Those cheap "adjustable temperature" irons are "adjustable power" with no actual temperature feedback control.

The middle ground is the Pinecil, which is $25 but needs a laptop power supply.

It's… okay. It has less than half the heat transfer rate compared to the Weller, but it at least won't burn pads off your PCB.

Yes, I actually do have an iron similar to the one I posted. I like it, but I typically leave it at its highest temperature (which, as you state, just means full power).

The problem is that bad soldering irons are infuriating. I started with super cheap one and it didn't work at all. I upgraded to $20 adjustable one that worked for a while but is inconsistent. I thought it was my bad technique until this thread but sounds like it is the quality.

The $25 Pinecil sounds good and is probably your best option. I may go for soldering station since I can afford it.

Thanks. The Pinecil comes out to $60 with the $35 shipping to my corner of the world. )) Other than that it looks terrific. If I'm ever in the US or Europe and I can receive mail, I'll try to order one.

Thank you.