"Jim Thompson" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 16:14:22 -0700, Tim Wescott
wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:


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

Lucky you. PDX has a Fry's and a little local outfit, but that doesn't
count for real parts. I used to live in the Boston area, 30 minutes
away from an Active store -- that was nice, particularly since it backed
up against Future (same company) & you could get non-catalog items at
the counter if you really needed them.

When I lived in the Boston area Radio Shack was a real parts warehouse
(on Commonwealth Avenue) with a will-call counter (only 45 years ago

Here in the UK virtually all the local component outlets have disappeared.
However, there are plenty of mail order suppliers and one can get most items
the next day.

Leon

On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 16:14:22 -0700, the renowned Tim Wescott
wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:


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

Lucky you. PDX has a Fry's and a little local outfit, but that doesn't
count for real parts. I used to live in the Boston area, 30 minutes
away from an Active store -- that was nice, particularly since it backed
up against Future (same company) & you could get non-catalog items at
the counter if you really needed them.

I think Active has been spun off now.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

amen!!!!

bob in phx (mesa really, but who in the outside world knows that mesa and
phx are neighbors.)

"Rich Webb" wrote in message
...
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

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

I did not mention the second soldering station that Rich references for 2
reasons,

1.) Its price was outside your $$ limit

2.) This station is obviously an OEM version from same Singapore mfg. that
makes the Haako 936 BUT with a connector change instead of the Amphenol/Tyco
used by Haako and Circuit Specialists name.

I do know that some Haako dealers aware of this unit are upset with this
offering and were planning to talk to their Haako representative.

gb

"G.Beat" wrote in message
news:Fy6_c.366781$%_6.342952@attbi_s01...

2.) This station is obviously an OEM version from same Singapore mfg. that
makes the Haako 936 BUT with a connector change instead of the Amphenol/Tyco
used by Haako and Circuit Specialists name.

I do know that some Haako dealers aware of this unit are upset with this
offering and were planning to talk to their Haako representative.

gb


If the Hakko dealers are upset about Circuit Specialists, they really ought to
"love" Madell Technology Corp. (http://www.madelltech.com). They have a QK936A
station that not only looks exactly like a Hakko 936, it appears to use the same
connectors. They also sell several hot air stations that look amazingly similar
to Hakko units.
--
James T. White


Note: Remove SPAM-GUARD to reply.

"James T. White" wrote in message
...
"G.Beat" wrote in message
news:Fy6_c.366781$%_6.342952@attbi_s01...

2.) This station is obviously an OEM version from same Singapore mfg.
that
makes the Haako 936 BUT with a connector change instead of the
Amphenol/Tyco
used by Haako and Circuit Specialists name.

I do know that some Haako dealers aware of this unit are upset with this
offering and were planning to talk to their Haako representative.

gb


If the Hakko dealers are upset about Circuit Specialists, they really
ought to
"love" Madell Technology Corp. (http://www.madelltech.com). They have a
QK936A
station that not only looks exactly like a Hakko 936, it appears to use
the same
connectors. They also sell several hot air stations that look amazingly
similar
to Hakko units.
--
James T. White


Note: Remove SPAM-GUARD to reply.

I do not believe thet were as upset with this firm, since the rpice discount
was not as deep and supposedly "one-time" OEM deal -- which as everyone sees
know -- was not true.-- I would not be surprised that some Haako dealers
will drop the product.

GB

"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

On Fri, 3 Sep 2004 22:17:36 -0500, "dh"
wrote:

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

Good stuff. My old 25W Antex is still going strong after more than 20
years! I'll probably buy one of these 15W jobs for the odd SMDs I use.
--

"What is now proved was once only imagin'd." - William Blake, 1793.

Paul Burridge wrote:

On Fri, 3 Sep 2004 22:17:36 -0500, "dh"
wrote:


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


Good stuff. My old 25W Antex is still going strong after more than 20
years! I'll probably buy one of these 15W jobs for the odd SMDs I use.

So what will you use for the normal SMDs?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

In article ,
Tim Wescott wrote:

A friend of mine is putting together a middle-school electronics lab,
and wants to get some good cheap soldering irons.

Remind him to consider the health and safety issues before making
a final decision. In the EC (and perhaps elsewhere) one soon will
only be able to get lead-free solder so the soldering staions will
need to be compatible with this. The fumes from flux also need to
be considered.

The exposure to fumes by a child will likely be minimal but, as
the purpose will be 'educational', there may be a duty to employ
best practice so they end up knowing what a safe workstation is
like.

Charles