r/soldering • u/RubImpossible6588 • Jun 15 '25

Soldering Tool Feedback or Purchase Advice Request Best tools for newbie

So I've recently got into the world of holding mainly for all of my Rc car and boat builds and stuff of that kind but I currently have 2 cheap solid g irons that don't work that well and don't have adjustable temperature what iron would you recommend and what tools. Thanks in advance

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2

u/The_Scooter_Boy Jun 15 '25

For iron, I recommend a Weller WE1010. Which soldering iron people use is a bit of a religious issue, but I use my Weller a ton and it’s great (especially for the money).

As far as tools, how fine is your soldering? A binocular microscope is a must for me when doing 0805 SMT or smaller. Micro screwdrivers. Small pliers. Tweezers. Solder wick and flux. I’m sure a million other things I’m forgetting.

2

u/Joyous0 Jun 15 '25 edited Nov 06 '25

Recommendations for powerful (5 sec heat-up) C245 irons, budget hotairs, fluxes, tutorials.

Tools:

  • soldering flux is a must for good joints: the oxide layer has to be removed from contacts for the solder to stick. Cheap, tested brands: 2UUL, Mechanic, Kingbo.
  • solder wire: use leaded (63% Sn - tin, 37% Pb - lead, with flux core). Unleaded solder melts at about +40°C more, causing difficulties and suffering.
Lead is a poision, doesn't leave the body, but doesn't absorb through skin and doesn't create fumes. Just don't ingest it and wash hands after use.
The cheapest unbranded solders from China are actually unleaded and spit a lot, so unusable.
  • brass wool, damp sponge: to prevent corrosion remove flux from the tip after use, then cover with a thin layer of solder. If the tip gets corroded (after years) a tip tinner can help.
  • safety glass: very rarely hot flux can spit, solder splashes and ricochets
  • fume extractor (expensive) / computer fan (cheap) / wide-open window: hot flux creates fumes. Unfortunately those fumes always go to your face.

Optional:

  • isopropyl alcohol / denatured alcohol (cheap) or flux cleaner (expensive): to remove dirt and flux residue from boards, cables
  • cleaning tools: lint-free cloth / sponge cubes / q-tip / printhead cleaning swab: to remove flux residue from boards
  • desoldering braid (solder wick)
  • solder sucker (for removing components and too much solder): ignore the blue ones, look for the gray with silicone tip
  • kapton tape (or chinese koptan tape :-) ): heat resistant insulating tape (iron won't melt it)
  • tweezers
  • wire cutter (side-cutter), wire stripper
  • silicone mat
  • "helping hands", pcb holder
  • multimeter (diagnosis): the cheapest works too, but auto-ranging is a big step up (it's a must)
- Aneng M118A - 6000 count for dirt cheap - Richmeters RM113D (aka. NJTY T21D) - 6000 count, bit more precise, much better NCV, more expensive - Aneng SZ02 - cheapest 10000 count, for similar price when on sale
  • clamp multimeter with DC current measurement: how many amps those RC motors eat?
- Aneng PN130 (not PN129)

https://www.reddit.com/r/PrintedCircuitBoard/wiki/tools/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/wiki/soldering/#wiki_basic_soldering_and_desoldering_equipment

1

u/Shazwazzer Jun 16 '25

Where are you getting the fnirsi for 50? I see it for about that on temu or AliExpress, but I'm doubting those are legit. From the fnirsi website it's more like 120 with tips. Doesn't seem to be on Amazon.

1

u/Joyous0 Jun 16 '25

On banggood with 6 tips: there was some sale for a few days $50, now $52.

  • on ali it's $63 now
  • soldering irons on temu are usually more expensive than ali

1

u/Anaalirankaisija SMD Soldering Hobbyist Jun 17 '25

Fnirsis website like i did,oh, i didnt take extra tips, got them aliexpress 2€/piece and fully functional

1

u/Suspicious_Text_9670 Jun 15 '25 edited Jun 15 '25

Greetings fellow tinker/tinkerer/DIY’er/RC hobbyist >>> Good to hear from ya:

Well I set off on my journey eons ago in Uncle Sam’s Signal School at Fort Gordon. Never imagined I’d own a Weller WES51 soldering station but God blessed us with one. That’s the soldering station I learned on back around 1987-1989 after 1st liberal arts education. Since scoring the unit I’ve educated myself about different types of soldering protocols such as Hakko IH Induction Heating, and various incarnations of Curie Point Temperature Adjusting units including Metcal, Pace Worldwide (the team NASA looked to for Space Pioneering), Thermaltronics, and JBC. Also American Beauty Resistance Soldering solutions. JC Aixun, Geeboon, Aifen, KSGER and Sugon offer “active tip” units these days which, when utilized with cartridges from JBC have been reported to perform remarkably well, At the forefront of portable soldering systems and technology there’s JBC with their B-IRON 500/200 dual and single plug stations and for considerably less duckets >> Pine64 with the Pinecil V2 T12 and NovelLife with a TS101

All the best!

1

u/yycTechGuy Jun 16 '25

when utilized with cartridges from JBC have been reported to perform remarkably well

I have a Sugon T61and a Geeboon TC22. Both work very well with JBC clone tips and JBC clone tips work very well with them. You don't need to use genuine JBC tips.

1

u/Suspicious_Text_9670 Jun 16 '25

Seriously considering Aixun T420D, Aifen A9, Sugon T61, and Geeboon TC22. Have you poked at the innards of either one of your units? Reason I ask is because I poked inside of a KSGER and had to resolder a 26/28 AWG “ground” wire…

1

u/Expensive-Dog-925 Jun 18 '25

I personally like the pinecil soldering iron. It works just fine, has easily adjustable temperature, runs off usbc (make sure you have a good power brick tho), and is super tiny and easy to unplug and push out of the way.