Cheap metcal irons

[grenadier]

Ebay has recently been flooded with inexpensive metcal irons.

metcal soldering station | eBay

On a scale of 0 (radioshack) to 10 (weller), metcal is a 15.

 

[T_Warne]

I LOVE my metcal !

When my last one died ( after 10 years of abuse) I tried a Weller. I plugged it in, soldered one connection, unplugged the iron and shook my head in disgust.

I immediately went on eBay and submitted a best offer on another used STSS-002 and my "new" station arrived a few days later.

Once you have used one you will understand. They are simply the best.

 

[TacoHerder]

Is the rod you use the solder itself? or do you still add solder? It kinda looks like a TIC welder setup to me.

 

[T_Warne]

You still add solder/flux, just like a regular iron. The tips are heated by induction and available in every size and shape imaginable. The base is a RF generator.