If you're on a real limited budget, harbor freight sells a "5 in 1" iron that is 30 watts. If you use the largest brass tip and tin it well, it will solder 8 guage.. just barely. Don't get one of their guns though.. they are junk.

If money isn't the top priority, I would go with one of these stations listed in this order: Hakko FX888d, trakpower tk950 analog, weller wes-51

Weller is the best soldering iron you can possibly get. However, if you re dealing with 8 or 10 gauge wires, you will need 100w+ power. Buy weller use it forever. Here is link;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002I7X7ZS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1416071911&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX200_QL40

+1 on going with Weller. I started off with one of the cheap models like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
and even it has blown away the radioshack models in terms of quality.

Is it me or does the trakpower look exactly like the one from hobbyking thats only $17?

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...h_US_Plug.html

http://www.trakpowerusa.com/solderin...950/index.html

thats one heck of a markup for some trakpower stickers

I picked up a trakpower tk950 at my hobby store a year ago. I couldn't be happier it heats up pretty much instantly

I had to use my trak Power TK60 at the track last night, and it did the job very quickly. My C wire came loose from the motor, and no problem at all. These are perfect for the tool box.

Hakko fx888d never let me down!

Nice catch! The pencils look a bit different but I wouldn't be surprised if the internals are the same.

Hakko in the US

CSI in Europe

the Trackpower is a rebadged Hakko 936, they are identical

Yup, I just did some digging and found that the hobby king station is a Chinese made Yihua branded Hakko 936 knock off with cheaper build quality and transformer. So while it may work ok for a $20 station, it's not the same as the hakko 936 and therefore the trakpower as well.

For that price I would give it try. Nice find dude.

I'll say that I only need to solder occasionally, but when I do it's either large gauge wires, or very fine work. I picked up one of the chinese clones with the digital display about 3 years ago. It came with 5 different tips and they are standard with other brands so replacements when needed will be easy to find.

I've had no issues with it other than trying to tackle a job that probably is too big for a 60w station.

I'd say the best thing to do is find one you're happy with that has interchangeable tips. I use the chisel for most general stuff, one fine tip for the small wires and another fine tip for my plastic hole repairs (put a bit of similar plastic in the hole and on a heat setting just above melting point, fuse the shaving to the hole).

This is a new brand to me. How well does it work?

I haven't had success with that melting much of anything.

$8 for a 60W iron. It's what I use. You can't beat it.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPR36

TrakPower is an overpriced clone.

well i dont know. I have the weller wlc100.

mcm electronics is a place that sells tenma brand electronic test equipment. I hope its decent considering all the stuff tenma makes. They also make a analog unit like the others in this thread for about $35.
mcm has been around for a long time so im surd replacement tips and irons will always be available