Starting out.

[Greg.]

If you are considering getting into this DIY world and need to shell out on some equipment and tools, this could be a starter bargain for you.

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-O...articleId=9611

It won’t last for ever but it would get you started for a bargain price and certainly a solder station is far better than any iron without. Afterwards, with experience gained you would want to move onto something better anyway. This is a cheap way to get started.

[bob orbell]

You cant go wrong at that price, the solder must be worth half the price of the total. BOB

[Black Stuart]

Greg,
it's on sale in Lidls.fr now.

[colin.hepburn]

Yep problem can’t get cheaper than that for a soldering iron kit
I got a chines hakko kit and put my own transformer in it works just fine and the bit are ok to and cheap and last i haven’t had to change one yet.

At the end of the day for me this is a hobby and I’d rather spend the money on the audio gear than hundreds of pounds on test gear. Just to sit on the bench collecting dust most of the time
just to build or recap and amp but I do have a hammeg Scope which has a built-in incircuit component tester handy got it of eBay

[Black Stuart]

Colin,
I also bought a Hakko soldering station. You say yours is Chinese, is that a Chinese copy or a kosher Japanese one? I bought it in the USA for $99. At the time I was living in Spain where the price for the 240V version cost the equivalent of $250. Richard kindly bought a step-up Tx for me and shipped it to Spain - I shan't need to buy another.

[colin.hepburn]

Stuart
Yes it’s the Chinese, knock off 936 with the 907 iron less than £20.00 I have had it over two years now BUT it’s still working great you can now get it for £12.00 complete but with a switch mod power supply fitted

[Black Stuart]

Colin, that is cheap and below the threshold €45 before 20% import tax and €21 Duane charge kicks in.