I need a new soldering tool. I'm thinking about a gun this time as my iron/pen can be pain sometimes.

Suggestions?

 

What are you wanting to solder? Differnet jobs can call for different tools needed

 

I use a $12 Radio Shack butane torch with a soldering tip for car audio installs. It becomes wonderfully useful when an AC power outlet isn't available.

 

The Weller D650... http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/we...tguns/d650.htm is what I use, it is a very good "all around" gun, good for soldering up to 4ga power cable and down to 24/26 gauge wire, [takes a little practice].

The Weller WESD51 solder station... http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/we...der/wesd51.htm is what I am replacing my old Hakko 936...http://www.electrowisehsv.com/cms/?p=5 [12+ years old] with, good for up to about 12ga and down to circuit boards, [using interchangeable tips] a solder station is what I use most of the time for alarm and remote start installs and circuit board/component repair work.

I also have the Snap On butane soldering tool, [just a Weller PSI100K... http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/we...ps/psi100k.htm ] does pretty much what the station does when AC power is not avalable.

I also have an old 900 degree/250W iron for 4 gauge and bigger cable/connectors.

Everybody should also have the good old plumbers BernzOmatic... http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/...3/Default.aspx for when you need to get things real hot. 94

 

Thanks FCM.

 

I like the Pace solder/desoldering stations.

 

with a few tries for practice, i found this is an easy way to solder 8 gauge and bigger connections

 

can anybody recommend a cheap, but decent cordless one?

 

I have a Radio Shack 100W gun, similar in shape to the Weller D650 linked above. It works pretty well, and heats up almost instantly, compared to my old 30W and 40W irons that took forever to heat up, and forever to heat up wiring. My gun also has a built-in light to put a little extra light on what you're working on.

 

Radio Shack has some awesome solderers... I would go there first to pick and choose one!

 

I really hate using soldering guns for my projects. They are too big, and awkard to hold. My projects are on circuit boards.
I use this:
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brand...c=037103059963

 

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...ight=soldering

 

I use a Radio Shack corded soldering pen and it's okay. The tip takes a bit to heat up. The best soldering equipment I have ever used would have to be a Masters Appliance "Ultratorch". It is butane type but very effective and easy to use. You can even use it to heat up heatshrink tubing. As for soldering guns, I'm not too crazy about them because they are just too bulky.