After my Ascend PCv3 build I came to 2 stark realizations.
1.) I love the building aspect of this hobby and I want to start building more.
2.) If I am going to start building more, I need some new tools!
After talking to MH for a long time about it, I decided to pick up a new soldering station!He recommended a few options, and I ended up deciding on this 50W Iron from Sparkfun:
Soldering Iron Variable Temperature 50W I also picked up a few other goodies from Sparkfun, which you can see in the second image. Overall I am extremely happy with the purchase and the performance of the iron. It heats up in under 30 seconds and is small enough for me to keep on my desk. I do all of my building in my small colelge apartment, so I truly appreciate the compact aspect of the iron.
Oh, and it is compatible with Hakko tips, such as
this lovely assortment for $8 prime shipped on amazon!
Anyone looking for an effective and affordable iron should definitely consider this one from Sparkfun. Its $45 and you get free shipping if you spend $60+. Otherwise shipping is $12 from Sparkfun, so essentially you can just add $15 worth of "free" stuff to your cart and then get free shipping. Its truly a critical investment that all budding sabersmiths should make if they are serious about getting into building sabers; it really makes a huge difference in the quality and ease of your builds.
I hope this was helpful, and I welcome any questions people may have!