Soldering iron / kit for electronics.

Frozen_up_north

Temperature controlled irons are a waste of time. The soldering stations, such as the Weller WE1010, are aimed at work benches where they are turned on at 0830 and off at 1700. The WE1010 can reduce the temperature after sitting idle for several minutes to help preserve the tip (the tips can oxidise if left at 370C for a long time). You can easily swap bits on the WE1010, as you can with the Antex irons. Use a large bit for better heat transfer, etc. Avoid the temptation to wind up the temperature of a soldering station to solder a large item…
I worked for a multinational electronics company, both as a “bench tech” and later as a systems engineer. We used Weller TCP soldering stations, they were fairly crude by modern standards, with a magnetic switch and a magnet in the bit, when heated a magnet looses its magnetism (Curie effect).

Eyeful

1. Your husband is not soldering these parts all day every day, as on a production line.
 Then he would also be be using an extractor fan to remove the fumes given off while soldering because of .the health & safety, legislation.  In this situation a temperature controlled station might make senesce.

2. Far more important is the skill in making a good soldered joints and I have done this many times without using a temperature controlled station. 

3. In addition to the tools I listed before, what I have found helpful when wiring circuits, is a multi angle vice. This acts as a third pair of hands.
I would much prefer to have this, than a temperature controlled station.

Eldi_Dos

@Emmia

That is a healthy budget you are proposing,  RS are a good company and popular with company buyers for the ease of setting up accounts and their delivery, but lots of the items in the kit you link too will in all probability not be used and their prices are never particularly cheap.

If is was replacing my decade's old soldering iron I think I would go cordless now, for the flexibility they give you.
Something like a Ryobi 18V One+ for around £55  or
A Milwaukee M12 SI-20C 12 volt from Screwfix for around £129.
Then a good sized soldering mat to protect your furniture or worktops along with a small fan.

If you got that basic set up your OH can then have a bit of fun researching and sourcing the tools required and would be used.

Emmia

OK, in my basket on the CPC website are the following items. Is this a suitable selection for a starter kit (my husband has none of this), and is there anything I should add or remove? 

I can't decide whether a wired iron, or a cordless one would be better (hence why I have both in the list). Would a set of different width tips be useful?  

Basket (with both irons) is well within budget. 

14 in stock WLACCHHB-02 - Helping Hand with Magnifier Manufacturer: WELLER Order Code: SD02823 +  RoHS

34 in stock S582470 - XS25 Precision Soldering Iron, PVC Lead, 25W, 230V Manufacturer: ANTEX Order Code: AN00011 Associated Products Available Add​Line Note

10 in stock 599B-02 - Soldering Dry Tip Cleaner & Holder Manufacturer: HAKKO Order Code: SD02778 Associated Products Available Add​Line Note

857 in stock D01685 - Lead Free Solder Wire, 0.7mm, 100g Manufacturer: DURATOOL Order Code: SD01539 +  RoHS Associated Products Available Add​Line Note

5 in stock T3887 - 5.3" (136mm) Ecotronic ESD Side Cutters Manufacturer: CK TOOLS Order Code: TL17880

5 in stock W025440 - Desoldering Pump Pro Mk2 Manufacturer: ANTEX Order Code: SD01343 Add​Line Note

20 in stock H400020 - ST4 Soldering Iron Stand Manufacturer: ANTEX Order Code: ANST4 Associated Products Available Add​Line Note

192 in stock D03541 - Silicone Soldering Mat, 450x300mm Manufacturer: DURATOOL Order Code: SD03493

22 in stock D03322 - 8W Cordless Rechargeable Soldering Iron Manufacturer: DURATOOL Order Code: SD02290 +  RoHS

uknick

Does he have some decent tweezers?  Invaluable for handling small bits and pieces.  

Newcad

I usually prefer using forceps to tweezers.

Something like these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FT1XQ8DP

You can get locking tweezers, but to me forceps give more control - and being more substantial also act as a bit of a heat-sink to help protect whatever component is being held in them.

As for a beginners soldering kit I got a cheapish kit (wired not wirless) from Amazon a couple of years ago to do small electronic repairs, put new microswitches in computer mice, etc. and it's good. (Not a beginner, I bought my first electric soldering iron in 1972 - at the grand age of 12).

If I needed to get another now (I don't) then I like look of this kit, which even includes a multi-meter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FF9PY8QD

Emmia

uknick said:

Does he have some decent tweezers?  Invaluable for handling small bits and pieces.  

I was thinking of some reverse action tweezers - these are useful when silver soldering in jewellery making.

Frozen_up_north

I'm not sure about the cordless soldering iron. They are pretty useless for most jobs.

Farway

Newcad said:

I usually prefer using forceps to tweezers.

Something like these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FT1XQ8DP

You can get locking tweezers, but to me forceps give more control - and being more substantial also act as a bit of a heat-sink to help protect whatever component is being held in them.

As for a beginners soldering kit I got a cheapish kit (wired not wirless) from Amazon a couple of years ago to do small electronic repairs, put new microswitches in computer mice, etc. and it's good. (Not a beginner, I bought my first electric soldering iron in 1972 - at the grand age of 12).

If I needed to get another now (I don't) then I like look of this kit, which even includes a multi-meter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FF9PY8QD

Blimey, how do they do it at the price?

Like you, no beginner, started 1960, so don't need one now, but if I did need one for some small jobs I'd grab that.

Heedtheadvice

Apart from the cordless iron ( I agree with frozen) and adding a pair of long nose pliers and maybe a small tool box....

You will get  a variety of opinions.....but if I were you I would go with your list!