I have a Weller EC2002A.  The factory inspection date on it is
1-18-1984. I think I bought it that summer.  It's been a great iron,
nothing has broken or burned out.  With the right tip, I can solder darn
near anything.  I have a small box with a collection of tips and various
solders (and a Sal Ammoniac tinning block makes tips last twice as
long).

My personal opinion then and now - if you are going to do electronics
for a long time, spend the bucks for a good quality iron.  Making the
job fit the tool is never fun.  Same is true for all your tools, really.
(I'd never buy anything but a Tektronix oscope, either).

I haven't seen the Radio Shack iron, but I have never seen a good Radio
Shack iron in the past.


Back to PIC programming.....


Robert Wuest, PE
Sirius Engineering Company

Ed Troy wrote:
>
> I have 2 irons that I use in my consulting business, and I like them both.
> One is the Weller WLC100, and the other is a Weller EC2002M. The EC2002M is
> the BEST iron I have ever used, and I have used most of them. However, it
> is not cheap. There are similar analog units that are probably just as
> good, from Weller. The WLC100 is probably appropriate for a hobbyist. I am
> not familiar with the Radio Shack unit you are referring to, but I have
> never been impressed by any irons by anyone other than Weller, including
> Metcal, who make even more expensive irons. It depends on what you are
> doing, and how serious you are. If you need an iron that can handle
> virtually anything from 20 mil pitch IC's to 5 watt resistors, then buy a
> good, temperature controlled Weller iron like the EC2002M (but you don't
> need the digital feature.) If you are just looking for a general purpose
> iron, then a cheaper Weller is probably good. Also, Weller has an EXCELLENT
> warranty program. They replace virtually anything for either free, or $70.
>
> Ed
>
>   At 10:09 AM 5/3/2000 -0700, you wrote:
> >I want to buy a new soldering iron station. Is the digital station sold by
> >Radio Shack any good?
> >
> >I also saw a Weller analog station in JDR cataloge for $50.00.
> >
> >These okay for a hobbiest?
> >
> >Thanks
> >John