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Weller 70W Digital Soldering Station $219 Delivered @ Amazon AU (Expired: $215 Delivered @ Total Tools)

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Pretty good price for this, here is a detailed comparison between these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2sPDQeGlj8

its seems to be a special order though.

If you can price match with bunnings, even cheaper but prolly unlikely or luck based because its nto in stock in vic atleast.

Update Amazon seems to have price matched it.

Product on Total Tools

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.
This is part of Boxing Day Sales for 2021

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closed Comments

  • -3

    For pros?
    Cool maker

    Wondering whether worth significantly more than those $10 $20 eBay models over the years

    Imagine that most would be similar in manufacture

    or even those plug-and-play USB-powered soldering irons

    • +1

      The price looks like it's among the basic model for those brands

      I'm not sure if it is the exact model tested here, but hopefully, it would give you an idea of the quirks you might see in these price points

      https://youtu.be/R2sPDQeGlj8

      • Thanks - same video link as OP

        Popular reviewer in your field of interest?

    • +1

      Asking if [insert shitty brand here] is really that much worse than [insert professional brand here] is something that is never going to get an informed answer if you don't know the context in which it's asked. How much will a dead soldering iron cost you? How much will a soldering iron that's heating to 10 degrees less than it says it is cost you? In time? Or in money? Or if you're doing big boy work in someone's safety or life.

      If you're asking, then it's probably not worth it. If you want a soldering iron that will last you until your hands are too shaky to use it, then this is a pretty good price.

      Personally, I have a $70 Chinese one. Nice, well built, well reviewed, but not even the same ballpark as this. It suits me for my context.

      • -1

        Seems emotionally-charged

        The initial comment was quickly prefaced with fielding insights whether it was more for professionals, which would head the tirade of questions which could be applied in a similar nature to any category and any brand with time/quality/cost trade-offs to calculate a decision matrix for every process…

        Thought it would be likely that there would be enough constructive and diverse contextualised experiences with a wealth of OzBargainer knowledge to know the latest

        See helpful comments like other people with their branded soldering iron lasting decades, temperature control (which was great you also specifically noted)

        For "good enough" purposes, various clones seem to be well-tested for their purposes and for even more than simply occasional use, going by articles and comments and checking whether there is substantial new information now

        ~each individual's price-performance sweet spot. Optimistic past performance will continue to be indicative of future performance

        Do these types of brands at this entry-level price point offer lifetime warranties? (Saw a note of seven years)

        • Lol, emotionally charged over soldering iron brands? Someone's projecting their stuff all over the place.

  • +2

    I know someone who has a Weller from 30-40 years or so ago, its done who knows how many jobs, still going strong. These aren't really for your average hobbies, they are lifetime tools. Of course that one was analogue

    • Comparing any manufactured product from 30-40years ago is 99% of the time going to lead to false guidance. Having said that, I have a German Weller from 15 years ago and hasn't missed a beat :D

      • True, but I haven't heard of any Weller's going since either, not that I am that across things. Most of the companies in the professional end don't want to sulley their reputation by making rubbish, although there have been a few

    • My Weller which I've had for 45 years is still going strong.

      But it doesn't have temperature control (apart from different tips which have different sized bases).

  • +1

    Hey guys anyone recommend any good flux for soldering?

    • You'll have to be more specific about what you're looking for:
      - liquid, gel or paste
      - no-clean or old-style isopropanol cleanup
      - how active the flux is.

      I'm almost finished a 1l bottle of multicore ESF33 (liquid, IPA cleanup, RMA), and it's been excellent for the last decade or so, but sadly it seems to not be available any more.

      I prefer the IPA cleanup type, no-clean is difficult to remove if you want high-reliability PCBs.

      I've just done a search, it looks like Chemtools RMA 202-25 is a current equivalent for my usage, which is SMT hand soldering. Occasionally I use it for through-hole parts where I need excellent wetting, or where I need a good top solder fillet when soldering from the bottom, like with through-hole 2-row IDC headers.

    • +1

      I use & like the rework flux syringe from Wagner's..

      I use it for anything like splicing wires to SMD or through hole soldering..

      https://www.wagneronline.com.au/flux/ps/

  • If you're using a soldering iron regularly, a good temperature controlled soldering iron like a Weller is an excellent choice, otherwise for occasional use, just stick with the Chinese 'Wun Hung Lo' knock-off and save your money.

    • +1

      Some of those Chinese ones can be lethal to use.

      • ⚡… should we be worried about electrocution?!

        Miniware seems well supported, Hakko
        TS100?

        Sounds like may need to splurge on more high quality consumables to make the most of these devices

        • +1

          The TS100 is in my opinion excellent unless you are trying to desolder large clumps of solder. It heats up extremely fast and is temperature controlled. I wish I could afford a Weller, they've always been great soldering irons.

  • +4

    This doesn't look like it has the new active tip technology (which is superior in every way, expect maybe for the cost of tips). For this kind of money, I'd spend extra and get the JBC station.

    • +2

      I just left a job at a robotics company (we had approx 60 weller stations onsite). Lots of different variations of German/Mexican made… But they tried to cheap out recently.

      In their attempt for a cheaper solution - we ordered 5 new Hakko units. That venture lasted about two weeks before we gave up on them (80w Hakko vs 80w Weller could not even compare in terms of heat regulation). Would not recommend (they all ended up in boxes on a shelf).

      During covid we expanded heaps and they opted for the WT1/WTP90 combo. In terms of price point we were going from ~$1200 a kit to ~$700 a kit. Within 3 months we had snapped approx 5 WTP90 pencils in half (due to the hollow shaft - a fundamental design flaw). Also some cables and plug terminations breaking. Never previously had issues whatsoever. Weller wouldn't cover under warranty. The new tip style are garbage in terms of durability.

      The WP80, in my experience, is the most durable and reliable hand piece that Weller produce. Luckily their ecosystem is cross-compatible.

      My ultimate combo would be WP80 pen with a WP1 workstation. I spent 6hrs a day soldering for approx 12mths and this was my favourite Weller combo. I'd just go steal someone else's hand piece/station to try and refine the setup. Sadly I cannot justify the cost.

      I ended up buying this exact kit for my own home use… And it comes pretty close to the top German made (older) models. Much better than the WTP stuff & certainly best "bang for buck" in terms of build quality/durability than the adaptive tips.

      • I've never had an issue with Hakko, I have the 808 station, never missed a beat for electronics. Also have a Hakko de-solder station.

        Where I worked, in an electronics repair centre, with around 80 odd techs, we all had Hakko irons, later on we purchased a few JBC stations for the diverse tip selection for SMD work, generally though, could never fault the Hakko..

        • +1

          Hmm odd. Perhaps they cheaped out to the extreme entry level (I can't remember the hakko models)

  • -2

    Weller it looks good to me, but weller it looks good to you, it your own choice.

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