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Solder like a pro!
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items These are all products I use for soldering, desoldering, and general vintage computer repair. I have had a good experience with each and can recommend them all.
I have been using this soldering iron for several years and love it. It heats up super-fast with good temperature regulation. Haven't even had to replace the tip yet! A great option if you are on the market for one.
Weller 70W Digital Soldering Station WE1010NA
This is the desoldering iron to get. I love mine and have never had a problem with it. A must have for removing chips without damaging contacts.
FR-301 Portable Desoldering Tool
One of the best purchases I have ever made. Great for heating up chips for removal when solder remains after desoldering. Works like a charm! Super quiet and fast heating. Love it.
YIHUA 959D-Digital Hot Air Rework Station
This is my first oscilloscope, and I love it. Very easy to use. Great quality. I use it all the time for vintage computer diagnosis and repair. Highly recommended and well liked in the community.
Siglent SDS1104X-E 100MHz 4-Channel Oscilloscope
Kester is a great brand of solder and what I have used for years. It works great and is high quality. It is a bit more expensive than other brands, but the quality is worth it.
Kester Solder Wire
I had a hard time finding a sturdy stand for my Hakko desoldering iron. This works great!
Hakko 633-01 Soldering Iron Holder w/ Tip Cleaner
A must have for removing dirt and grime from a circuit board or computer surface. I swear by 99% IPA and this is the brand I buy.
Swan Isopropyl Alcohol, 99%, Pint, 16 OZ
I use this air purifier in the room when I solder. It has both HEPA for particulates and charcoal for fumes. Highly recommended. Filters last about 6 months. Super quiet on medium speed setting.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH HEPA Air Purifier
I use this to absorb immediate soldering smoke. Works great when nearby. Highly recommended as an inexpensive solution. Complements the Coway HEPA filer I also listed.
Hakko FA400-04 Bench Top ESD-Safe Smoke Absorber
A good multimeter is essential for circuit board diagnosis and repair. I use a Kaweets and have been very happy with it.
KAIWEETS Digital Multimeter
I have been very happy with this soldering mat. ESD rated for dealing with static so you don't zap your circuit board. Works very well.
Weller ESD Mat, Grey
Flux is essential for some soldering tasks like working with surface mount components. This is the one I buy.
CHIP QUIK NC191 No-Clean Tack Flux 30cc
I love these cutters. Tough and able. A use them all the time for cutting through wire, components, and even thin metal sheets.
Weller ESD Safe Shear Cutter, 127mm Blue
I use this for wrapping wires in a protective sleeve. Comes with heat gun.
Heat Shrink Tubing Kit with Mini Heat Gun
This high temp tape is great for positioning and protecting wires or components on a circuit board. Easy to use.
High Temperature Tape
A highly recommended solder wick brand. I have been very happy with it. Good quality.
Chip Quik Solder Wick
Contact cleaner is a must for making sure chips have good contact with their sockets. I have fixed several computers using this stuff. I usually buy WD-40 brand.
WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner Spray, 11 oz.
These are very useful for holding wires and other components that you need to solder together hands-free. Silicon is nice to work with for this purpose.
YIHUA S200 Blue Heat-Resistant Silicone Soldering Wire Holder
A tip cleaner is a must have for making sure you are using clean soldering iron tip.
Weller Brass Sponge Tip Cleaner w/ Silicone Holder
Always good to have some extra tips around. The different sizes and shapes are useful for different kinds of soldering.
Solder Tips for Weller ET Soldering Iron
I have this set of tools and use them all the time for a variety of soldering and electronics tasks such as lifting chips off a circuit board.
Kaisiking Double Sided Soldering Tools
A useful tool for pulling IC chips off a circuit board. I use mine all the time.
NOYITO PCB IC Chip Puller