DiyLightAnimation

Fun => The Porch => Topic started by: kbowen on February 06, 2011, 08:53:56 am

Title: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: kbowen on February 06, 2011, 08:53:56 am

Just getting it together for the incoming coop projects. I have been surfing around for weeks looking at soldering stations & caught this on ebay this am. Seems like a good deal. I have been a little confused about lead solder & lead free. Does it matter which station you use ? Are tips different ? Just want to make sure that I get the right thing & this seemed like a nice deal. Thanks !

http://cgi.ebay.com/X-TRONIC-4000-SERIES-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/120574952393?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c12d3c3c9

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: trekster on February 06, 2011, 09:35:02 am

http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=4656.0

Four threads down.

Ron

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: Jeffl on February 06, 2011, 01:40:00 pm

The only thing I don't like about this style is the tip cleaner.  I like the brass solder tip cleaner as cleans the tip and doesn't cool it off in the process.

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: CB on February 06, 2011, 02:26:37 pm

Keep in mind that you can always do what I have done along with others in terms of your tip cleaner.  I removed the sponge and place my brass cleaner near my station.  The the old spong tray becomes my "place" for the current items I am soldering in.  You may also notice in time that a magnifying glass and task lighting is key.  One thing I was able to get ahold of is an old dentist's lamp (off of a chair) it had a 2.5" diameter mounting post which I drilled a hole in my work station and mounted it after attaching a male plus end.  It works great and to be honest it actlly looks cool.  All that I did was ask my dentist if he would let me know when he was gonna replace anything and he gave it to me.  Perhaps I should have asked him for some of the other cool tools they have.

Here is an expensive example of the seperate cleaner:
http://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Iron-Cleaning-Sponge-Brass/dp/B003UY3XU2 (http://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Iron-Cleaning-Sponge-Brass/dp/B003UY3XU2)

Corey

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: taybrynn on February 07, 2011, 12:22:20 pm

Most lead free stations I've seen are 70w (or higher).

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: bisquit476 on February 07, 2011, 12:28:17 pm

Do those brass tip cleaners really work better than the sponge?

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: Jeffl on February 07, 2011, 12:58:24 pm

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Do those brass tip cleaners really work better than the sponge?

As crazy as it looks; I think it works far better than a sponge and it's less headache to deal with.

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: D56VillageNut on February 07, 2011, 08:44:04 pm

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Do those brass tip cleaners really work better than the sponge?

Love mine.  Tip comes out shiny each time and I don't have to remember to "water" the sponge.

Alan T

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: CaptKirk on February 09, 2011, 06:33:25 pm

Would this work as a tip cleaning device assuming it is in brass instead of stainless?
http://www.dollartree.com/cleaning-storage-hardware/mops-brooms-sponges/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Scourers/212c259c259p295985/index.pro (http://www.dollartree.com/cleaning-storage-hardware/mops-brooms-sponges/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Scourers/212c259c259p295985/index.pro)

My Dollar Tree as these in brass I think.

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: Jeffl on February 09, 2011, 07:03:54 pm

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Would this work as a tip cleaning device assuming it is in brass instead of stainless?
http://www.dollartree.com/cleaning-storage-hardware/mops-brooms-sponges/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Scourers/212c259c259p295985/index.pro (http://www.dollartree.com/cleaning-storage-hardware/mops-brooms-sponges/Stainless-Steel-Wire-Scourers/212c259c259p295985/index.pro)

My Dollar Tree as these in brass I think.

Further research shows the brass one might.  I thought I read somewhere that they had flux on them somehow. Let us know if it works.

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: CaptKirk on February 09, 2011, 07:08:10 pm

Well I can ADD flux- that is easy.  Is the problem just trying to repurpose a single tasking item into a multi-tasker?  I don't think I need to pay Hakku's way overpriced $ amount if there is a cheaper way to accomplish the same thing.

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: D56VillageNut on February 09, 2011, 09:06:55 pm

Check out this link for more info on tip cleaning and care  http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/how_to_solder/cleantip

Title: Re: X-Tronic soldering station
Post by: Jeffl on February 09, 2011, 09:15:47 pm

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Check out this link for more info on tip cleaning and care  http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/how_to_solder/cleantip

Thanks for the link.  This helps explain things better.