I'm looking to buy a soldering station and don't really want to spend more than £30/£40 can anyone point either to group reviews or recommendations. BTW I've done the odd bit of soldering but would consider myself a novice soldering wise as well as electronics wise. The iron won't be getting heavy duty use. I'd like to get a unit that I will be able to get spares/accesories for easily here in the UK.
Thanks!
I have been using this one for a year and I am quite happy with it, including SMD work. The tips are compatible with similar cheap station, so I don't assume that they will be hard to acquire any time soon.
Cannot find it on Amazon UK, though.
And now I leave the field to the people who say you need a Weller, or at least a Hakko. Eventually, they might be right, or they might not.
ElCaron:
And now I leave the field to the people who say you need a Weller, or at least a Hakko. Eventually, they might be right, or they might not.
Technology these days has advanced to the point where many people or companies can make a very good performing temperature controlled soldering station at competitive/attractive prices. It's the same for cars, bikes, etc etc.
ElCaron:
I have been using this one for a year and I am quite happy with it, including SMD work. The tips are compatible with similar cheap station, so I don't assume that they will be hard to acquire any time soon.
Cannot find it on Amazon UK, though.And now I leave the field to the people who say you need a Weller, or at least a Hakko. Eventually, they might be right, or they might not.
Yep looks like it's only available to the german market.
Well, the ZD-931 looks suspiciously similar, just less "stylish", and the reviews are also good. It is quite pricey in the UK, though.
ElCaron:
Well, the ZD-931 looks suspiciously similar
For a bit over a year, I have been the owner of a VTSSC40N. I have been very happy with it. It appears to be the same as the ZD-931. At 55 GBP, it is outside the 30-40 range though.
ElCaron:
Well, the ZD-931 looks suspiciously similar, just less "stylish", and the reviews are also good. It is quite pricey in the UK, though.
Yes, they seem to be going for around £75 incl postage so definitely too expensive.
I've been using one of these from Maplin for a couple of years now, and no complaints.
It's bit more than your £30-40 spec, but less than £75 
Yes I've earmarked that one is Amazon but I'm also tempted by this one though it's a bit more than what I want to pay.
I got one of these in Salisbury Maplin http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-mains-solder-station-n67ef
Well below budget, no fancy LCD display. But if you give it 5 mins between temp changes it works really well.
darthclueless - do you live in the UK? Maplins were good when it was mail order to Southend, but nowadays it's if you need it now, in stock near you and at a price you want to pay. I don't like promoting people but:
Hobbytronics
Rapidonline
Bitsbox
will all probably offer better value for money.
darthclueless:
I got one of these in Salisbury Maplin http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-mains-solder-station-n67efWell below budget, no fancy LCD display. But if you give it 5 mins between temp changes it works really well.
On the Maplin web page it says...
48W mains powered solder station that allows you to start soldering by simply plugging the iron in.
The description sounds like it was written by a child!
Love going in to Maplin shops and having a nose around but I find they are not very competitive. I like the idea of a temp controlled iron with LCD display. Do I need these features? Probably not
GusGF:
Love going in to Maplin shops and having a nose around but I find they are not very competitive. I like the idea of a temp controlled iron with LCD display. Do I need these features? Probably not
Just get one with a temperature dial .... and a temperature indicator needle.... like a VU meter. It helps to have a indicator light that at least tells us that the temperature has roughly reached the temperature we set..... and ready for action.
GusGF:
will be able to get spares/accesories for easily here in the UK.Thanks!
That may be a problem.
I have bought from maplin in the past for emergency use , tips are not readily available though.
Unless you go for the likes of hakko or weller i would suggest getting spare tips when you buy.
A selection of different tip styles is a good idea anyway.
The Maplin one I suggested is fairly generic, and sold under various brand names in different colours. Spares are readily available on the bay of e.
I only got mine from Maplin because they were the cheapest, and had free delivery. You can pay £80 or more for the same unit with different branding. Duratool is one of the better known brands that sell it.
Ian.
I'm using this for three years, well below you budget.
Bill,
Does this have an auto off capability in case you walk away and forget to turn it off?
Looks really good, thank you.
FYI
Must be a 220 version in U.K.
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=445951.msg3167665#msg3167665
.
dannable:
darthclueless - do you live in the UK? Maplins were good when it was mail order to Southend, but nowadays it's if you need it now, in stock near you and at a price you want to pay. I don't like promoting people but:Hobbytronics
Rapidonline
Bitsboxwill all probably offer better value for money.
Yes, Smallisbury (part of Salisbury) by Stonehenge, great little City but poor for electronics shops, only one independent in town, and he was out of solder last time I went in, and had never heard of Arduino.
We have a Maplin just outside of the City, other than that I buy online. But it is nice going into Maplin as you can see in your hand what's on sale.
Many thanks for the names, I'll enjoy having a ganda.
GusGF:
On the Maplin web page it says...48W mains powered solder station that allows you to start soldering by simply plugging the iron in.
The description sounds like it was written by a child!
Love going in to Maplin shops and having a nose around but I find they are not very competitive. I like the idea of a temp controlled iron with LCD display. Do I need these features? Probably not
The staff in my local Maplin are lovely, but they look about 13, so it could well have been written by a child. One of my items was a aerosol can of PCB cleaner, the till bleeped to check the buyers age? the look on their faces when I said "Haha you youngsters cant buy and sniff aerosols...but us old buggers can" was priceless.
