Best Adjustable Wattage Soldering Station?

[cschofie]

I have the trakprower 950 $79 bucks and imo it is in the top 2 solder stations you can buy...and thevonly reason I say top 2 is that personal preference decides between one and 2...that Hakko is the other one...I would not buy anything else. The trakpower 950 is fully adjustable although I just crank it to full power and leave it there. The fast you can melt the solder and get the heat off the electronics the better.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

Agreed on the hot handle from newer Hakko units. I have three 888 units that rarely get fired up because of owning a Aoyue. But the 888 is a solid choice, especially with a knob instead of button face. Buttons are so slow to adjust temp with. Easier to dial in a knob. Been impressed with all the Aoyue units so far.

 

[navyeoseabee]

I have the trakprower 950 $79 bucks and imo it is in the top 2 solder stations you can buy...and thevonly reason I say top 2 is that personal preference decides between one and 2...that Hakko is the other one...I would not buy anything else. The trakpower 950 is fully adjustable although I just crank it to full power and leave it there. The fast you can melt the solder and get the heat off the electronics the better.

yep towerhobbies has it on payment plans, two payments changed my life!!! $39.99 each i will never own a cheap weller or a harbor freighter again!!!! it has worked the last two weeks just fine! the best solder experiences i have had ever!

TowerHobbies.com | TrakPower TK-950 Soldering Station "thumbsup"

 

[lostonthetrails]

Agreed on the hot handle from newer Hakko units. I have three 888 units that rarely get fired up because of owning a Aoyue. But the 888 is a solid choice, especially with a knob instead of button face. Buttons are so slow to adjust temp with. Easier to dial in a knob. Been impressed with all the Aoyue units so far.

yep towerhobbies has it on payment plans, two payments changed my life!!! $39.99 each i will never own a cheap weller or a harbor freighter again!!!! it has worked the last two weeks just fine! the best solder experiences i have had ever!

TowerHobbies.com | TrakPower TK-950 Soldering Station "thumbsup"

Yah, I might get the TrakPower because of the knob. Digital display is a luxury, but the buttons will probably bother me beyond belief now that you pointed that out, JRH. I'm still debating on which one I will get but thanks for the help.

 

[cschofie]

I think the new digital solder stations are just a waste and the fancier new units just have more to break....I will stick with my dial one at half the cost of digital.

 

[crawlhog]

I recently purchased a TK955 60w TrakPower, I can set the temp at 700°f and solder like a pro.
I may take the advice of drzoo2 and go up to 750°.
From what I can tell to this point is the ability of the equipment to maintain a steady temp, the TK955has a 1.8° variation, make a night and day difference.
I'm no pro but can now solder in ways I never thought possible.
I got my unit for $98, a great deal since I haven't seen them under $109 anywhere else.

just bought one myself, extremely impressed with the unit. makes soldering so much easier when you have a decent unit, highly adjustable and holds its temps perfectly.

 

[Savagethrash]

Thanks for all the advice here guys. About time I stepped up from my rather subpar offbrand iron. The heat output is so spotty it seems!

 

[Boogie]

Another vote for the Hakko 936. I've had mine for almost 7 years and used it for everything from building battery packs to soldering tiny resistors onto a circuit board.