To negotiate the best possible price for our customers, we agree to hide prices prior to logging in.
59 requests
Product Description
For even heating and precise control on all of your DIY projects, check out this Elecfreaks Soldering Iron Kit. The main component requires just 20 watts of power to achieve 40-watt performance, making it far less demanding to power up Read More
Anyone who is considering this soldering iron for working with modern electronics is going to be in for some big disappointment (I've been soldering for decades). It has a fat useless chisel tip with no mention of replaceability nor compatibility. OLED temp display that may or may not be readable; off-axis viewing of some OLED displays are poor. No photos show the OLED display in action.
I fail to see the deal here... The Weller RampantBiologic@ linked to is outstanding and very well built. The Hakko soldering irons are also quite good and are much better quality than this deal.
Am I the only one who's amused by the "Your first soldering iron" on the box. Yes, this will be your first iron because you'll quickly realize that you need a better second one. This is a big cautionary PASS.
$100 or $130 MSRP for a very basic almost noname soldering iron kit I have to assemble and buy an extra power supply for it? Just because this one comes in a hipster friendly design? Really, I hate these product. Put something in an ugly wooden box, name it stylish and maybe even Organic, multiple the price two or three times and you have just set up a modern business model. Sorry, I will stay with my Weller this time.
RampantBiologicI agree with you - get a pro station used for the same price. it will last decades and there are proper tips and replacement handles available.
But i wouldn't recommend the station you linked. you're better of with a station that has proper temperature regulation (where 280°C on the knob is 280°C tip temperature) - go for something like a used weller wecp-20 - and don't fall for the cheaper magnsastat models where you need a sepereate tip for each temperature. those are not versatile enough for home or small lab work.
mahpI have the Hakko and while I can't speak to the quality of the elecfreaks one, the Hakko is a great soldering iron. The Hakko is a soldering station and pretty much all the bases covered to get you started. I did get a second tip as the one that came with it wasn't suited to my needs but that's pretty much it (There is a rubber cleaner thing that attaches to the stand that i grabbed as well but depending on what you do you might not need it). Where i got mine from threw in a roll of solder so was pretty much good to go as soon as I got it.
Also if this is your first iron you will need to think about any other odds and ends that you might need, like a solder wick and some straight sided cutters, and potentially other tips depending on what kind of work you want to be doing.
leo60228I would doubt it. $90 is still pretty ridiculous for this kit when you can get a Weller or a Hakko (generally top choices for soldering) for around the same price point with Prime shipping from Amazon. I have to concur with some of the others posting on here; this kit looks like it's trying to gouge people who have little or no experience with soldering equipment.
$100 isn't really a 'starter' kit. I paid $20 for an analogue kit and used it to solder countless small electronic components to various pcbs (including 40 pin sockets). You don't NEED the $100 digital kit, at least until you know whether or not soldering is your thing. If you WANT the fancy $100 digital kit there are far better options out there than this.
what is the temp range? i work with Lead free solder and would need to achieve higher temps than most 20watt irons. 700-800 F is idea.
and does it come with a lead free compatible soldering tip?
bigguybbq
May 23, 2017
anonomousI thought lead-free solder was 423F +/- 5? Not much higher than "regular" 60/40 solder, but typical lead-free solder does require a very consistent temperature in a narrow temp range (hence, this iron might be great)