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i know you get what you pay for but i have decided its time to learn to solder with a view to be able to do basic repairs/upgrades to amplifiers etc so i am after a very cheap starter set up.
my plan is to learn by building a few simple devices, cmoy amp etc, so i'm after a very cheap soldering station just to see how i get on and gain a view of what ideally i need from a better tool in a few months time.
can anyone recomend anything suitable? ideally up to 20quid but i'd go up to 40 for an absolute deal that i wouldnot need to upgrade quite soon.
This one is fine: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-50w-mains-solder-station-n78ar not particularly controllable but does the job. Often on discount at maplin or cheaper elsewhere (e.g. ebay)
If you do want to spend a lttle more this is ace: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/60w-mains-lcd-solder-station-a55kj and won't need upgrading.
I've got one of [url= http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/60w-mains-lcd-solder ]these[/url] which seems pretty good. Have used it to build a couple of headphone amps and general repairs
Edit... Too slow
I'm a member of a group on Facebook, many of whom are avid repairers of retro computing hardware. The "group-approved" iron is this:
http://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/21-10115-uk/soldering-station-digital-esd-uk/dp/SD01738
^ Looks like the same one Mike and I linked to. Maybe that's now the official stw iron.
Mike's link fails for me...?
It's not hard to crack the code though. 8)
Mike's link fails for me...?
Sorry.....
trying to add a link from my phone didn't work 😥
Thanks. If the maplins is the same as the cp farnell and its a generic machine just rebadged I'll have a look about tomorrow to see if I can find it a little cheaper.
What an excellent thread. Showing my age here but I had to build my first computer, z80 😳
I bought one of [url= http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-220V-200-C-480-C-Increment-5C-70W-Digital-LCD-Thermostat-Soldering-Iron-/221551754676?hash=item3395837db4 ]these[/url] from ebay. Variable temp, quick to heat up from cold, does exactly what it says on the tin. I would have preferred a proper soldering station, but this was half the price and I only use it for messing about with quadcopters.