I've been feeling guilty for a while here, as I have tuner kit #6 sitting on a shelf unassembled. I'm hoping to fix that this weekend.

Assuming I head to frys to pick up a soldering iron, which one should I pick up? I'd like something decent enough to get me through the tuner kit without wishing I'd bought something else. I don't really want to spend too much on one either...

Any sugestions on price ranges, or features?

Matthew

While I'm pretty confident I could do a tuner kit with something simple like this as long as the tip is fresh, since it's all through-hole components (I have a very similar - if not identical - with a very worn tip (to lazy to go hunt down a new one ) that sees use only on rough stuff like wires etc.
Somewhat nicer would his be
Really nice would be a temp. controlled soldering station and Weller makes nice stuff: example

I bought something similar - noname - at an autoparts store for about 1/4 of the price - I don't do enough soldering to justify a WEller... Has served me well on a tuner kit as well as some knob kits (SMD) and color modifications on all knobs and buttons of my car...

Whatever you get - get a sponge so you can keep the tip clean (included in the station, se the pic). A desoldering sucker is handy if you make a mistake - and some desoldering braid to get any remaining solder the sucker didn't get.

I'd say it depends a lot on if you intend to do surface mount components in the future - then definately get a temperature controlled iron/station - with a very fine tip. There should be a range of tip sizes available for the iron in question...

Soldering irons have been discussed before on the BBS, here are two threads, but not the one I was really thinking of... Seems my search fu is weak... THread 1 Thread 2

/MIchael

FWIW - I recently bought the digital version of that Weller temperature controlled station (WESD51) for $99 after $20 rebate. I bought it from WASSCO (online). Nice unit. Can't believe I waited so long to get a temperature controlled iron.

Naaa Go all out and use one of these babies they can solder the whole tuner with one touch

http://www.edmo.com/s14/D650.asp