What soldering Iron

[Drift]

I am looking for a multi purpose soldering iron kit on ebay, it is to be used for pretty much any jobby that comes along.
I have a little gas soldering iron and to be honest its pants

I would like a kit as they have the magnifier glasses in them and I am in denial that I need reading glasses for close up and the magnifiers look temping

So have you guys any recommendations?

Oh cheap is good too

[vauxsqueeks]

For most jobs you can get a 40w for about a tenner. Anything less can be a bit under powered. It really depends on what you want to do with it. For working on a desk/bench then a reasonable solder station can be bought for about £50 with variable temp settings unless you go up market and costs can go mad. If your working outside on the car then factor in wind etc so 40-60watt would be better.

[Drift]

Mostly inside or in the cab of the car, not much outside.
Cheers.

[ghosthunter]

After some 30 years in the electronics industry the weller soldering station was the staple item but a bit pricey.
A VERY good general purpose iron is the ANTEX XS25. This has large heat sink changeable tips with sizes available for most situations. The tip it comes with is a very useful general purpose tip. The ANTEX is the one I use the most and is the one I use on site and at home.....I have 3 of them. A stand with the cleaning sponge if available and is well worth the extra, it's weighted so it don't float around the bench

[Big Dav]

Ste,I bought the Black & Decker Ci500 craft and soldering station kit, Amazon are advertising it at £22ish at the moment.
Its been great, kids enjoy the woodburning ability too.
I picked up a "helping hands" table stand with magnifyer from a cheapy shop - together the whole lot works well.

[Drift]

sounds expensive
I have to be honest its just for emergency use as luckily where I work I can get stuff sorted professionally that I wouldnt dream of trying (we refit and refurbish forklift trucks)
Thanks for the input

[stretch]

I had one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Decker-Ci ... B000QI329M same as big dav. It's well priced and comes with handy arms. At work I use an antex http://www.maplin.co.uk/productsearch?criteria=antex

You thought about getting a better gas one? solderpro or weller are good, as they're handy for portability, stay away form the battery ones they are only about 8w. Failing that lidl or aldi sell a good one every now and again.

[Big Dav]

Another handy addition to your soldering tool collection would be a "desoldering pump". Really useful at creating nice clean workpiece.

[4x4 bobby]

I got a little powercraft gas one that's been brill Ste what's up with yours mate???

[Drift]

I like the BD one Brian
Might get the Mrs to revive her art degree and make stuff

Bobby, it was a cheapo one from Halfords and just doesnt get hot enough unless you cuddle it and the tip is like a navvies thumb

[4x4 bobby]

Mine sometimes gets too bloody hot, i melted a tip once by accident!

[Drift]

Now your just rubbing it in

[4x4 bobby]

Here's mine Ste.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gas-Soldering ... 3381921fb9

[Drift]

Looks better then the rubbish I bought

[4x4 bobby]

I found it very good value Ste. But mine was only £11.99 from Aldi.

[Rich]

I also bought mine from Aldi http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/sp ... _27230.htm

[Drift]

Booo non in Aldi, thanks though guys, more to it than I thought

[MG Autos (Mark)]

I've got one of these mate http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Point-sn ... 3382007ae5 and if you can afford to spend the extra, they are well worth the money.

I got mine nearly 20 years ago now and it's still going strong. I bought a new tip for it about 5yrs ago but other to that it still plods on and does everything I ask of it and it's great for car wiring as you've got no lead to keep getting in the way.

[4x4 bobby]

That looks a good one there Mark!!!

[MG Autos (Mark)]

They are genuinely a good bit of kit mate I know that the quality of some of the snap on stuff has tailed off a little over the last few years but last time I looked they still sell these new (although they are now branded as Bluepoint) and the design doesn't seem to have changed from the one I bought 20yrs ago which kinda speaks for itself.