RCpurplecow

iTrader: (1)

Hi guys,

I am in the market for a good soldering iron to solder my batteries. I found a 40 watt weller soldering iron at home depot and don't know if this will be good for assembling battery packs. Does anyone know what a good soldering iron would be? Preferably within a low budget

thanks

loopedout

iTrader: (49)

Hakko 936 is hard to beat. I use an old 100W Ungar with a 1/4" tip for batteries only, does em up like a robot built the packs

convikt

iTrader: (27)

With all the fragile cells on the market, I woulndt use less than a 80 watt

C_O_jones

iTrader: (11)

Weller SP 80L, 80 Watt and reasonably cheap!

John Warner

Price on the 80w Weller is less than $35.00.

totalazneclipse

iTrader: (15)

Don't get the 40 watt weller. It does work fine, but the large tip starts to corrode while your using it over time. I literally have a crater in the tip of the iron. Every single person that I've asked that has used this iron has all had the same result.

SpidarX

iTrader: (3)

I use the 40 watt weller with the 1/4 chisel tip, and it solders the batteries up with no problem. However, I've had the same problem with the tip. I've gone through two of them because the tip starts to deteriorate quickly.

_pilot_

Hakko 936 is the only way to go

gubbs3

iTrader: (7)

I also use a Weller 40 watt and there's ample heat to do batteries easily (including taking them apart). What is the deal with the tip though? I've never left mine on for longer than a few minutes and it still pitted very quickly.

timmay70

iTrader: (5)

I have the Hakko 936 for doing all my soldering tasks, except assembling packs. For that I use the weller 80 watt behemoth. Quick and painless. The faster you make the joint with these new cells the better. Let the iron recover between joints and you won't overheat a pack while assembling.

glassdoctor

iTrader: (4)

Exactly the same thing I was going to say.

The 40w and 80w wellers will burn out the tips if you use them all the time, but they work great for occasional big jobs like doing packs.

The Hakko 936 rocks for using all day long at the track etc... and it's not bad for doing packs with the big 908 iron and tip, but nothing compares to that massive 80w weller tip.

redbones

I have the hakko too, but stays at home.
At races I use this:
http://www.goot.co.jp/ENGLISH/catalo.../PX201_401.htm

Variable power iron, but very compact and powerful. It gets to max temp in 20sec. If you use the 5mm tip, battery bars go on/off quickly without heating the surroundings too much.

hobbipro

iTrader: (23)

Where are you buying these Hakko from? I'm on my 3rd weller now because no one carries the replacement tips anymore, and yes, they pit and fall apart quickly. There was an electronics store, but it closed up shop last year, the only thing left is radio shack.

_pilot_

You can by direct at www.hakkousa.com or most online shops (stormer, amain, tower) have them. I got mine from stormer hobbies.

todd8603

iTrader: (6)

Just got this from a stained glass supply company. 80w iron with 3/8 chisel tip that just solders like a demon for batteries. Perfect to keep from boiling up those top packs.
Stained glass hobbyists apparently pay less than us. $100 for this item in hobby shops and $80 in stained glass supply houses. $20 savings not much but 20% in my pocket is preferable to me.
This iron replaces my string of maybe 6 $10 irons in 4 years.