Weller SP25NKUS Standard Soldering Black
I've been using Weller soldering irons (and guns) for a very long time. It's a name I've come to trust. So, I wasn't surprised that this soldering iron came nicely finished and defect free.
In general this is an outstanding value. Here are the good points:
- The tip heats quickly and retains heat well.
- The handle stays cool and is comfortable to hold.
- The three LED lights are very effective.
- Extra tips are a nice bonus. (Although, with a Blazer GB2001 Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch (or similar) and some silver solder, a single tip can last a long time.
The only thing that isn't so great is the stand. Soldering iron stands server two purposes:
1) They keep the soldering iron from rolling away.
2) The help avoid the embarrassment that occurs when you lay a schematic on top of them.
The convenient triangular shape means rolling is a thing of the past and the provided stand does nothing to protect your schematics or appendages from coming to rest on the hot iron. For that I've been very happy with this Soldering Iron Holder.
Get your Weller SP25NKUS Standard Soldering Black Now!
I had a drawer full of odds and ends that needed soldering. Without a soldering iron, the draw was getting overloaded until I learned of this nice tool from Weller. This is not the soldering iron you want for projects with big soldering joints. I believe it is best used by people like me: With just small repair jobs. It is also suggested for electrical wiring repairs, but I've not had an opportunity to use this iron for that type of application.
BalasHapusFor instance, I pick up nick knacks and collectables at estate sales and in auction box lots. Sometimes I run across some very nice pieces that are tossed in because they are broken. I have a piece that is enamel on copper and the butterfly broke off from the "stem" on which it was perching above a cluster of enamel flowers. It had been sitting in the "to-be-repaired drawer for years. Even though I'd never soldered anything before, it was still easy to follow the provided instructions and my common sense to solder the butterfly back in place. I may just pick up more items needing solder repairs, just because it is so easy to do. I can pick up broken items for a song, then bring them back to perfect condition. Sounds worthwhile and satisfying to me!
I think the greatest thing about this tool is the LED lighting. It makes it so easy to focus and see what you are doing. And that is important when dealing with small pieces and places. Having had an opportunity to work with this soldering iron with lighting, I would never want to work with an iron without the LEDs. The placement of the three lights is in front of your hand and fingers, and they are spaced wide on the handle, so there is very little shadow with which to deal.
RE: The placement of the LED lights: I once bought a Revlon pair of tweezers because it advertised an LED light, and I thought that was a great idea. But it turned out to be useless! The light was positioned in such a way that my fingers holding the tweezers blocked the light from hitting my skin. So, that is why I think the placement of the LED lights on this soldering iron is so important to mention.
Just so you understand: Solder is not a hard metal and whatever you join is not meant to take a lot of wear and tear, and the joint is never going to be strong to the point that it can tolerate substantial pressure and weight. For instance, that butterfly that I welded onto its stem: It is a light-weight piece. If it weighed a half-pound, the soldered joint would not be able to hold the butterfly up on its stem and it would bend and then break off again. And if someone came along and tried to twist the butterfly's position on the stem, it would bend and break off again.
I found an old extra-large pencil case in which to store the tool, the extra two points, the simple stand and the small amount of solder that is included in the kit. The card on which the soldering kit comes is not made for storage. The iron has a regular two-prong plug on about a 57" cord. The tag on the cord reads: 25W-120VAC, 60Hz.
I highly recommend this tool for small jobs.
We have a couple of fan remotes with ripped wires we were hoping to solder back together but we have no soldering experience. Replacing would be more expensive that the Weller soldering iron kit (we received the kit free to review, however). Using the Weller was so easy that my wife was repairing electronics within minutes with no experience. Everything we needed was included. The super bright LEDs make it easy to see the delicate wires for accurate soldering. The handle is comfortable and allows for easy and precise soldering. It is not much larger than a screwdriver, making storage easy.
BalasHapusOur only complaint is that the cord was too short.
For the individual like us who has very limited need to solder, but for whom being able to solder the occasional wire would be nice, this inexpensive yet effective soldering iron kit is perfect.
I'm not an expert on soldering irons; I only use one from time to time to fix my kids' toys or some other small electrical device. So I can't tell you how this compares to other soldering irons. But I can give you a brief review from the perspective of a do-it-yourselfer.
BalasHapusPros:
1) It is a nice kit that comes with everything you need for small soldering jobs.
2) The lights on the iron are very helpful (though could be brighter).
3) It heats up quick and is easy to hold (it's not bulky).
4) It has a 7 year warranty (it's not an el-cheapo iron).
