> -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ian > McLaughlin > Sent: 01 August 2015 22:44 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > Subject: Re: This Hobby Is Actually Useful! > > > > On Aug 1, 2015, at 2:24 PM, Robert Jarratt <robert.jarr...@ntlworld.com> > wrote: > > PS A related question. I struggled somewhat with the Weller Magnastat > > No. 8 tip, when trying to solder leads to the ground plane, I could > > not get the solder to stay molten very long. I was using lead-free > > solder, its melting point is much lower than the temperature which a > > No. 8 tip reaches. The iron is 50W. Clearly the ground plane was > > taking heat away, but is it a problem with the tip not being hot > > enough, the iron not powerful enough, or perhaps some operator error? > > Rob, > I would recommend a temperature controlled iron, such as the Hakko FX888D. I > have one and it’s beautiful. It can compensate for soldering large ground > planes by detecting the drop in heat and pumping more power to the tip. > > https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11704 > <https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11704> > > Ian
Thanks for the suggestion, but Hakko appears not to be available in the UK. On ebay I can find US sellers and Chinese sellers. I suspect the Chinese ones are imitations, so I would prefer to avoid those. Regards Rob