Originally Posted by
asc6000
$30 iron, 25 years old, on it's 4th $8 tip. Does servo wires as well as batteries. Depending on my skill level that day of course. I'm sure those "stations" are nice but if you brain isn't in soldering mode they won't help much. And they are so big, the last thing I want is to haul more than I really need.
Where are you getting tips? I have an old Ungar that I would really like to resurrect. Even being a station it's much smaller, lighter and easier to pack as you mention than the usual modern ones. Went for years on the original tip. May need a heating element too though.