> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dwayne Reid [SMTP:dwayner@PLANET.EON.NET]
> Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2000 10:30 PM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Re: [EE]: Soldering SMT going [OT]: ?
>
> At 03:55 PM 10/14/00 -0400, Lindsay Pallickal wrote:
> >     Speaking of soldering, can you guys recommend a soldering iron for a
> >newbie? I currently have the cheap radio shack 25watt iron and want
> >something a little nicer, maybe around $60.
>
> I've used several types over the span of many years - Weller, Ungar, Pace,
> Hako, OK, Metcal.  My favorite for many years has been the Weller TC-201
> and I still have more of those than any other in my shop.  The Hako is
> also
> good, except that the inside of the tips corrodes (where it fits over the
> heating element) and the only way that I notice it is when I see the
> production people turning up the temperature in order to get it to
> solder.  A new tip fixes the problem.
>
> My current favorite is the Metcal.  I have bought 3 so far and expect to
> replace all other irons here with Metcal.  But they are expensive and I
> find that the tips don't last anywhere near as long as the Weller tips -
> maybe not even as long as the Hako tips.
>
I can second that. Nearly all our soldering stations use Metcal, and they
are very good.  But as you say the tips do corrode very quickly, although
ours do get left on almost continuously.  I find the little tubs of
flux/solder powder used for cleanung and tinning tips is great stuff, it
revives all but the most coroded tips.

Now, I really must get home, been in work for nearly 24 hours was just about
to go and decided to check my mail...180 piclist messages :o)

Mike

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