I need to get myself a soldering iron but realise i actually know fook all about them!

 

Would there really be any difference between a cheap 5 quid jobbie and one for say 30 quid?

 

is the wattage important or will that depend on the gauge of soldering i intend on doing?

 

i kinda like the idea of gettin a butane cordless one but would i be right to assume that it would cost a bit more for the same spec as a cheap corded one?

I need to get myself a soldering iron but realise i actually know fook all about them!

 

Would there really be any difference between a cheap 5 quid jobbie and one for say 30 quid?

 

is the wattage important or will that depend on the gauge of soldering i intend on doing?

 

i kinda like the idea of gettin a butane cordless one but would i be right to assume that it would cost a bit more for the same spec as a cheap corded one?

Antex are the best! ;) I'd either go for an 18 watt or 25 watt! It's the only Brand i will use :D Maplins or RS have most of the Range in stock! Antex Website For you

Go for the standard one if corded and you can buy different tips for them ;)

agreed, the quality of the solder depends on the skill of the operator. just go for a corded one, but spend a little more on one so you can change the tips. that will be fine

a lot will depend on what you want to use it for. i have 2 gas ones which cost me around £60 each, but they do get a lot hotter than any corded ones, & the tips are £10 each. for home use and basic jobs, then as posted above, get a corded one. you may want to also consider a variable controlled one. this will allow you to change the temperature of the tip.

I wouldn't be without my butane iron. Electric are fine indoors but if I'm working on the car, I find that a trailing cable is a PITA

 

Steve :)

Depends on what you will be doing. for 30 quid, you can probably get an adjusting one. Good, say if you want to solder 0 guage wire then crank it up and if you want to solder delicate components on a PCB's then wind it down.

 

If you will be mainly soldering wires then the cheapie will probably do. I have a butane one, and its invaluable. I also have a real cheap one which does most of the heavy work to save the butane tips.

 

Solder with flux, the wetting agent which allows it to flow and stick onto metals, will eat your tips. This is why I use a cheap one when soldering thick wires as replacement tips are also cheap.

Weller ones are very good too. I have an adjustable one in and a fixed mains one in work. I prefer the mains one which is the cheaper option! You'll need around 25 Watts for automotive applications. As the other guys say, Antex ones are good too and it's easy to swap the tips!

I have an adjustable one from maplins, think it was about 20 down to a tenner, has changable tips and does everything i need it to.

Buy a Weller adjustable with seperate power station - look for something similar to the WS81... there expensive new, but if you can find a second hand one (say on ebay) then go for it - they are bomb proof and a used one will be fine.

 

Dave

Remember only hold the fat end :D

cheerZ for all your advise on this chaps... i combined the recommendation of the antex brand with these ease of a butane iron and bought myself an antex butane iron :p

 

 

these are about 50-60 quid on tinterweb that i could find so i was happy to find a brand new kit on ebay for 30 squids!

 

Joel.

What's the round pinky thing, is that your blusher?

And why pay £30 when it's clearly marked up at 75p?

cheerZ for all your advise on this chaps... i combined the recommendation of the antex brand with these ease of a butane iron and bought myself an antex butane iron :p

 

 

these are about 50-60 quid on tinterweb that i could find so i was happy to find a brand new kit on ebay for 30 squids!

 

Joel.

I don't like That one!! I want the other One :D :nelson: