I really hope this thread is not what discouraged someone from attempting their project, even if all they could afford was a $15 RadioShack soldering pencil. This thread was meant to be a source of information for people who wanted to upgrade from that type of equipment to something better, within certain budgetary limits.
One certainly does not
need a $100 soldering station to be successful in soldering their projects. In fact, I only recently upgraded to a real soldering station from that same RadioShack 30W pencil iron. For many years, that was what I used, simply because I didn't know alternatives existed. I can't even tell you how many projects I soldered with a 30W pencil iron and 60/40 0.032" rosin core solder. I didn't know what flux was, or how to use it. The bulb desoldering iron was my first real attempt at any desoldering, simply because I never could get the wick I had to work very well. FYI, your hand starts to fatigue after only a couple keyboards worth of desoldering, if you are using the bulb type desoldering iron. For a few dollars more, the $25 Soldapullt DS017 can save you lots of trouble.
The thing is, for $30 shipped, the Yihua is far and away better than trying to learn to solder with only a pencil iron. That is why I keep pushing the Yihua as a budget station. But by no means do I want people to stay away if they can only afford a pencil iron. You can learn to solder (well!) with a pencil iron, but you really have to develop your technique. Practice, practice, practice. What can I say? I did it for years, so I am living proof that it can be done.
Heat up those irons and build something!