Personally, I use, for the big jobs, 1 of the radio shack ones, it
supposedly heats up in like 3 seconds or something, it's a gun shaped one,
you pull the trigger and it's on, when you let go it's off,  that won't get
you in tight places, but for normal standard stuff I use it all the time. I
think they still make it, it was like $11 when I got mine, but that was 12
years ago. I have great luck with it,  when I do need tight places, I have a
15 or 20 watt iron, but I need to be very careful with that one, it's not as
easy to use, but I manage with it. I wouldn't recommend the smaller one for
most jobs though, just as an "if I really need it" one. Anyway, that's what
I use, hope that helps,  I hope radio shack still makes that one.
John Miller N1UMJ
Owner of J. E. M. Racing http://home.comcast.net/~jemracing5/wsb/index.html
AIM screen name: JEMracing3
MSN messenger: [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Lee" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 10:09 PM
Subject: help with soldering iron selection


| Folks, I have read all I could find on soldering by blind individuals.  I
| am now looking for personal observations and recommendations on which
irons
| work best.
|
| Given that the material in the smith kettlewel mag is around 20 years old,
| what are the opinions of the list on which irons work best?
|
| Price is a consideration, but not the main one.  I've already spent $400
on
| a resistance iron and had very limited success.
| I am now looking to sell it and try something else.
|
| Thanks for any information you have.