Whats a good !Cheap! Soldering Iron?
 

My soldering Iron took a crap when I was in the middle of doing a grounding kit for my car. I know there are irons that look like hot glue guns and magic wands but I don't know what kind would be best. Maybe a torch? Oh, and it has to be cheap.

*looks at Dean*

Aren't soldering irons like $6?

If you buy a cheapy one, but the tips on those last about a week usually.

I'd get a decent one from Radio Shack or Sandy's Electronics if you need one right away. Look for one with replaceable tips. If you can wait and order online you can get a pretty nice soldering station for $20-30.

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/482...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

If you need to borrow one I can loan you my backup iron until you get another one.

Gun types are for larger electrical/wire type work(>80-100 watt), pencils are for small PC board type electronics. (<80 watts)

Weller makes pretty good stuff and replacement tips are readily available.

All tips wear out. If you tin them and clean them, they last longer, and can even often be filed down and retined a couple times.

Harbor freight has a gun type that looks like it takes Weller tips for under $9. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=4328

I haven't tried one of the "cold heat" ones, but they have those for $11. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91298

Radio shack has a bunch of choices including a 30 watt pencil for <$8.
http://www.radioshack.com/search/ind...soldering&sr=1

If you are into hardcore electronics, spend $50-100+ on a good variable wattage solder station, but otherwise, go cheap as they are disposable. Tips sometimes cost more than a whole new gun with tips.

Thanks for the info. I had a Weller gun and it melted through the plastic casing into my hand. Has anyone tried one of the cold heat irons?

I have a Coleman Cold Heat iron (xmas gift). It's fine for light duty. Doesn't need to warmup. Your subject needs to contact both sides of the forked tip for it to work. This makes it a little sensitive to holding position.

When I did ignition cutout for my alarm install I needed more wattage. I only had two cheap irons plus the cold heat. It was hard to hold but all three got the job done.

/hack

i'm a big fan of the butane soldering irons. a little more expensive, but less heat up time. some even expel the heat through the side near the tip. thats good for shrink wrap.

i actually bought the cold heat and couldn't find a use small enough for it, so i gave it to a friend.