Re: Soldering irons [was Re: gEDA-user: Free Dog meetings at MITstarting this September!]

[Freedom Lions <jdozsa@carr.org>]

Howard Electronics <http://www.howardelectronics.com/index.html> sells a
wide range of soldering and de-soldering products at affordable prices. 
Good products sold by knowledgeable people.  I've been very pleased with
the soldering station I purchased from them.

John

Charles Lepple wrote:
> 
> Stuart Brorson wrote:
> 
> > Please remember that this is my understanding of what's going on in a
> > Metcal gained by lab heresay; I might always be confused about some
> > detail or another . . . .
> 
> The techical details sound right... or maybe someone gave the same sales
> pitch at my lab :-)
> 
> On the other hand, Weller and Hakko soldering irons are more than
> sufficient for occasional soldering if you're the type of person who
> spent under $500 for their stereo system, and can't hear the difference
> between it and your neighbor's $50,000 system.
> 
> That's not to say I wouldn't trade up if I had the choice.
> 
> A Metcal will give you the same amount of heat whether you are heating a
> QFP lead or a wad of 12 gauge wires (unless you reach the wattage limit
> for that particular tip). With a slightly less sophisticated
> temperature-controlled iron, you may have to boost the temperature
> setting slightly if there is a lot of thermal mass to whatever you are
> soldering.
> 
> --
> Charles Lepple
> clepple@ghz.cc