Soldering Iron Recommendations?
in [Design]
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From: Jim Yanik on 17 Feb 2010 13:10 "TheM" <DontNeedSpam(a)test.com> wrote in news:4kTen.1392$UU2.120955(a)news.siol.net: > "Jim Yanik" <jyanik(a)abuse.gov> wrote in message > news:Xns9D22580715F5Ejyaniklocalnetcom(a)216.168.3.44... >> >> What DUMBASS solders on circuits that are energized? How safe is >> that? >> >> -- >> Jim Yanik > > I do sometimes, of course only when you know what you're doing and > circuits are powered from low DC. I agree 99% of the time it is > stupid. > > M > > > even "low voltage" can have a lot of current behind it. short the wrong thing,and you've burned out a PCB trace,maybe an inner layer trace that's hard to spot. Or burned out an IC from the current you shunted thru it. -- Jim Yanik jyanik at localnet dot com
From: ian field on 17 Feb 2010 13:18 "John Larkin" <jjlarkin(a)highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote in message news:894on5ld5r0mqv4d3lij6tt28b1r9t5601(a)4ax.com... > On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:48:12 -0000, "ian field" > <gangprobing.alien(a)ntlworld.com> wrote: > >> >>"Jim Thompson" <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)My-Web-Site.com> wrote in >>message news:867mn5dvefiov77c2rti5ka57pppi1igc5(a)4ax.com... >>>I have an absolutely ancient Weller WTCPN soldering station that is >>> disintegrating... it's probably at least 33 years old. >>> >>> I don't have any need for surface mount sophistication. >>> >>> What are people's thoughts on a cheapy replacement such as... >> >>Since Weller became Cooper Tools, the bean counters took over the asylum - >>they cut corners on manufacturing and reliability went down the gurgler. >> >>When my last Weller fell to bits I bought an Antex 25W iron as a stop gap, >>and have been using Antex ever since. >> >>I did treat myself to a 50W Antex TC iron but TBH I don't see much >>advantage >>over the standard X25. >> > > The Metcals are the best irons. The SP200 system is about $290. They > warm up in seconds and have impressive heat control. > > John > He said "cheapy replacement", the Antex irons are cheap as chips and last for years.
From: Spehro Pefhany on 17 Feb 2010 13:47 On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:34:33 +0530, "pimpom" <pimpom(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >Oppie wrote: >> "Paul Hovnanian P.E." <Paul(a)Hovnanian.com> wrote in message >> news:4B7B4399.FB3E97AE(a)Hovnanian.com... >>> >>> I was just trying to solve the Zen puzzle of how one would fix >>> a >>> soldering station with itself. >>> >> >> Sort of like when your reading glasses break, how can you see >> to fix >> them... >Some people have backup glasses (I do). Those of us who are myopic just get closer (though there are limits, especially when cutting, grinding, soldering etc.) > Some people have backup >soldering irons (I have a $3 non-temperature controlled piece >that I'm quite skilled with). I could even dig up an old, essentially unused, Weller soldering gun if I had to. Or a fairly decent butane powered soldering iron.
From: Ian on 17 Feb 2010 13:49 "ian field" <gangprobing.alien(a)ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:7lTen.7291$IC.3130(a)newsfe13.ams2... > > "Jim Thompson" <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)My-Web-Site.com> wrote in > message news:867mn5dvefiov77c2rti5ka57pppi1igc5(a)4ax.com... >>I have an absolutely ancient Weller WTCPN soldering station that is >> disintegrating... it's probably at least 33 years old. >> >> I don't have any need for surface mount sophistication. >> >> What are people's thoughts on a cheapy replacement such as... > > Since Weller became Cooper Tools, the bean counters took over the asylum - > they cut corners on manufacturing and reliability went down the gurgler. > > When my last Weller fell to bits I bought an Antex 25W iron as a stop gap, > and have been using Antex ever since. > > I did treat myself to a 50W Antex TC iron but TBH I don't see much > advantage over the standard X25. > Interesting - Antex used to be rubbish many years ago, Wellers were far better. Ian
From: Spehro Pefhany on 17 Feb 2010 13:57
On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:10:56 -0600, Jim Yanik <jyanik(a)abuse.gov> wrote: >"TheM" <DontNeedSpam(a)test.com> wrote in >news:4kTen.1392$UU2.120955(a)news.siol.net: > >> "Jim Yanik" <jyanik(a)abuse.gov> wrote in message >> news:Xns9D22580715F5Ejyaniklocalnetcom(a)216.168.3.44... > >>> >>> What DUMBASS solders on circuits that are energized? How safe is >>> that? >>> >>> -- >>> Jim Yanik >> >> I do sometimes, of course only when you know what you're doing and >> circuits are powered from low DC. I agree 99% of the time it is >> stupid. >> >> M >> >> >> > >even "low voltage" can have a lot of current behind it. >short the wrong thing,and you've burned out a PCB trace,maybe an inner >layer trace that's hard to spot. Or burned out an IC from the current you >shunted thru it. That's why we tell techs not to do it, but rules are made to be broken... |