I"m looking at buying a soldering station and moving up from the $10 Harbor freight 30w iron. I’ll be using it for soldering N scale rail and doing my switch panel (i’m going DC on the layout)
Have it narrowed to 2 different setups…any opinions?
Weller WLC100 electronic station (approx $50)
Hakko FX888D digital station (approx $90)
I’ve had a Weller 35w for years and it handled everything I ever threw at it… It is still my “go-to” iron for on site soldering. I modified the cord and put about a ten foot cord on it since the plug was always hanging up at the layout edge. Mind you this is just the iron, not a station.
At the bench I just got a Hakko FX888 and I think it is fantastic. It takes some getting used to as far as getting the setting dial where you want it for specific jobs but once you get the hang of that you’ll be going from tiny pcb soldering to heavy brass sections with confidence.
Have Fun, ED
think the Hakko digital is over-kill for soldering rail joints, feeder wires, and doing the switches on the panel? thats basically all that i’ll be using it for
If you’re looking at the $90 Hakko, you can spend a little more and get a 50W Weller WESD51 soldering station. It comes with a dial and an LED temperature readout. I think I paid $120 for it off eBay. The non-LED readout would be just as good and cheaper.
The adjustable dial is handy for doing delicate work (decoder installs) where higher temperatures might melt wires.
Tom
was kinda leaning towards the weller wlc100 before i saw there isn’t that many tips offered… but didn’t know if the Hakko was that much better for not quite double the price. was hoping to stay under the 100 mark.
Wont be doing any DCC work with it, smallest I’ll be soldering will be approx 24 gauge wire
Well, I just looked at Amazon and the Weller WP-35 is $50 and a Cooper Tools stand and sponge is $28.50 so there’s almost 80 already. The Hakko comes with a nice stand and tip cleaning station. It’s fairly compact.
But for rail work I really wouldn’t want to keep moving the station, I’d rather be unencumbered. But I encourage you to get a good stand so you don’t have to grab for the hot iron when it rolls off the layout or melts ties when you set it down where you shouldn’t.
ED
Neither of those. This one right here $50:
http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/lf369D.html
I have the older non-digital model. Works great, lots of tips available, and it comes with the good copper foil cleaner instead of the old wet sponge.
This is a true temperature controlled iron, the cheap Weller one is not. Cooper Industries ruined the good Weller name by applying it to EVERYTHING once they aquired the company. So you will find lab grade high end units witht he Weller name as well as cheap junk.
–Randy
Thanks for that link Randy,
Years ago early 60s and 70s, there was a Howard Electronics outlet in Chgo area,( assuming it is the same one) had anything you could think of in electronics, wholesale only. You had to prove your were a tech. to purchase from them… Later on they changed the rules, to anyone can purchase from them. Highly knowledgeable people worked there. Then one day they were gone…
Thanks again for the link,
Cheers,
Frank
I have to agree with Randy on this, I have the Xytronic 369 with digital readout and love it. I use to have a lot of trouble soldering but no more. This unit is great and I solder wires to Z size decoders as well as HO NS rail. At $49.00 you can’t beat it.
-BobXytronic LF-369D
Take a look at WWW.micromark.com they have a few nice units will variable temp knobs.
I use the WLC100.
Large tip and about 70 to 80 percent heat for track feeders.
The small tip and 50 percent heat for decoders and loco installs and any PC board work.
The tip cleaner helps keep the tip cleaner a little longer.
Couple others in our club use the same station.
Rich
