Soldering Irons - Whats your flavor?

[Graeme]

Planned on starting my ai606 installation today whilst the loom is out of the car but discovered my soldering iron had died, have killed a few cheap ones over the years but want to get one now just for soldering average wiring loom sized wires and audio connectors every now and again. This (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380301330883&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3D R40%26_trksid%3Dp4712.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D%2B38030 1330883%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1) one is the one I have my eye on just wanted to check with anyone in the know, I think I am quiet good at soldering but some irons seem too cold and give 'spikey' joints, will the iron detailed be up to the job?

Any help will be much appreciated

Thanks Graeme

[16v Nova Kev]

thats the one i have and recomend it highly. had it for years.

[Andy]

Mine rarely gets used,so is used more for screwdrivering tasks.....
Nah it really is a glorified screwdriver wired to the mains LOL

[Mike]

My came free in the boot of a 205GTi years ago lol thats about all I can say on it lol

[MK999]

Weller 40w and a Weller 80W with replaceable tips. Used to race RC cars so bought quality irons, looked after properly you won't even need to replace the tips (I do abuse mine a tad, tip isn't always perfectly cleaned etc)

Expensive but worth it after using cheaper irons, think the pair set me back near £50

http://www.tools4trade.com/d-2326003-Weller-SP40L-Soldering-Iron-40-Watt-240-Volt-SP40LUK.aspx Like so, but I paid more than that for mine.

edit: That being said though, I crimp all the connections on my car

[Balley]

We had them at school, very good for you want !

[Graeme]

So is 25w a little small for auto cables (standard loom size)?

[Balley]

Am not sure fella, sorry

[MK999]

So is 25w a little small for auto cables (standard loom size)?

should be ok but it depends on the iron, just because it consumes 25w doesn't mean it's going to be as hot as a good 25w iron.

edit: my 40w was for doing fairly large gauge cable, probably about the same as a "thick red" permanant live like you have when wiring in an engine.

[Graeme]

I have always considered Antex to be a good iron really just wanted opinions, think I'll go for it for sub twenty quid its not going to be an expensive mistake, if its sh1te, thanks for all the input fellas

[Mazz]

My current one is a Antex 30w, and its fine for most wiring, but tbh i'd go for a 40-50w again, just so its a bit hotter..

http://www.maplin.co.uk/30w-soldering-iron-45545

http://www.maplin.co.uk/30w-soldering-iron-32909

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HP80-Antex-Soldering-iron-solar-cells-tabbing-wire-/280583388282?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item415412bc7a

Just don't do what i did and assume bigger is better!!

300w v 75w

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/mrmazz/0136_Small.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/mrmazz/0135_Small.jpg

[AlexW]

Thought this was gonna be my kinda thread, But no, I use gas.

[bazil]

Thought this was gonna be my kinda thread, But no, I use gas.

dito,

[Lewis.]

gas is ftw. I use a Portasol Pro II, and its great, piezo ignition, and variable heat; 10-60 watts
has interchangable tips which is very handy, including big/small soldering tips, mini blow torch, shielded heat thingy and a hot knife (which is awesome)

http://portasol.co.uk/catalog/images/Pro%20II%20Kit.jpg

mains irons are always awkward if working inside cars etc

[bazil]

also its the only propper way to heat wrap too

[MK999]

Jesus mazz, I used my 80w for soldering onto motors because they're basically huge heatsinks, could probably solder a GM Ampera up with yours lol

[brainsnova]

I have used a cheap one for years I just don't leave it plugged in for ages.

[phazer]

I have a 25w Antex and it's ok for most loom stuff provided it's shielded from the wind - just can't stay hot enough. In the garage it's spot on.

For the large gauge stuff you'll need a 40-60w though (say a large amp cable) as it dissipates heat too quickly to get a good joint.

[Mazz]

Jesus mazz, I used my 80w for soldering onto motors because they're basically huge heatsinks, could probably solder a GM Ampera up with yours lol

Thats what my old one was for, and making sub-c packs up, hence when it died i wanted a bigger one, just didn't know how big it was from the pic!

[MK999]

Going back a bit with sub c's now! Everythings lipo lol

[Mazz]

Yea :) lipo's ftw! I've currently got an RC18T with a 7.2 lipo and 8.5t brushless, tis rather quick! It'll wheelie down the staight lol

[MK999]

sold my B4 a while back as I was getting into tracking the nova, do miss it though, was just starting to get good enough to give someone a good race too. Looked at the stock trucks a lil while ago, RC10T iirc, but I'm not the sort of person that can go at anything half assed and be happy with it so it'd cost me too much, or just frustrate me lol

edit: B4 was all old school but running a 12 triple iirc as my hottest motor, that would wheelie easily without the slipper clutch done properly.

[Mazz]

12T, sub c's and 40mhz if your posh! :) It's all 10.5, lipo and 2.4ghz now

[MK999]

Yeah I got out just as I needed all that, would have been a case of paying out for charger brushless ESC, lipos etc, cheaper in the long run but I just couldn't afford to buy it all at once and the money I got selling various bits was better spent on the nova at the time

[John]

wtf are you two on about lol

[MK999]

http://www.ultimaterc.com/land/reviews/ae_b4/bodyon.jpg

[John]

aaah i see!

[L14MNP]

Maplins soldering station FTW.

[Andy]

whichever nathan facepalm used to stitch his engine bay ftw

[Mazz]

wtf are you two on about lol

old skool RC cars,batteries etc :)

http://www.galaxyhobby.ca/images/Galaxy/RC18T.jpg

[MattBrown]

I run weller.

Never looked back, fooking ace.

Mines a 120w big bugger though, for soldering model car cells together.