What watt?

[neilli]

I need to get a soldering iron for guitar wiring. My old one was too weak to solder onto the trem claw and would take ages to solder onto a pot casing, but the replacement I got is too damn hot to use easily on the wiring itself.

So, what power should I be looking to get?

[DonP]

40 - 50 watts is usually a good range. You want it hot enough to get in and out quickly. You don't want to sit there all day heating up a pot and melting the insides.

[Ace]

If you do enough soldering one with a soldering station with variable power is a great way to go. Otherwise anywhere between 25-40W I would go with.

[warlok]

I have a Aoyue 936 station. Clone of the Hakko 936 and uses the Hakko tips. It works great and it's cheap. Used on guitars, circuit boards, etc..

[j2379]

i picked up a 40watter a couple of months ago, its great for just wiring you just need to work fast, for pots and grounding to spring claws its great, in and done nice and quick.

[rjohnstone]

I use a Weller WLC100
It has a 5-40 watt range and different tips can be used.
I like the ST7 tip for working on circuit boards, the stock tip works great for most guitar applications.

[larryguitar]

Parts Express often has an inexpensive 10-40 watt variable station on sale for under $20. I've been using one for a couple years with great results.

Larry

[Cygnus X1]

Hakko 888.
Best money I've ever spent on a soldering station, and not very expensive.
Bought one for my son to do precision board work as well.
ESD safe.
Never has overheated even when leaving it on all day.
Still using the original tip after 1.5 years of heavy duty use!

Here is where to buy it:

http://gokimco.com/hakko-fx888-esd-safe-soldering-station.html

[neilli]

Thanks for all the responses guys - very helpful!!

[straycat]

Radio Shack 20 /40 watt here works just fine around 20 bucks.

[cullenszoo]

Radio Shack 20 /40 watt here works just fine around 20 bucks.

+1. My Radio Shack model has an adjustment dial on the side. If it gets too hot I can dial it back a bit. I rarely break out an iron but if I have to this one does the trick.

[Cygnus X1]

For some reason I went through three of those 20/40 RS irons quickly.
Tips kept burning up no matter how well I took care of them.
Hard to find tip also.

The Hakko is still on the original tip and in great shape.