19 Mar
2003
19 Mar
'03
2:33 a.m.
Andy,
(This is a reply I sent to someone else that asked me the same question)
Perhaps I'm a little harsh. My experience with them is they tend to be
somewhat underpowered for heavier pins. But my major complain is they use a
different tip series than the MX-500's. For light work (typically through
hole, SMT), it should work fine. For soldering TO-220 tabs to ground
planes, I think you'll have problems. But more than anything, it's making
the investment in tips. And the tip selection is a lot more limited. Of
course, if you're buying tips on eBay, the prices are so low that you won't
have a large investment. Buying tips at retail hurts.
As far as things going wrong with them, I'm not aware of any particular
failure modes with them. I also have a lot less experience with them than
the RFG-30 and MX-500 bases.
--John
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-admin(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-admin@classiccmp.org]On
Behalf Of Andy Holt
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 01:26
To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: RE: Soldering Irons (was RE: SWTPC TV Typewriter II
restoration)
There is only one TRUE soldering iron. If
you're serious
about soldering
and surface mount, you want a Metcal. Don't get the SP-200
series, they're
junk. Used Metcals can be had on eBay. Avoid the RFG-30
bases, those are
antiques (and not in a good way). The MX 500-DS
is ideal,
as you can use
the 2nd port for either another wand, or the
Talon tweezers.
What is the problem with the SP-200?
At a recent local auction I picked-up 8 of these for ?40
intending to resell
on eBay -
A couple of them don't have tips, the others all have high
temperature tips.
Andy