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I thoroughly recommend new solderers (or disappointed longer DIYers) buy 2 crucial pieces of better quality gear: Get an Elsyn Soldapult & a 35 Watt Weller iron - you wont be as sorry as I was for using RS gear of these types for years to save $. I recommend Steve @ Small Bear Electronics, bought stuff from him since 1999.

Revelation: opening the Elsyn Soldapult package, I saw 3 words that are sheer magic, gearwise: Made in USA

The extra $ is well worth it; the threads on my (2nd) RS Soldavac broke after 3 mos. Opening it up, they had the thinness & consistencey of spun sugar

RS irons might be OK for your very first first forays, but, I 'd recommend getting both am Elsyn Soldapult & a Weller 35 watt iron as soon as you can afford them.

I still use my Radioshack soldering iron. I bought it at least 10 years ago though. Its not the best, but I have gotten very used to it.

It definitely pays to spend the money on good quality soldering/de-soldering equipment, cheap equipment is often a false economy...

I ended up replacing my Dick Smith Electronics 100 Watt Temperature Controlled Station with a Duratech TS-1390 60 Watt station I bought from Jaycar Electronics, reason for the replacement....the 100Watt Station needed a replacement iron and I couldn't source one anywhere....