OT: Looking for recommendations on new soldering station for vintage electronics!
I'm looking for a recommendation for a new soldering station. I think it's time to retire my 40+ year old Archer soldering pencil - that I've had at least since I built my first TRS-80 Model I expansion interface, maybe longer! I'm looking for compact, with an auto-off feature, temperature controlled, and a variety of tips. Is this pretty much every current station? I'm looking at the Hakko FX888, or maybe the less expensive X-Tronic 3020? Mainly I repair or modify vintage electronics, but occasionally modern stuff where I need a finer tip and less heat. Thoughts/recommendations? Thanks. - Bob Shuster
Are we stuck in a time loop? :) On Sun, Aug 8, 2021 at 8:24 AM Bob Shuster via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
I'm looking for a recommendation for a new soldering station. I think it's time to retire my 40+ year old Archer soldering pencil - that I've had at least since I built my first TRS-80 Model I expansion interface, maybe longer! I'm looking for compact, with an auto-off feature, temperature controlled, and a variety of tips. Is this pretty much every current station? I'm looking at the Hakko FX888, or maybe the less expensive X-Tronic 3020? Mainly I repair or modify vintage electronics, but occasionally modern stuff where I need a finer tip and less heat. Thoughts/recommendations? Thanks. - Bob Shuster
For some reason I never saw my original post or any of the responses come through. (I subscribe to the digest version.) A hearty thank you to Mark Whittington for pointing me to the online thread! To respond to many of your responses: No, I do not have the TRS-80 Model I expansion interface that I built or any photos. I unwisely sold it and my entire maxed out Model I setup at TCF many years ago… :( I think I am eliminating the X-Tronic unit from my search based on your comments, and thanks for the recommendation of the Weller unit. Hexacons are out of my price range! It looks like I’ve narrowed it down to the Weller WE1010 or the Hakko FX888. Leaning towards the Weller because of brand-quality familiarity, availability of replacement tips, etc., and some reported issues of calibration and programming with the Hakko. Still mulling it over… (I have Atari 2600 and Intellivision AV mods ready to go in - plus a Nixie tube clock kit to assemble!) Thanks for all the input. - Bob Shuster
participants (2)
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Bob Shuster -
Mark Whittington