Recommend a soldering iron please.

fretmeister

I need a soldering iron for pickup installation.

I have no idea what wattage I might need or anything. I don't need something I can fix the boiler with, but I don't want a crap one either.

Links would be most welcome!

Modulus_Amps

I have tried a load, I use a Hakko soldering station now, but have had good results with Anteks from Maplin and the likes

25w minimum, I prefer 40w though and just be quick on the pots

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/antex-25w-mains-soldering-iron-fr12n

You can pick up cheaper ones from iron mongers that work fine too though and are good enough for occasional use.

crunchman

25W might struggle with ground wires on the back of pots.  The back of the pot is a big heatsink.  If you do use a 25W one for that then leave it to get good and hot before you use it.  If you get a bigger tip that can store more heat it would help.

I have three different soldering irons.  I've got an Antex 18W I use for building pedals and a couple of beefier ones.  I normally use a 40W one for soldering to the back of pots.

guitarfishbay

I've been using this one. 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-mains-solder-station-n34fb

It is the only one I've owned, and I'm not especially advanced at soldering.  But it seems to work fine.  The most complex bit of soldering I've done to a pot is wiring up a single humbucker strat from scratch with push/pull pot for coil split (so also did the trem claw ground and output jack).  It has worked x2 (tried two different pickups in the spot), so I must be doing it fast enough (e.g. it is hot enough) to not destroy the pot.  As far as I'm concerned that is good enough for what I need to do.

I also find this solder removal pump quite useful.  It works fine for me, though I'm not sure what a more heavy duty professional use solution would be. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-de-solder-pump-n40ch

FelineGuitars

Get an Antex XS25 http://www.antex.co.uk/soldering/precision-range-soldering-irons/xs25/ BUT ...get the #52 big replacement tip that will make soldering to the back of pots way easier as the larger tip stores more heat to transfer quickly without baking the component for too long http://www.antex.co.uk/soldering/replacement-bits/50-bits-for-xs,mlxs/b005260/

strtdv

I use one of these: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/60w-mains-lcd-solder-station-a55kj

Every so often Maplin will discount them to £40

oaf

https://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fx888d.html
I think someone said their Italian arm sell them more cheaply than the UK...

Chalky

I use the Maplin one set at 650F (IIRC) temperature and with lead solder I get a good result every time.

NeilMcG

I was going to suggest a weller TCP 24v/50w like mine, but they are alarmingly expensive these days. That last forever though and all the parts are available to service them.

Sporky

I'd say Weller too. I have two WS51 soldering stations. Utterly dependable, every part available as a spare.

Modulus_Amps

interesting, I have a weller station that needs a new iron, but I can buy a whole new station cheaper than buying the iron, so have refused.
I got my Hakko station for $40 dollars...was very chuffed

TheMarlin

60 watt solder station from Maplin, plus a smaller simple unit for quick and dirty stuff. 

Emp_Fab

If you can afford it, get a Hakko FX888.  They are considered one of the best 'budget' irons among the electronics community.  I paid just shy of £100 for mine.  I bought it from the Italian agent http://www.batterfly.com/shop/hakko_fx-888d
as the UK one was charging at least 30% more for the same thing.  Be warned though - there are a lot of fakes out there - almost every one on Ebay is a fake.  Buy from a registered dealer if you get one.

Bloody great iron.  Soldering is fast and effortless - the bit loses almost no heat between joints.  You'll never need another iron.  Buy cheap - buy twice as they say (and swear at every joint you can't solder properly).

Sporky

That's a relief, Emp - I saw you'd posted and feared you were going to recommend thermite.

bob21

Whilst I would recommend a Weller TCP iron, which is what I use, I recognise for the average user, they're expensive - and one of the main features for me, which is the 'leave it on all day' temperature control, is not necessary for most domestic users.

For a sensible price point, I've always rated the Antex irons - as recommended by @FelineGuitars.. The only thing they struggle with occasionally is pots - but this also makes it easier for the less experienced user not to bake components/jack sockets/insulation etc. You really can't go wrong for the price either!

Roland

For the occasional solder that most of us do I've found the Antex 25, as recommended above, perfectly adequate. 

oaf

Sporky said:

That's a relief, Emp - I saw you'd posted and feared you were going to recommend thermite.

Should I bin my Hakko now?!

FelineGuitars

Roland said:

For the occasional solder that most of us do I've found the Antex 25, as recommended above, perfectly adequate. 

I find that the oversize bit and maybe silver content solder help a LOT

crunchman

FelineGuitars said:

Roland said:

For the occasional solder that most of us do I've found the Antex 25, as recommended above, perfectly adequate. 

I find that the oversize bit and maybe silver content solder help a LOT

I know you have to use lead free in new guitars you are selling but I still have a half a roll of the old style stuff.  I wouldn't want to use it every day but for my occasional use it makes stuff a lot easier than some of the lead free stuff.

chrispy108

I've got this in a box somewhere if you want to chuck me your address? I've never used it as I got bought a solderin station at the same time.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000ELJ0C4?colid=IT409TDZC3UF&coliid=I1FOQ51TEZ7GTY&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl

Modulus_Amps

If it is just for your own use don't use lead free solder, it is probably worse for you to use in terms of results and fumes from the flux....