Recommended soldering station Canada/USA?

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Okay guys: I move to Canada next week and I am gooing to need a new soldering iron / soldering station. I have always used a HAKKO FX-888D but our electrics run on 240 volts in England so I have just sold mine. I am going to want a soldering station that works in Canada.

I'm thinking a simple Weller as I know they are reliable but if I went for a Solder Station, what should I be looking at? What are the techs here using?

 

I'm looking at this: https://www.amazon.ca/Weller-WE1010NA-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B077JDGY1J/?th=1

Edited August 5, 2025 by Victor (Fret Friend)
To add a link

[Dave Scepter]

I personally do not have any experience with this unit however, it looks like it has great reviews... also, Amazon has a very easy return policy, so you can always return it if it doesn't work out

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

46 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

I personally do not have any experience with this unit however, it looks like it has great reviews... also, Amazon has a very easy return policy, so you can always return it if it doesn't work out

 

Cannot really argue with the reviews and the iron is 70 watts which is bang-on-the-money for me! My last one was a HAKKO FX-888D but all of the ones I've seen listed in Canada are cheap fakes (I made a video on how to spot a fake HAKKO)...

[JGale]

I have this one. Aside from having too many pieces parts. It has served me well. 

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

14 hours ago, JGale said:

I have this one. Aside from having too many pieces parts. It has served me well. 

This is the kind of reply I am looking for? Anyone else got a China-made solder station that serves well? Myself I would prefer something with some weight that is not going to get pulled off of my bench!

Can anyone else chime in? How about Jeff or Greg? You guys use irons...

[velorush]

Ages ago @murkat pointed me to Circuit Specialists and specifically to their soldering stations. I bought one similar to this and it has served me well. They have a variety of different models, none of which break the bank.

They also sell lots of tips and spare parts.

[duncans]

I've used Weller pencils 25-40 watt since I started soldering 50 some years ago. They've held Up well. Still using one.

[Dave Scepter]

1 hour ago, duncans said:

I've used Weller pencils 25-40 watt since I started soldering 50 some years ago. They've held Up well. Still using one.

This is also me~👍

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

2 hours ago, velorush said:

Ages ago @murkat pointed me to Circuit Specialists and specifically to their soldering stations. I bought one similar to this and it has served me well. They have a variety of different models, none of which break the bank.

They also sell lots of tips and spare parts.

Yeah I had a CSI 75w one before (a more modern one with digital readout etc) and it died on me after a couple of years. Emailed them: they weren't much help. I then found out that their stations are generic made-in-China then rebadged...

[hamerican gigolo]

A good Weller SS will suit you for a long time. I suffered for years using a cheap pos Rat Shack one. Life's too short to work with crap. Spend a few extra $ & it will be worth it. 

[RobB]

117v on Amazon. $121.00

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

6 hours ago, RobB said:

117v on Amazon. $121.00

Found it on Amazon.com but it wants to charge $265 postage 🤥

Edited August 23, 2025 by Victor (Fret Friend)

[Jakeboy]

On 8/6/2025 at 10:53 AM, Dave Scepter said:

This is also me~👍

X3… I have been using Weller 40 watters on my amps and guitars for years. Iron, holder, and a sponge.  It just  works well.

[RobB]

On 8/23/2025 at 6:06 AM, Victor (Fret Friend) said:

Found it on Amazon.com but it wants to charge $265 postage 🤥

That is silly. It has to be a mistake. Email Amazon customer service and explain your problem. 

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

9 hours ago, RobB said:

That is silly. It has to be a mistake. Email Amazon customer service and explain your problem. 

Oh, it's gone up to $365/$380

 

 

 

Edited August 27, 2025 by Victor (Fret Friend)

[Dave Scepter]

Yikes!.. some people have more money than sense 😳

[Hbom]

F that crap Vic. Just go to a hardware store in Ottawa. A quick search shows a number of stores. I didn't see any Hakko in my search but Preston Hardware and Home Hardware both carry Weller. 

edit: Hakko in Canada:

HiPi Industries Inc.
DBA PiShop.ca
9-190 Colonnade Rd.
Ottawa ON, K2E 7J5

 

Edited August 27, 2025 by Hbom

[specialk]

13 hours ago, RobB said:

It has to be a mistake.

No, it isn't. Shipping to Canada is horrible through Amazon. 

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

6 hours ago, Hbom said:

F that crap Vic. Just go to a hardware store in Ottawa. A quick search shows a number of stores. I didn't see any Hakko in my search but Preston Hardware and Home Hardware both carry Weller. 

edit: Hakko in Canada:

HiPi Industries Inc.
DBA PiShop.ca
9-190 Colonnade Rd.
Ottawa ON, K2E 7J5

 

Cheers buddy: that's the one for me

[JGale]

18 hours ago, specialk said:

No, it isn't. Shipping to Canada is horrible through Amazon. 

They closed some Canadian distribution centers in response to Union attemps there.

[HSB0531]

On 8/5/2025 at 4:44 AM, Victor (Fret Friend) said:

Okay guys: I move to Canada next week and I am gooing to need a new soldering iron / soldering station. I have always used a HAKKO FX-888D but our electrics run on 240 volts in England so I have just sold mine. I am going to want a soldering station that works in Canada.

I'm thinking a simple Weller as I know they are reliable but if I went for a Solder Station, what should I be looking at? What are the techs here using?

 

I'm looking at this: https://www.amazon.ca/Weller-WE1010NA-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B077JDGY1J/?th=1

See if someone makes a travel adaptor. UK 240v. receptacle to US 120v. plug with internal step-up x-former. 

I looked at the Weller like the one you're considering, the Hakko you have, and the Edsyn:

https://edsyn.descoindustries.com//EDSYN-Catalog/Soldering/Soldering-Stations-Irons/2020/

The Hakko won out and 6+ years later, it's still my favorite.

It's super reliable, and it was used constantly with no problems at all.

But, all 3 companies make excellent solder/de-solder stations.

For me it came down to the price vs quality, and the Hakko won out.

Edited August 28, 2025 by HSB0531

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

On 8/28/2025 at 7:00 PM, HSB0531 said:

See if someone makes a travel adaptor. UK 240v. receptacle to US 120v. plug with internal step-up x-former. 

I looked at the Weller like the one you're considering, the Hakko you have, and the Edsyn:

https://edsyn.descoindustries.com//EDSYN-Catalog/Soldering/Soldering-Stations-Irons/2020/

The Hakko won out and 6+ years later, it's still my favorite.

It's super reliable, and it was used constantly with no problems at all.

But, all 3 companies make excellent solder/de-solder stations.

For me it came down to the price vs quality, and the Hakko won out.

Cheers buddy  I have a step up/down transformer 110-240v and it's in my shipment on the way to Canada. I sold all of my UK tools back in the UK hence why I need a new iron/station. I'm gonna buy the newer Hakko FX888DX in Canada ($180 CAN). My step up/down transformer is for me to use my UK Blackstar valve head etc in Canada...

[HSB0531]

On 8/30/2025 at 1:01 PM, Victor (Fret Friend) said:

Cheers buddy  I have a step up/down transformer 110-240v and it's in my shipment on the way to Canada. I sold all of my UK tools back in the UK hence why I need a new iron/station. I'm gonna buy the newer Hakko FX888DX in Canada ($180 CAN). My step up/down transformer is for me to use my UK Blackstar valve head etc in Canada...

Excellent!