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I need a soldering station for light guitar work. Can I get away with this Velleman for $20 or should I go for a CSI or Elenco or Weller for $40?

I use a cheap iron. Never had a problem with. Use thin solder..

CSI all the way. It is the iron I use.

I use a Weller WLC100 station and love it. $40 is a good price for one.

I might pick up a cheaper iron of my own so I can give this one to my dad, someone pinched his (eyes shift left to right and back again). However, while I wouldn't buy a dirt basic iron, for light guitar work it should be fine.

Mike wrote:CSI all the way. It is the iron I use.

Yeah that's why I included it. I had stumbled across the April thread while searching for "soldering." You hadn't taken delivery of it at the time, but based on your response I'd assume it worked out for you.

Seems like it'd be hard to go wrong with any of the $40ish ones. Probably end up going with the CSI, as the Weller is entirely too orange. Also the instant-availability of the others clearly indicates that they're inferior.

In my guitar shop, and hand-made custom guitar effects shop we use Wellers' only. They are very reliable and have a better choice of tips easily available for me.

i had that velleman, it lasted about a week. i use a hakko 936. a little pricey, but well worth it. i think they're around $80 at fry's.

TieDye wrote:have a better choice of tips easily available for me.

Totally forgot about the replacement tip thing. I had figured that they'd all be compatible for any given iron size. That pretty much settles it then.

I use a Weller, but Mike is a PRO. I think the better ones give you greater control and higher temp.

I'm a dual pro, and I use Weller. The stations have a thermostat control and different size tips you can use. The tip for guitar work is too large for intracate and delicate circuit board soldering. You also have to be able to vary your tip temperature. Figure out what you plan to do with the soldering iron, and let that tell you what you need. I, obviously, may need more versatility than Mike or some of you guys, on a daily basis.

Anything I'd need to do to assemble or repair guitars, really. Connect pickups to pots to input jacks, ground things, etc.

I won't be building pedals or circuit boards.

scandoslav wrote:Anything I'd need to do to assemble or repair guitars, really. Connect pickups to pots to input jacks, ground things, etc.

I won't be building pedals or circuit boards.

Something cheap would do you okay, even a cheap radio Shack one. Get a 30-40 watter.

scandoslav wrote:Anything I'd need to do to assemble or repair guitars, really. Connect pickups to pots to input jacks, ground things, etc.

I won't be building pedals or circuit boards.

for that you can get by with a $20 weller. you don't need a variable temperature or anything.

For what you want to do, you don't need any thing fancy. Get a small one with a fine point and some flux and thin silver solder. I just use a wet paper towel to clean tip when it is hot.

word

scandoslav wrote:

Mike wrote:CSI all the way. It is the iron I use.

Yeah that's why I included it. I had stumbled across the April thread while searching for "soldering." You hadn't taken delivery of it at the time, but based on your response I'd assume it worked out for you.

Seems like it'd be hard to go wrong with any of the $40ish ones. Probably end up going with the CSI, as the Weller is entirely too orange. Also the instant-availability of the others clearly indicates that they're inferior.

Yeah, it's fucking brilliant. Temperature control is great and it's all just quality stuff. Insane for the price.

Weller + Ultra thin point + Good Soldering brand, Best Brand is my fav.