+1… weller
Assuming this one works did I get a good deal?: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400529498599
:party:
Links: first two I’ve bought; second two I haven’t.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1044600
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1058901
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10000409/1188201-nickel-copper-angled-soldering-iron-tip
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10004382/1333700-precision-soldering-iron-rod-tip
You lucky bugger. That’s a super deal.
Hey wait a minute. There’s no sponge!!!
It’s not sponge-worthy…
Forget the sponge!
I’ve been using a real Hakko 936 for the last few years, but picked up a couple of these for spares/gifts after they got good reviews over on RCGroups.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=19240
Pick up a set of cheap tips on eBay for ~$10
and your in business for about $35 total after shipping.
I don’t have a Weller or Hakko, so I can’t speak to them, but I’ve had a Aoyue 937+ for about six months and really like it. It seems to get good reviews on Amazon too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I30QBW/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the links! I will buy a pair and see if they fit my iron.
For the record, I bought an Aouyoue:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BSW69LI/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and got it today (super fast Prime shipping).
I’ve already used it to do some work, soldering leads on an emitter, and it works fine.
It comes with 10 tips, plus an extra ceramic element. It comes with a sponge and sponge tray, and solder holder/roller (don’t use), but I bought one of the brass cleaner thingies at the same time.
It heats up super fast. I didn’t time it though.
Seems pretty good for the price.
Jim
Edit: I bought this tip from Fasttech awhile ago (not sure why), but the package it comes in says “Hakko”, and it works in this Aouyue:
Ohhh, shiny 
Looks like a nice iron. Heating up fast is good. Mine is just OK in that department. Not sure if that is a power thing, but it seems to do OK with larger heating jobs.
Having the extra heating element is a nice thing to have. They are inexpensive, but they can (rarely) break and do it suddenly so you would be stuck without a backup.
60W is nice, I think mine is 50W which is adequate. I also have a genuine Hakko 936 that I can use if two irons are needed (not often at all).
If that FT tip is genuine, it a good deal at $1. How does it perform? Stays tinned for a while, good heat transfer, etc?
Why not repair your weller? all the parts are available.
Here’s a pic of the tip, and the package it came in:
I’ve been using it, in place of the original one that was in the pencil, but I’m probably not the best judge. I can say that it does stay tinned, but I’m not 100% sure about heat transfer.
I soldered the leads to an emitter with the original tip, and that went fine, but I just tried soldering leads to another emitter using the FT tip, and I had to crank up the temp a bit, to 400C to do that.
I think that the FT one is finer than the original one, so it may not be transferring heat as well as the original one, or, it might be my technique. Initially, with the FT tip, and at 350C, I could tin the leads and the emitter pad fine, but when I tried to solder the lead to the pad, it wouldn’t flow, so I cranked the temp up to 400C, and then it was fine.
I have a new meter, with a temp probe, and I may try checking the tip temperature later/tomorrow.
Looks like a genuine Hakko tip. Thanks for the picture! I will definitely get some of these. My Aoyue came with spare element but no spare tips.
Well that $85 WESD51 is, from what I can tell, brand new. Or, it was used once to check that it would melt stuff and then put back in the box. I almost feel bad having stolen it like that. :~
Isn’t it great!
Yeah, I can actually get a proper solder join onto pills now. And it doesn't cook itself to death if you set it down for 5 minutes setting up the next part to be soldered, like my previous dumb irons. Just need to pick up an assortment of tips... which are not cheap, by the way. xD
I’m in need of some tips myself.
Nags Head in the fourth to win at Hialeah…
14 17 23 31 42 49 in the Powerball…
I’m glad you aren’t a rabbi.