Need to do some soldering tools shopping..

I need to buy soldering tools and stuff..
So far, all i got is a solder sucker tool.. that thing with the rubber bulb to suck up molten solder..

give me a list of things for all around soldering of basic to advanced projects

Solderwick, mini snips, magnifier, pen iron, extra/different sizes tips, solder, flux (i luv the smell of that shit).

All I use:

100watt soldering gun (for soldering wires to each other, or larger jobs that aren't on delicate PCB's)

30watt soldering iron (not really that strong, but will work on PCBs without instantly burning them)

Rosin core tin/lead solder (not sure if it's even the best stuff, but it's worked great so far)

A wet sponge helps (to clean the tips iron/gun tips off)

"Helping Hands" (I don't own these. But I really wish I did. They'd come in super handy)

Wet sponge for cleaning the tips like super_chris said. I have found that mini alligator clips can come in handy. I prefer solder wick over a solder sucker, but thats more of a preference to the way you work. I have a 30watt iron and an 80watt iron, nothing against guns, I just don't own one.

I also have this awesome tool, I don't know what it is called, but my Pops gave it to me. It is about the size and shape of a pencil made out of metal, 1 end comes to a sharp point and the end comes to a rounded point with a slit in it large enough to fit about an 6guage wire or multiple 12-16guage ;-)

how do you use a heatsink when soldering? I've noticed the wire I'm holding gets hot as hell sometimes.

your supposed to use a pliers to hold the line so that it absorbs the heat and doesn't fuck up the rest of the line.

heh. I never knew that. I always just went quick and hoped I didn't burn the insulation that bad.

hold the line? what line are you talking about?

The tool EH mentioned is a heatsink, or you can use pliers, needlenose, or my favorite forcepts, If you hold the wire your heating in place with pliers they will absorb heat so the insulation does not burn.
Soldering - HowTo Wiki - a Wikia wiki

I use forecepts. I've got an ass load of them, because everytime I go to the ER to get stitched up, they give me the tools they use. They come in packs and if the patient doesn't want them afterwards, they just toss them away.

Thats the great thing about working at a hospital :mrgreen: I wish I soldered more...