Soldering station

[ajcooper4]

I’ve decided I’d like to buy a soldering station, especially as I’ve now got to remove and relay some track involving extra soldering - just the excuse I’ve been looking for!

I’d like to ask, please, which ones you use and/or recommend- or not recommend!

[Tinker]

Mines a Weller low voltage, think its 25 - 30 years old it got it second hand....your get what you pay for....

[footplate1947]

I bought the Parkside which has LCD temp display from 0 to 450c and it works fine. Only thing I dont like about it is it has very heavy (thick stiff) cable to the iron which I dont like. It makes it cumbersome to use.

[Brian]

Hi
Firstly do you really need a soldering station?
For general model railway etc soldering I use a standard 25 watt iron which for most jobs is ideal. The best irons IMO are produced by Antex, If buying one consider spending a little more and obtaining an Antex iron with a silicon mains lead. It doesn't burn if accidentally touched by the hot tip and it is much more flexible than the standard PVC mains cable is. I would also look for a safety stand too.
Example... https://www.tilgear.info/ant58j470-ante ... icone-flex

I also have one of these Link to Farnell Which at the time was sold under the Maplin (RIP) banner.

[footplate1947]

I only paid £17.50 for my soldering station which allows you to adjust to low melting point soldering if you are needing that low setting if using low melt point solder possibly. Now had look around and found when lidl brings out their next version it will be much improved over the older model I have. In fact I will be buying one. Yes it is true you can use a 20 watt iron for most things around the layout is fine. But for the same money you can have a soldering station which gives you a fully adjustable tool a stand and often some replacement tips as well and couple of reels of solder too. In case of the lidel one, much cheaper as well.

[dynax]

Gas all the way, ever since i got mine, i don't use anything else, lidl do a gas one which i will get as a back up,
can't fault them at all, and gas can be got from the pound shop for yep a pound, and a cannister lasts ages,

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/MiddleofLidl. ... leId=20839

[footplate1947]

That looks like a nice little tool Dynax.......Not seen one of those before............john

[dynax]

They are John, i have a weller version, but is practically identical to the parkside one, comes with interchangeable tips, including a hot knife, can be used anywhere, no cables to worry about, built in stand, adjustable temperature, one of these is a must have as far as tools are concerned,

[ajcooper4]

dynax that looks a nice tool. Only thing with Lidl is you have to drop lucky - you never know what you will find in the middle aisle - or not!

[Brian]

The problem I have encountered with my gas fired soldering iron is the excessive heat around the catalyst, which if not used very carefully will cause melting or distortion of any nearby plastic components. The catalyst is extremely hot!
That said, they make excellent 'quick use' soldering irons and are ideal for outdoor use too.

Personally, the Antex iron is IMO the Rolls Royce of all soldering irons. Used by professionals in the service industry, full range of spares available too. I have had mine since around the late 1980s! New tips and a silicon mains cord fitted.

Cheap irons come and go usually due to element failure or lack of spares. Antex irons were in use in the workshop when I stared work in 1963 in a TV servicing department and they are still sold today! That alone must rate them highly!