This Hobby Is Actually Useful!

[Robert Jarratt]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ian
> McLaughlin
> Sent: 01 August 2015 22:44
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: This Hobby Is Actually Useful!
> 
> 
> > On Aug 1, 2015, at 2:24 PM, Robert Jarratt <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com>
> wrote:
> > PS A related question. I struggled somewhat with the Weller Magnastat
> > No. 8 tip, when trying to solder leads to the ground plane, I could
> > not get the solder to stay molten very long. I was using lead-free
> > solder, its melting point is much lower than the temperature which a
> > No. 8 tip reaches. The iron is 50W. Clearly the ground plane was
> > taking heat away, but is it a problem with the tip not being hot
> > enough, the iron not powerful enough, or perhaps some operator error?
> 
> Rob,
> I would recommend a temperature controlled iron, such as the Hakko FX888D. I
> have one and it’s beautiful. It can compensate for soldering large ground
> planes by detecting the drop in heat and pumping more power to the tip.
> 
> https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11704
> <https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11704>
> 
> Ian

Thanks for the suggestion, but Hakko appears not to be available in the UK. On ebay I can find US sellers and Chinese sellers. I suspect the Chinese ones are imitations, so I would prefer to avoid those.

Regards

Rob