"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine is putting together a middle-school electronics lab, and
wants to get some good cheap soldering irons. I've been traumatized by
some really pitiful soldering irons so I don't just want to go price
shopping. However, since I've been using professional grade, temperature
controlled irons almost exclusively for years I can't recommend any good
cheap ones.

Can anyone recommend a soldering iron that will actually work but doesn't
cost much? I'm thinking of a rough equivalent to the Weller WP-25, but
that costs less than $20 a pop.

Thanks in advance.


This iron costs $25 and works well for DIP down to TSSOP. Along with a cheap
larger iron for big wires and a heat gun for desoldering, it's all I use.
Plus holds less heat than a big soldering iron, lessening damage if someone
grabs the wrong end.
http://www.hmcelectronics.com/cgi-bi...duct/6520-0001