Homebrew PCBs

every tip I ever ground wound up with massive pits in it after maybe 
2 hrs of total soldering time.  My hakko has got probably 10X that 
time and after one wipe on the wet sponge, it looks the same as the 
day I bought it.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Jeremy Taylor" <jt@j...> wrote:
> I was just trying to keep him in budget.
> Grinding a tip, then using a quality tip tinner has served me well 
in the
> past, but alas these day I'm with you guys. I paid over $600 for my 
station
> ~used.
> 
> JT
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Phil" <phil1960us@y...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 4:03 AM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Fine soldering iron
> 
> 
> > that's certainly one approach.  I think you will find a ground tip
> > wont last that long.  I went through a succession of cheap irons 
and
> > finally got a temperature controller soldering station (hakko - 
$90
> > including tax) and a couple of fine tips.  very glad I did.  You 
can
> > get similar new for 70-80 and maybe cheaper if you shop around.
> > here's a used hakko on ebay (same model I got) for about your 
price.
> > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
> > ViewItem&item=3803309151&category=58293  These come up a lot on 
ebay.
> > They have a lot of tips (including very fine ones) for around $5 
each.
> >
> > I really encourage you to not skimp on an iron - a good one will 
last
> > a long time.  cheap out and not only will soldering be harder but 
you
> > will replace it in a year or less.
> >
> > By the way, there is a technique for soldering qfps and other fine
> > pitch devices that doesn't use a fine tip iron - you just slather 
on
> > the solder and use wick to clean the bridges.  People claim to 
have
> > gotten good enough to not require any wick.  I found it by 
googling
> > for the obvious keywords.
> >
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Jeremy Taylor" <jt@j...> 
wrote:
> > > Get a cheap iron and grind the tip
> > > Or the "economy" weller station can use the full line of st 
tips,
> > but that
> > > be closer to 60-70 w/shipping.w/ a  extra tip
> > > http://www.mouser.com/catalog/617/1183.pdf
> > > (at the bottom right of the page)
> > >
> > > JT
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: "Moore" <pminmo@c...>
> > > To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 9:55 PM
> > > Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Fine soldering iron
> > >
> > >
> > > > Want to hand solder 44pin qfp's.  Need a new soldering iron 
that
> > > > won't break the bank. (less than $50).  Suggestions?
> > > >
> > > > Phil
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks 
and
> > files:
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and 
files:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >