x-tronic 4000 soldering station

Avs9 - I'm not sure why you need station and not the soldering iron. Do you do any work with surface mount?

180degC iron is wrong. Eutectic 63/37 solder (or solder paste) melts at 183degC and it would take forever to solder. Flux would clean oxidation and then evaporate while oxidation would come back. Proper temperature is 700degF (371degC). You can go higher but then flux will evaporate before completing cleaning job. If your solder contains silver you need perhaps 800degF.

I would recommend simple Weller like that one: http://www.amazon.com/WTCPT-Temperature-Controlled-Soldering-Station/dp/B00004W463/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1335131348&sr=8-18

It has tips marked for different temperature ranges. Typical one for typical Eutectic solder (63/37) is marked 7 for 700degF (you can buy different tips) Iron is 60W and adjusts power switching on and off in precise temperature point. Tip's butt has pressed in end piece made of metal that has precise curie point of 700degF (temp point where metal looses magnetic ability). Behind end of tip is small magnet connected to switch. It works really well - seems to be immune to larger objects that sink heat (solders exactly the same small and large objects). It lasts forever and parts are replaceable. My company uses these soldering irons for at least 30 years.

If you want to work with surface mount you need different set of tools. For removal of resistor's and capacitors you need hot tweezers (two soldering irons will do) and for soldering you need syringe with "no clean" flux paste, very thin "no clean" solder (like 0.015") and small hot air pencil + very small temp controlled soldering iron (assuming practical way, right way requires syringe with solder paste). I assume that you can only do 50 mil pitch. For 25 mil pitch ICs you would need hot air column. 20 mil pitch is out of the question. You also need "no clean" solder wick. For thru-hole components all you need is 60W Weller iron.

Avs9, Hot air gun might be usefull for shrink tubing. I use standard large Wagner heat gun but smaller hot air gun or hot air pencil might be easier to use. If you plan to use different solders (different melting temp) then perhaps you need soldering iron with adjustable temperature (changing tips is less convenient). Look for at least 40W power. When your soldering station has adjustable air flow and temperature for hot air gun/pencil it will be useful in future for surface mount.

Hakko is well known but most likely more expensive. X-tronics looks like a very good bargain especially with magnifying glass lamp. I found model 4040 here for amazing $140 http://www.amazon.com/X-TRONIC-MODEL-4040-Soldering-MAGNIFYING/dp/B003TC8EQS

I also found review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC30-GUbgk4 You might want to find second part of it. His soldering of capacitor requires perhaps one second longer to make solder flow into the hole. I usually solder about another 2 seconds from the moment of melting.

Rodman99999, You should not solder at 180degC. Proper temperature is 370degC otherwise fluxes evaporate and new oxidation will appear (takes too long). Higher temperature is not only to melt solder quickly but to heat up soldered leads, PCB etc. - otherwise solder doesn't "flow". Some Weller soldering Irons use Curie effect to regulate temperature. Standard tip is set at 700degF.

Rodman99999, Yes I used this solder at exactly 700degF and it is no different than standard 63/37 eutectic solder commonly used (melting temp. 183degC). You can follow any advise you want but common in whole electronics industry is 650-750degF.

Kester, one of the largest and oldest manufacturer of solder in the world, recommends 700degF.

http://www.kester.com/Portals/0/Knowledge_Base_Articles/questions-about-hand-soldering.pdf

As I said before - 700deg is so common that it is set as default tip temperature for Weller irons (with Curie point thermostat).

Rodman99999, Can you post link to recommendation from WBT - I could not find any. If they recommend particular tip temperature than I cannot argue with that, otherwise with the same melting point and most likely similar rosin I would follow advice of Kester since they specialize in solder (don't do anything else). I've used quite a bit of WBT 4%Ag solder and it solders perfectly with 700degF - pretty much the same as typical Kester solder.

Rodman99999, Next time I'll try 550. Teflon can be really bad if overheated,especially large surface like frying pan. If I remember correctly it releases Fosgen - a gas that was used as chemical weapon.

Rodman99999, My all cables are either Teflon or foam Teflon insulated. We use at work very thin Teflon insulated wires. It is very difficult to strip ends without nicking wire.

Thanks for the links. Overheated Teflon is really scary. We had two larks that died one after another, bought for our daughter when she was young. The only explanation that comes to mind is common usage at the time of new wonder "Teflon Frying Pan". Our daughter also had constant upper respiratory problems that suddenly stopped when we got rid of Teflon. Now I use mostly cast iron wok seasoned to black non stick layer of carbon and ceramic coated pans. As dielectric, on the other hand, it is perfect. My interconnect have oversized tubes made of foam Teflon - dielectric constant likely close to 1. Capacitance: 5pF/ft.

Getting back to soldering - I would also make sure to use ventilated area or at least small fan that blows fumes sideways. Washing hands is necessary after touching led.