Soldering Irons: Good vs. Cheap
The internet will tell you to go out and buy a Hakko FX-888D ($105) and don't waste your time with the $8 soldering iron. If you can confidently predict you're going to build dozens of pedals I'll agree.
If, on the other hand, you're going to build only a few pedals, or aren't yet sure if you'll enjoy this hobby, you probably don't need more than the most basic tool.
But to be sure, let's articulate the differences between the $8 and $100+ soldering irons:
| $8 Iron | $105 Iron | Will I regret the cheaper one? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial heating time | Slower (~2 min). | Fast (~30 sec). | Not for occasional use, just turn it on to preheat while you prepare other things. |
| Temperature stability | Temperature drops a bit when heat is applied to the PCB. | Temperature remains fairly consistent. |
It won't make much difference for guitar pedal PCBs, but it may require a bit more patience when soldering a pad connected to a large plane of copper. If you follow this guide and learn to recognize a good solder joint, and don't apply excessive heat, you won't have any problems.
If you don't learn how to properly to solder first, however, it'll be easier to burn the pads off the circuit board. |
| Temperature accuracy | Dial (if it has one) controls power, and the temperature setting is an approximation. | Sets exact temperature fairly precisely. | No, it doesn't matter for guitar pedals or most hobby electronics. |
| Life span | Will last approximately 1 year of heavy, frequent use, or much longer with occasional use. | Will last forever. |
If you’re certain you will use it very often, then you should skip the cheap iron.
For gauging your interest or for occasional use, it’ll last much longer than a starter iron needs to and you will get plenty of value out of it. |
| Tip quality | Includes cheap tips which don't last very long. | Includes quality tips which last longer. | Not if you get one like pictured on the previous page, which can take Hakko T18 tips. After building a few pedals and you're having trouble tinning your iron, just get a brand-name replacement tip. |
That last row is worth repeating: eventually you should replace the included tips with Hakko T18 tips. They will last much longer.
An Anecdote
When my old, name-brand iron broke down, I bought and used one of those cheap irons exclusively and excessively for over a year until it finally failed. I actually replaced it with the same one and used it for a while longer before finally switched back to a quality iron.
I'm certain if you follow this guide and learn to solder, and tin your tip, you will be able to build many pedals with an $8 iron before you feel the need to upgrade.