Cons:
1) There is only a very small amount of solder with the kit (about 24 inches).
2) There is no case with the kit.
3) The cord is fine for tabletop or countertop use, but might be too short for some projects (the cord is just under 5 feet fully stretched out).
All in all, this is a great soldering iron kit for small jobs. I've shopped around for a kit like this before, and in my opinion, it is well worth the price at under $20 (at the time of this review). Recommended.
I am not doing anything professional with a soldering iron so this one is perfect. It heats up quickly, feels comfortable in my hands while using it, and melts solder right where I need it. I do a lot of tinkering with electronics seeing what I can do to make broken TV's or radios work. Most times, just changing out the caps so the tips this Weller comes with are useful, however, I have had a need to do some fine work, which meant I needed to order a special tip which are available at nearly every electronics store, or right here on Amazon.com.
BalasHapusIf you tinker like me or need a good soldering iron for occasional use, I recommend this one. If you do a lot of soldering, I recommend spending a little more and getting one with a higher wattage.
I have been looking for an inexpensive soldering iron to solder jump rings for jewelry that I make. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, since I am not going to use it for electronics, etc. This little guy is perfect for what I need. It heats up quickly, and has a little stand for when you aren't using it. I used it outside, so I didn't notice that the LED lights helped me much.
BalasHapusI'm not sure how often I will use this, as I would need to do a bunch of jump rings at once, since it is a bit of a project to pull this out. I didn't feel the instructions were easy to follow, as I have never used a soldering iron before. I actually viewed videos on Youtube to learn how to use it.
I am satisfied with this, and if you aren't wanting to spend a bunch of money on one, this is a great buy, especially if you are only using it for hobby time projects.
Weller soldering irons have been around forever, and I've been using one for almost as long. It's getting a bit long in the tooth, so I'm happy to have gotten this one. The SP25NKUS is a modern version of Weller's basic iron with the added feature of 3 LEDs in front for illuminating your work. These LEDs are no substitute for adequate lighting, but do spotlight your work, making it a little easier. The soft and comfortable grip has a triangular front end that prevents the iron from rolling about if you're not using the included (cheap, thin aluminum) stand. The power cord is about five feet long, with an effective strain relief. This tool is built to last, and carries a seven-year warranty to prove it.
BalasHapusThe SP25NKUS is Weller's Standard Duty 25 Watt iron, reaching a temperature of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit. I tested it on a couple of small electronics projects using the large chisel tip. (Two other tips of two different types are also included, and, yes, older Weller tips will fit on this iron.) This iron heats up quickly and gets more than hot enough to effectively solder wires to the backs of potentiometers, so it will do anything else I need it to do with ease. Professionals will want to opt for an industrial-grade setup, but for occasional users such as myself, the Weller is quite satisfactory. I do wish that it came with some sort of case, but that's no big deal. Prices vary on these, so be sure to keep that in mind if you're in the market for one. Recommended!
I've been using Weller soldering irons (and guns) for a very long time. It's a name I've come to trust. So, I wasn't surprised that this soldering iron came nicely finished and defect free.
BalasHapusIn general this is an outstanding value. Here are the good points:
- The tip heats quickly and retains heat well.
- The handle stays cool and is comfortable to hold.
- The three LED lights are very effective.
- Extra tips are a nice bonus. (Although, with a Blazer GB2001 Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch (or similar) and some silver solder, a single tip can last a long time.
The only thing that isn't so great is the stand. Soldering iron stands server two purposes:
1) They keep the soldering iron from rolling away.
2) The help avoid the embarrassment that occurs when you lay a schematic on top of them.
The convenient triangular shape means rolling is a thing of the past and the provided stand does nothing to protect your schematics or appendages from coming to rest on the hot iron. For that I've been very happy with this Soldering Iron Holder.
BalasHapusThis is a simple soldering iron from a company known for setting the standard in soldering technology. This is a solid unit, and has several nice features. First the LED illumination is a nice touch that helps do precise work. Also, the extra tips are something you dont expect in a unit in this price range.
BalasHapusWhat I like:
1) It is a quality product from a reputable manufacturer
2) Works as expected
3) Great for simple jobs.
What I did not Like:
1) If you are doing anything more than the most simple solder job, I really recommend going ahead and gettting the Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station. The soldering station gives you much more control over your work.
You will be happy with this unit if you just have the occasional solder repair to do. However, if you are really going to be building a project that requires soldering, you would be well served to get the Weller soldering station.
As always, Weller has produced a good quality product in this Standard Duty Soldering Iron. It works as it should and the extra illumination provided by the LED's is a nice touch.
BalasHapus