There is only one TRUE soldering iron. If you're serious about soldering
and surface mount, you want a Metcal. Don't get the SP-200 series, they're
junk. Used Metcals can be had on eBay. Avoid the RFG-30 bases, those are
antiques (and not in a good way). The MX 500-DS is ideal, as you can use
the 2nd port for either another wand, or the Talon tweezers.
The tips are cartridge style tips, and hold temperature regulation far
better than a Weller or Hakko (I've used *lots* of different irons in
product environments. Don't tell me how much you love your Weller or Hakko
until you use a Metcal. Once you've had, you'd just as soon use a wood
burner as go back). There are well over 100 different tip styles available,
including specialty tips for removing QFP, SOICs, PLCCs, etc.
The Talon tweezers are really nice for removing SMT resistors, caps, and
with the right tips, SOICs are easily removed.
--John
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org
> [mailto:cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org]On
> Behalf Of Tony Duell
> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 18:49
> To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: SWTPC TV Typewriter II restoration
>
>
> > Michael Holley wrote:
> > [snip]
> > > Here are some links to my CT-1024 TV Typewriter II pages.
> > > http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/CT_1024/CT1024_Index.htm
> > > http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/CT_1024/Restore/CT1024_Restore.htm
> > Wow. I'm speechless. That is one amazing repair. I think
> it's high time for
> > me to smash my piggy-bank, raid my bank account and buy a
> nice soldering
> > station :-)
>
> Well, I should probably upgrade myself (I still use an old
> Weller TCP,
> which has a not particularly accurate thermostat), but I can
> assure you
> that even that is a lot nicer than most 'hobbyist grade' irons.
>
> To the extent that on the few occasions that I've tried to
> use a cheap,
> totally non-thermonstatically-controller iron recently (to save going
> back to get my Weller), I've had to give up and go and get said unit.
>
>
> > I've just come to the conclusion that my Antex XS is far
> too overpowered for
>
> You probably mean _UNDERPOWERED_ !
>
> Power is not the same as temperature. For example, my Weller
> is actually
> a 45W unit, which sounds rediculously high (after all, many books
> recomend a 15W iron for PCB work). The problem with too high
> a power in a
> non-controlled iron is that it gets too hot. The problem with
> too little
> power (in any type of iron) is that it takes too long to heat
> the joint
> up, thus getting the rest of the PCB and components hot,
> causing damage.
>
> Try soldering (or worse, desoldering) an IC pin connected to
> an internal
> ground plane on a multi-layer PCB and you'll see what I mean
>
> -tony
Received on Mon Mar 17 2003 - 18:54:00 GMT