Hi,
I’m looking for a new soldering station, I currently use a Metcal MX5210 which I’ve had for a long time.
I’ve been considering the Weller WXSMART series, but it seems like I’d be paying for a lot of smart features I don’t need.
Any recommendations, no real budget in mind.
I would mostly be working on cables.
I’m looking for a new soldering station, I currently use a Metcal MX5210 which I’ve had for a long time.
I’ve been considering the Weller WXSMART series, but it seems like I’d be paying for a lot of smart features I don’t need.
Any recommendations, no real budget in mind.
I would mostly be working on cables.
The sky is the limit? Station? For cables? I want to spend money... OK: JBC HDE Station.
https://www.jbctools.com/hde-heavy-duty-soldering-station-product-933.html
Congratulations!😉
You can’t go wrong with any Weller but I really like my Stahl with digital display.
https://www.parts-express.com/Stahl-Tools-DDSS-Digital-Display-Soldering-Station-374-300?quantity=1
https://www.parts-express.com/Stahl-Tools-DDSS-Digital-Display-Soldering-Station-374-300?quantity=1
Your Metcal is already a really great soldering station. Anything without a directly heated tip is going to be a massive downgrade.
This may be hard to believe, but I have been using Tenma for decades including at a shop where several ran every day. I have one at least 40 years old. They are honest to God good.... https://www.newark.com/tenma/21-147/soldering-station-48w/dp/39C0869?gQT=1
I was wondering about that myself; why are you ditching the Metcal? I've never used a Metcal and find my Hakko 936 to be adequate for my needs, but figured a Metcal/Pace etc. would be what I would want if I upgraded it. Also, I just looked at the Thermaltronics stuff on eeblog and might do one of those. The TMT-1000S seems almost too good to be true at $130 for a Metcal 500 class station: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/thermaltronics-tmt-1000s-soldering-station/
The Thermaltronics TMT-1000S is their SP-200 equivalent series. One would need to jump to the TMT-5000S for an equivalent to the MX-500 series.
Hi Zepherus ... Might I suggest that you take a look at some of the videos by SDG Electronics on youtube ... He seems to have delved quite some into soldering irons and has tested many different models: https://www.youtube.com/@sdgelectronics
However, based on one of his tests I recently bought an Aixun T-420 - which is indeed very powerful (i.e. it delivers a lot of heat into a substrate) - but with genuine JBC C245 soldering tips (for now this is related to a 0.8mm high power tip) it might look as if the tip looses "power", or solder "wetability" (?), relatively quickly (I am not quite sure what may be causing this as I haven't had the time to look into it in more depth but just wanted to mention it in case you/somebody might be interested in this soldering iron).
BTW it is my impression that SDG himself finds that Metcal is the most powerful iron type in practice (I have not tried it though) ...
Cheers, Jesper
However, based on one of his tests I recently bought an Aixun T-420 - which is indeed very powerful (i.e. it delivers a lot of heat into a substrate) - but with genuine JBC C245 soldering tips (for now this is related to a 0.8mm high power tip) it might look as if the tip looses "power", or solder "wetability" (?), relatively quickly (I am not quite sure what may be causing this as I haven't had the time to look into it in more depth but just wanted to mention it in case you/somebody might be interested in this soldering iron).
BTW it is my impression that SDG himself finds that Metcal is the most powerful iron type in practice (I have not tried it though) ...
Cheers, Jesper
Just curious - why do you want to replace the Metcal? I'd heard people singing the praises of Metcal for years, but never paid much attention to them because I kept thinking "fixed temperature - bleh!". I finally decided to get one about 5 years ago and love it. The thing just pumps heat in as required and nothing I've used previously can touch it. My 15 year old Weller WD 1002 has since been relegated to being my tool box iron.
-Pat
-Pat
I use a miniware TS80 these days and it's great
Check out this video here, EEVblog also has good reviews on it
Check out this video here, EEVblog also has good reviews on it
For cables the issue is getting a lot of heat if you are doing speaker cables and very focused heat for miniature cables. MIT uses resistance soldering for the large cables. Its a close cousin to arc welding. . .
https://americanbeautytools.com/Resistance-Plier-Systems/107 https://www.americanbeautytools.com/bulletin/2 https://www.digikey.com/en/blog/have-you-tried-resistance-soldering-yet-you-should
I have 3 Metcals and many different tips for different applications. There is noting as good (except the Thermaltronics knock-offs) for what its good at.
https://americanbeautytools.com/Resistance-Plier-Systems/107 https://www.americanbeautytools.com/bulletin/2 https://www.digikey.com/en/blog/have-you-tried-resistance-soldering-yet-you-should
I have 3 Metcals and many different tips for different applications. There is noting as good (except the Thermaltronics knock-offs) for what its good at.
Take a hard look at JBC, you can choose the complexity/price with the station choice.
Switchable /selectable handles/ sizes, quick and accurate temperature control and a very good selection of high quality tips.
Also some cable /connector specific ones.
High quality products for a price.
I've used em all up to $1000 units, but nothing beats these $10 china soldering pencils with built in digital temp control. Replaceable tips and elements. I have a couple and the 1st one is still going strong after yrs of abuse.
For those saving up to buy a Ferrari /just like me/😀.
Here's the solution /latest upgrade/😀:
1. FNIRSI HS-02A
2. KESTER 282
A classic in the genre - cheap soldering iron, expensive solder. Wel, this is off topic, but I hope it's useful to someone. Now on topic - where Is Zepherus? What ever happened to Zepherus?
Here's the solution /latest upgrade/😀:
1. FNIRSI HS-02A
2. KESTER 282
A classic in the genre - cheap soldering iron, expensive solder. Wel, this is off topic, but I hope it's useful to someone. Now on topic - where Is Zepherus? What ever happened to Zepherus?
That is why i specifically adviced on JBC, if you look through theyr'e tip selection, just some links from the 245 range suited for different cabling purposes.
Sadly only the 470 HD range has the Faston solder tips.
There are chinese knockofs that can take the original handles/tips laso of varying quality.
https://www.jbctools.com/c245763-barrel-cartridge-o-25-product-824.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245760-barrel-cartridge-o-35-product-687.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245785-barrel-cartridge-o-15-product-1171.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245790-barrel-cartridge-o-08-product-1251.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245268-dual-in-line-cartridge-5-x-15-product-446.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245771-narrow-chisel-bent-cartridge-1-x-01-product-889.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245116-pin-connector-cartridge-r-1-product-452.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245117-pin-connector-cartridge-o-145-product-447.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245118-pin-connector-cartridge-04-product-443.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245122-pin-connector-cartridge-r-2-product-454.html
https://www.jbctools.com/c245762-round-connector-cartridge-r-45-product-801.html
That was my question too.
The METCAL has "stepwise variable" temperature control. You swap the tip for a hotter or colder one. Just as the old Weller TCP/WTCP. I use 700 ºF (370 ºC) tips with leaded solder and 800 ºF (425 ºC) tips with lead-free solder.
I bought a METCAL MX-500 setup some 15-16 years ago (man does time ever fly!) to replace or augment my Weller TCP (that I bought in 1988). I have never needed variable control of the temperature. It's an illusion of control. The Weller has lived in storage since my METCAL arrived.
Tom