What kind of soldering gun would you guys reccomend

[itsblown 10+ year member]

Figure this would be the correct place to post this. Im just wondering what soldering gun you guys use. Im looking to get something that I know isnt going to break on me and do a decent job but im not looking to top of the line. Im going to be using it to soldering stuff onto electrical boards more so than wires together any ideas?

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[maylar 10+ year member]

For PC boards you want a 30 watt "pencil" iron. Ungar, Hexacon and Weller are the quality brands, but Radio Shack is OK. Key item is that you can buy replacement tips, which you can't do for the $6 Chinese brands. Ideally you want a variable heat unit with a temperatue control, but those cost money. I got mine at a tag sale.

30 watts is enough to let you solder small wires like HU harnesses too, but not enough heat for the big stuff. The mainstay in my soldering arsenal is a Weller 100/140W gun that I've had for probably 40 years:

Weller Universal Multi-Purpose heavy Duty Soldering Gun Kit 8200PK | eBay

On the hi heat it'll solder 8 gage wire if you know what you're doing.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

You can buy one at Radioshack for $20 that will handle most of your basic stuff but the tips are kind of crappy and you'll be replacing them fairly often especially if you don't care for them properly. I have yet to invest in a quality iron but it's on my "to-buy" list...Like Maylar said, variable temp is nice, we had all Weller units at my previous employer and they were very nice to work with. If you're going to be soldering anything like surface mount parts you're going to need a better unit. Basic through-hole stuff can be done with a cheapie if you take your time.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

For PC boards you want a 30 watt "pencil" iron. Ungar, Hexacon and Weller are the quality brands, but Radio Shack is OK. Key item is that you can buy replacement tips, which you can't do for the $6 Chinese brands. Ideally you want a variable heat unit with a temperatue control, but those cost money. I got mine at a tag sale.
30 watts is enough to let you solder small wires like HU harnesses too, but not enough heat for the big stuff. The mainstay in my soldering arsenal is a Weller 100/140W gun that I've had for probably 40 years:

Weller Universal Multi-Purpose heavy Duty Soldering Gun Kit 8200PK | eBay

On the hi heat it'll solder 8 gage wire if you know what you're doing.

For anything larger than 8g would you just use a blow torch or something?

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

For PC boards you want a 30 watt "pencil" iron. Ungar, Hexacon and Weller are the quality brands, but Radio Shack is OK. Key item is that you can buy replacement tips, which you can't do for the $6 Chinese brands. Ideally you want a variable heat unit with a temperatue control, but those cost money. I got mine at a tag sale.
30 watts is enough to let you solder small wires like HU harnesses too, but not enough heat for the big stuff. The mainstay in my soldering arsenal is a Weller 100/140W gun that I've had for probably 40 years:

Weller Universal Multi-Purpose heavy Duty Soldering Gun Kit 8200PK | eBay

On the hi heat it'll solder 8 gage wire if you know what you're doing.

For anything larger than 8g would you just use a blow torch or something?

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

For anything larger than 8g would you just use a blow torch or something?

I once soldered 4 gauge into some heavy duty metal disconnects using a blow torch...just packed a bunch of solder into the terminal, heated it with the torch till the solder melted then stuffed the wire in and flipped it upside down...no idea how good of a flow it got but I couldn't pull that wire out no matter how hard I tried...

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

I get the butane ones from radio shack. I've been using them for 15 years + and have been generally pleased. They aren't tools you'll own forever, but you definitely get your money's worth of life out of them. You can get different size tips and regulate heat and they are very portable.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

For anything larger than 8g would you just use a blow torch or something?

I don't like a flame when soldering, it's too hard to control. My propane torch kit came with a BIG soldering tip that you slide over the end of the torch. But in a pinch, the torch will work.

 

[itsblown 10+ year member]

Im going to be soldering l.E.D.'s onto some pc boards for my cars interior. @maylar Would the one you posted a link to work for something like this

 

[ds0110 10+ year member]

The weller 30 watt guns are weak. Especially if you are using silver solder. Most definitely if you are running an extension cord to the vehicle.

Blow torch works fine on 4 or even 0g although id recommend the bigger home depot bottle than a handheld radio shack one. The keys are to use enough flux, dont overheat, and to not burn the plastic covering. Id upload a vid of torch soldering I did if I could find the vid...

 

[Sub Woofin 10+ year member]

i bought my 35watt from radioshack back in 1999-2000. it has yet to croak on me

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

[quote name='itsblown']Im going to be soldering l.E.D.'s onto some pc boards for my cars interior. @maylar Would the one you posted a link to work for something like this[/QUOTE]

A 100 watt gun would be overkill for that. For PC boards you want a pencil iron.

 

[CrossoverOre 10+ year member]

I love my snap on butane soldering iron. I have had it about 4 years and going strong. I have had the cheap ones before but drop it when its hot and the game is over, the snap on stays going. Also lighting the cheaper ones becomes an issue after some use. But probably not the prefferd tool to use on pc boards, I have used it for that and works great but can run a little hot.

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Im going to be soldering l.E.D.'s onto some pc boards for my cars interior.

Improvised Explosive Devices? You fucking terrorist. Poast reported!

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

Ridgid makes good products try their soldering irons....