On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 22:22:47 GMT, Rich Webb
wrote:

On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 12:13:00 -0700, Tim Wescott
wrote:

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.

www.circuitspecialists.com has some that look reasonable, although not
under $20 they are temp controlled[*] and have holders. One is about
$30 and the other about $35.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/4230
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307

* it says "adjustable output" so may be open-loop control.

I've purchased from them in the past (and also under their other link
www.web-tronics.com) and they seem reputable. YMMV

Circuit Specialists is a good outfit... been around for a long time
(33 years), and they're in my neighborhood (Mesa, AZ), about 20
minutes away.

About the only place in the Phoenix area to buy **real** parts.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.