Yep, just saw that myself, Bob! That's my motto: "Ready, FIRE!, Aim..."
I consider a quick and easy method of changing temperatures essential in a soldering station. I used to have trouble with the "blob" method of removing enamel and a few other simple chores such as using desoldering braid that I could do easily in the field with an uncontrolled temperature iron. The problem is that a 700F iron is too cool for many things like that. With the Hakko, I crank up the temp to 800F and within a couple of seconds those chores become simple. While I normally use a solder puller, sometimes braid is easier. The iron needs to heat up the braid enough for good flow, and do it quickly before the board or connector gets overheated, all the while heat is being lost up the braid. Braid is copper - a GREAT heat sink! Using a hotter iron prevents that problem by putting the right amount of heat on the joint through the braid. And blob-stripping enamel from wire is equally simple and fast with enough heat. Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- Ron, I think you responded to the wrong message (about the KX1). :^) Weller also has soldering stations with an adjustable temperature control. I have used the WTCP type with fixed-temperature tips but prefer the adjustable model WES50 which I used to build my K2. This model has been replaced by the WES51, which is probably a bit more expensive than the Hakko 936, also a very fine product. Xytronics has a similar station, which is probably a bit less expensive. Bob, N7XY On Mon, Nov 15, 2004 at 07:17:47PM -0800, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > I have a Hakko 936 that I really like. I like it better than the > Wellers because I can adjust the temperature by a simple twist of the > knob. Comes up from cold to 700F in about 20 seconds, and has plenty > of heat to avoid temperature "droop" when doing a lot of joints. > > I bought one a couple of years ago and the first tip is still as clean > as the day I put it on. I got mine from Tequipment.net. I see they > currently sell there in the $80 range. That's cheap for the quality of > the iron, in my experience (http://tinyurl.com/56r3n) > > Not connected with Tequipment myself, of course, except happy to have > done business with them. > > Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
