I have the same one. Haven't had the chance to fire it up yet. I'm working on another arcade stick and then some Game gear repair. I realized it had the flat tip when I opened it up and I think I might have to get a conical/pencil tip. The pads on the PS2 controller are really small and I'm going to have a rough time if I don't change it.Bikeage wrote:I was in a similar situation, and after a bit of research I got the WLC100, and have not been disappointed. The many positive reviews convinced me to give it a shot, and It's handled every project i've thrown at it... basic stuff, but always "enough tool for the job".I have a cheapie high wattage solder iron I got from Harbor Freight for $5 but I've been wanting to get a proper set up going with a lower wattage iron. I've read 15w is good for electronics. Is this a good one to get considering price and quality?
And it being a reasonable price makes me less hesitant to upgrade at some point, because as you progress you may tackle projects that require higher quality equipment. But for basic circuit board soldering i've been very happy with it.
One last thing, make sure you get the ST7 conical tip from Amazon also! The SLC100 only comes with a "flathead" tip, which is usable, but I found the conical tip MUCH easier to use when precision was essential. You may be able to use another brand tip, but I played it safe and just ordered the Weller brand.
benf
In terms of practicing - ripping apart old PCB's from DVD players and such is always a start. I know you ruined your stick, but that may be a good thing to keep practicing your skills on (soldering / desoldering components). My biggest problem has always been keeping the iron clean. I know a lot of the other posters here have way more skill than me and I'll be picking up tips as well.
