Soldering iron off topic

[mister_e]

heeha TC201 i still have one.. blast from the past. About the same price to chance only the iron or the whole thing when the Iron element comes defect. Anyways, Here's what i use and recommend

1. Weller WES50 with PES50 pencil iron. provide a great tip model range, cheaper to replace when the element burn than the TC one. Fair to good temperature stability and variable.
2. Metcal rework station Mx-500TS. Provide a fair to good tip model. Cheaper than any Weller model. Temperature stability good but fix and/or tip dependant. The only 'problem' ==> tip cost... a bit expensive but include the element.
3. Hakko 936. I use that one on the road. Never heard about them before i tried it. As now, seems to be a great price/quality unit. Tip choice is still decent but a bit limited.. do the job for me on the road for True-Hole and SMD parts. Cheaper than Weller, durability... i can't tell as now.

IMHO, sorry for those who have and love them, the worst ones are EDSYN. Bad comments from me on those iron (wich i'll keep for me). Cheap housing, controls, element, tips,.. ,... ,... But the price is interesting. Maybe good enough for some hobby jobs.

PACE do some great stuff too. I'd use them a lot before i start my own business. Not cheap but great.

@Bartman
Hakko is available from HVWTECH Calgary
HTH

[bartman]

Hmmm, more money than I had in mind for my 200 solder joints a year! Thanks.

Bart

[mister_e]

Well there's still some cheapest solution as the single iron solution... without the base. Canadian Tire, Radio-Shack and other local suppliers could have some interesting stuff.