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If you want a cheap station, can't get any cheaper than this;http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__24790__Soldering_Station_with_Adjustable_Heat_Range_with_US_Plug.htmlHere's a review on it;http://www.eevblog.com/2014/03/30/eevblog-596-worlds-cheapest-soldering-station-yihua-936/As far as what you can do with a vacuum tube, there's not much other than specialty applications like microwave or x-ray transmitters. Vacuum tubes are still used in those applications even today. A vacuum tube most generally does the same job as a transistor. You might be able to use the through hole resistors and capacitors for something, but even those use old technology that consumes a lot more space than modern parts.For removing large amounts of solder, a solder sucker will work the best there. For finer work with small amounts of solder, desoldering braid is the best. For rework on modern electronics, you would use a hot air rework station, but those are pretty expensive so it's not something you would buy unless you do a lot of rework.
Very cheap but good. I used this before I got something much better. Did some work on my bass guitar.http://www.parts-express.com/stahl-tools-ssvt-variable-temperature-soldering-station--374-100Also which tubes do you have? A lot of amplifier guys would love to get their hands on those.
Thanks for the link oleskool. I will check it out. As far as the tubes go, my father in law has two big boxes of them. I did not go through it because I have no use for tubes. I could check when I go over there today. There are quite a few to go through. You looking for something in particular?BTW welcome to the group!!
Tube amps are sort after and solid state amps can't compete with the sound of a tube amp.I have a Circa 1965 Ampeg Gemini VI guitar amp which I bought back in the day. I recently replaced all of the tubes except one (7199) that they don't make any more but used ones can still be found. They have a substitute tube (6U8A) that requires a pin wiring change. Just haven't got around to it.Most tubes are made in Russia and China.I also replaced all the capacitors and resistors. Sounds fantastic. Nothing like a tube amp.
I totally forgot about that. A lot of musicians still prefer tube amps so there's that modern application for them as well. They use the exact same tubes as the old HiFi systems did. A 200W HiFi amp was my first electronics project when I was a kid and it had tubes, some monsterous looking ones in the final output stage. I should have kept it for posterity, but I didn't.
I mentioned the tubes to some friends that are in bands and they started asking for specific tubes....I have no clue what I even have in these boxes.... HELP
You'd actually do better with that cheap Chinese one than the Weller unit you linked to. The reason is that Hakko knock-off can take the high quality Hakko tips. The Weller unit you linked to does not take high quality tips and a big part of soldering well is in the tip.If you want to save your nickels for a better station, you should look for a Hakko FX-888D. Weller makes an inexpensive quality station, but the one that's equivalent to the FX-888D is about 50% more expensive (WESD51). The quality is probably better with the Hakko.There's some other Chinese stations that are similar in price to the that Weller unit you linked to and those might be a little better than the one from Hobby King. The brands are ones like Aoyue, Tenma, Atten. Though they're are all made in China and the quality may not be much better, Hobby King just has the best prices on stuff from China. Weller is US made and Hakko is Japanese made.