out.. moral of the story don't buy cheap soldering irons!

[dexT]

The best and easiest to use solder is Kester 331 where you can wash, 245 where you can't.

 

[You_are_a_cunt]

IMO it depends on how much you use one.

I have a Hakko 936 clone that has done an amazing job over the past 7 or 8 years (Gordak 936a). It's a bit fidgety to calibrate since the knob and silkscreened temperature aren't what I'd call accurate, but once it's where you need it to be, it'll do just fine.

Because it's so cheap I have about 15 irons with different tips, since it's faster to just change the iron than wait for one to cool off and change the tip.

Main problem I have with it is that the plug isn't quite as sturdy as I'd like it and I often end up either scrapping an iron or just replacing the cable.

As for solder suckers, I've been using a $3 one for over 10 years at this point. They're simple enough that there isn't really much that can break in them, as long as it's a full metal body one (I think the only plastic bits on it are the plunger thumb and the retention bracket that keeps it all together.

 

For infrequent use, a cheap station will do just fine. For frequent use, specially when dealing with finer joints, invest in a good one. Whatever you do, NEVER buy one of those plug in irons.

[EunSoo]

12 hours ago, dexT said:

The best and easiest to use solder is Kester 331 where you can wash, 245 where you can't.

 

What do you mean by wash? Like I can wash the stuff off my soldering iron? 

[EunSoo]

10 hours ago, revsilverspine said:

IMO it depends on how much you use one.

I have a Hakko 936 clone that has done an amazing job over the past 7 or 8 years (Gordak 936a). It's a bit fidgety to calibrate since the knob and silkscreened temperature aren't what I'd call accurate, but once it's where you need it to be, it'll do just fine.

Because it's so cheap I have about 15 irons with different tips, since it's faster to just change the iron than wait for one to cool off and change the tip.

Main problem I have with it is that the plug isn't quite as sturdy as I'd like it and I often end up either scrapping an iron or just replacing the cable.

As for solder suckers, I've been using a $3 one for over 10 years at this point. They're simple enough that there isn't really much that can break in them, as long as it's a full metal body one (I think the only plastic bits on it are the plunger thumb and the retention bracket that keeps it all together.

 

For infrequent use, a cheap station will do just fine. For frequent use, specially when dealing with finer joints, invest in a good one. Whatever you do, NEVER buy one of those plug in irons.

That brings up another question. What kind of tips should I have? Should I start off with the one that it comes with an over time, as I need them, buy more or should I get them all now? I'm planning on using this thing each weekend for small projects for now.

[dexT]

3 minutes ago, SCGazelle said:

What do you mean by wash? Like I can wash the stuff off my soldering iron? 

Most solder you have to scrub the flux off or it can eat pcb or components and weaken the joint. 331 is a water clean up so you scrub with a toothbrush and water. 331 is really fast and easy to solder with, it's worth having to scrub.

 

245 is harder to work with but is the best no-clean solder. You would want to use this for pots and jacks or anything that can be corroded or is water/solvent sensitive. 

[You_are_a_cunt]

2 hours ago, SCGazelle said:

That brings up another question. What kind of tips should I have? Should I start off with the one that it comes with an over time, as I need them, buy more or should I get them all now? I'm planning on using this thing each weekend for small projects for now.

These are the most common tips. for the sake of simplicity, I'll call them by order in the picture.

I use:

#1 mostly for desoldering big joints

#2, 3, 6, 9 and 10 are my usuals

#4 and 5 for finer work (like surface mount packages)

#7 and 8 are there for things between fine points (4, 5) and regular solder joints.

I also have variations on them, but they're there on a "maybe I'll need them" basis, since I bought a pretty large tip kit at one point and they were there.

[EunSoo]

5 hours ago, revsilverspine said:

These are the most common tips. for the sake of simplicity, I'll call them by order in the picture.

I use:

#1 mostly for desoldering big joints

#2, 3, 6, 9 and 10 are my usuals

#4 and 5 for finer work (like surface mount packages)

#7 and 8 are there for things between fine points (4, 5) and regular solder joints.

I also have variations on them, but they're there on a "maybe I'll need them" basis, since I bought a pretty large tip kit at one point and they were there.

Ok. A kit like this isn't expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5PIC8J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_mUmlzbDZ40658

Will it work with the hakko fx880d

[You_are_a_cunt]

4 hours ago, SCGazelle said:

Ok. A kit like this isn't expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5PIC8J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_mUmlzbDZ40658

Will it work with the hakko fx880d

It should work.

Check the ID (interior diameter) of the tips and make sure it matches (+1mm I think) the OD (outer diameter) of the soldering iron heating element