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#1
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Best professional soldering iron??
Can anyone suggest the BEST soldering iron on the market today?
I used to have one that came from France, I believe...and used it with a rheostat. I think that there are professional models available today with a built in temp controller... but how good are they? It also has to be 220/240 current since I'm no longer living in the US. Any ideas? |
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#2
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Best professional soldering iron??
Hexacon 155H.
It's a solid well-built workhorse - with 175 watts of power generation and a heavy shaft to hold heat, it'll not cool off while working but will continue to supply whatever heat you need to get the job done. The hatchet handle makes it easy to hold for extended periods, and it idles at 960 deg F so has no need for a controller. With a little practice, you'll find everything (including lead) can easily be done at that temperature. Instead of turning down the power, learn to use it. I believe Hexacon makes 240 volt irons for the European market. http://www.glasscampus.com/VGAF/page...py_hexacon.jpg |
#3
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Best professional soldering iron??
Thanks for this. Unfortunately, the url only shows a photo and the guy
looks like he's using an iron with a rheostat...or am i seeing something else there? Who sells this iron? I'm definitely in the market for one. thanks again. |
#4
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Best professional soldering iron??
wrote in message oups.com... Thanks for this. Unfortunately, the url only shows a photo and the guy looks like he's using an iron with a rheostat...or am i seeing something else there? Who sells this iron? I'm definitely in the market for one. thanks again. Before buying a large, in size, heavy iron of traditional wire wrap construction, consider and research the irons using a good size Ceramic heating element. They are much lighter in weight, greatly reducing arm and hand fatigue. Take a look at the Hakko brand irons. They offer a heavy ceramic heating element, when I say heavy I do not mean weight, I mean in capacity to heat, and only 60 watts takes temps just under 1000 deg. After a short learning curve of practice time, you will be able to use these without rheostat, and with what ever sort of construction method you so chose. I use them to solder lead, foil, copper, brass and zinc, regularly, and they are light weight. I am a pretty good size guy, with pretty good size arm strength, but everybody doesn't. |
#5
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Best professional soldering iron??
I'm willing to consider anything at this point. My big problem is
shipping to western Turkey!! and of course the right current...220-240... Can you recommend a company that has European-correct electrical equipment? thanks, |
#6
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Best professional soldering iron??
Although there is a rheostat in the photo, that iron isn't plugged into
it. The photo was taken during one of our "Soldering Clinic" classes wherein we demonstrated several different models of iron. The photo clearly displays a typical response from a first time user. We sell Hexacon, as does Sunshine Glassworks and several different US suppliers. http://www.victorianartglass.biz/pro...20hexacon.html |
#7
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Best professional soldering iron??
wrote in message oups.com... I'm willing to consider anything at this point. My big problem is shipping to western Turkey!! and of course the right current...220-240... Can you recommend a company that has European-correct electrical equipment? thanks, Check this web page for someone nearby, http://www.hakko.com/english/company/overseas.html Hungary was the closest, but check in an electronics store near you, they sell to that market primarily. We use the Hakko 456, but I saw no voltage change, and given what and iron is, nothing more than a resistance tool, might be just change the plug, but that would be something to look into there. |
#8
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Best professional soldering iron??
hmmm...why is then that the photo on the front page
http://www.glasscampus.com/ shows people using Weller 100's which by the way are plugged into controllers? I thought you'd said that even Weller 100 were wimpy irons. wrote: Although there is a rheostat in the photo, that iron isn't plugged into it. The photo was taken during one of our "Soldering Clinic" classes wherein we demonstrated several different models of iron. The photo clearly displays a typical response from a first time user. We sell Hexacon, as does Sunshine Glassworks and several different US suppliers. http://www.victorianartglass.biz/pro...20hexacon.html |
#9
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Best professional soldering iron??
And even more to the point...the Weller 100 is a temp controlled tip. It
won't heat beyond 700*F, so what would be the purpose of a controller, anyway? IIRC, Weller even says NOT to use a controller with that iron. wrote in message oups.com... hmmm...why is then that the photo on the front page http://www.glasscampus.com/ shows people using Weller 100's which by the way are plugged into controllers? I thought you'd said that even Weller 100 were wimpy irons. wrote: Although there is a rheostat in the photo, that iron isn't plugged into it. The photo was taken during one of our "Soldering Clinic" classes wherein we demonstrated several different models of iron. The photo clearly displays a typical response from a first time user. We sell Hexacon, as does Sunshine Glassworks and several different US suppliers. http://www.victorianartglass.biz/pro...%20soldering%2 0hexacon.html |
#10
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Best professional soldering iron??
I recommend against using a controller but don't try to force people to
work only with our methods or our choice of tools - even when they're making poor choices. Everyone choses their own personal way to do everything. I think a controller (any controller) SNUP. Instead of cutting down the incoming power, you should learn to increase the speed at which you work. Even with a dinky little Hakko, you can solder at full temperature. You just can't do it for long before it bags out. The Weller will hold up a bit longer, but not much. We even have a few naive individuals in our Cutting Clinics that still like to cut up scraps of paper for templates to cut glass. We try hard (VERY hard) to convince them those paper bits are a total waste of time and paper, but some seem happy dicking about with them so we leave them to their time wasting practices. It's their time, why would I care if they use it foolishly? .....whether with an underpowered soldering iron, or a needlessly complicated cutting practice. I think Weller's are superior to Hakko 456 (60 watts is completely inadequate) and inferior to medium and large Hexacons. I think the Weller and Hakko are suitable for small jobs only. I consider both to have insufficient power to be adequate for professional studio use on other than small jobs. We use the Wellers for 3D models and Hexacons for everything else. The most effective way to convince someone that the Weller or Hakko is inferior is give them an opporunity to try out the Hexacon. It's also the most effective way to sell a Hexacon. |
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