Desoldering station

[synthiaks]

To everyone half amateur like myself doing a lot of repairs without:

Go an buy one! Even the cheapos from China are soooooo much worth it. Eventually you will end up with an Ersa, Weller or Hakko but the 100€ ones are a good start!

Everytime I use mine I thank Silver Jews (god) for it

Just wanted to say it out loud

S

 

[Gold]

I’ve been using a ZD-915 for the past six months or so. For about $100 it’s pretty great. It works as well as the Weller I had with some qualifications. The fit and finish is not nearly as nice as the Weller I used before it broke. It needs more and constant cleaning.  Getting  the glass piece out to empty and then reinstalled can be tricky. I broke a glass piece before I figured out how to do it. It’s generally kind of cheap feeling. For just over $100 I’ll take it considering the alternatives are close to 10x the price.



If I had to do it over again I’d get the ZD-948. It’s the same thing but the cable has seven pins instead of the six on the 915. There is an American parts supplier for the 948. I had to order the glass from Spain and an extra gun from
Poland for the 915.

 

[synthiaks]

I have the zd-985 but I think they are all the same with small improvements. Mine doesn't have a fan for example. Other than that I have exactly the same experience as You with mine. The gun broke after cleaning at some point but the 915 gun fits also. The first version of the glass tube for the 915 see to be slightly easier to remove than the later ones.

A couple of weeks ago I found a cheap Ersa CT-80 with a vacuum desoldering tip on ebay that is just a couple of notches up to say the least when it comes to cleaning and quality

 

[dbelousov]

The biggest problem with Chinese stations is weak support. They may just drop production and that's it, but a desoldering station needs various supplies: filters, etc. I have an old HAKKO, it was out of production for a long time, but It's still possible to order every little screw. Even half of its chassis if I wish to do so. Any little piece of it. Despite the fact it still works flawlessly.

On every other level, Chinese ones are fine.

 

[Gold]

Desoldering stations for through hole are getting harder to find. Hakko used to have a self contained desoldering station for about $500 new as well as the top of the line which was twice as much. Now they only have the one for about $1000. Same with some of the other common brands. All $1000+. I figure I'll just buy a new cheap one when it breaks. I'd have to go through eight to ten of them before I'm at $1000.

Next time I get a well paying remote gig I'll pick up the Hakko FR-301. I dropped my 808 and the heating tube and tip broke off. Glue didn't make a great repair. I wouldn't risk the Chinese one when I'm in the field and I need it to work.

 

[warpie]

I have an Aoyue 474A+ and I can't say that I'm totally in love with it. Not bad if you do a bit of desoldering every now and then but that's about it really.

 

[Gold]

I have an Aoyue 474A+ and I can't say that I'm totally in love with it. Not bad if you do a bit of desoldering every now and then but that's about it really.

I definitely wouldn't use a cheap one in a production environment or if my income depended on it . Mostly I'm doing DIY and repairing my own equipment so it's fine for that. Like I said above, if i'm out of town doing tech work (which is rare)  there is no way I'm using something that could easily break.

 

[5v333]

couple of weeks ago i bought a new tip and filters for my 808.
its been a very good friend for many years!

 

[synthiaks]

Here in Germany Hakko seem to be quite rare. I dont think I have even seen one on eBay.de ever

 

[Whoops]

People say amazing things about the Hakko FR-301 desoldering gun:

https://eleshop.eu/hakko-fr-301-desoldering-gun.html

Anyone has tried it and can give impressions of this tool against the cheap Chinese alternatives?

 

[synthiaks]

People say amazing things about the Hakko FR-301 desoldering gun:

https://eleshop.eu/hakko-fr-301-desoldering-gun.html

Anyone has tried it and can give impressions of this tool against the cheap Chinese alternatives?

That price is tempting

 

[living sounds]

That price is tempting

Indeed. I will soon recap an entire console I just bought and wonder if this desoldering gun would make sense for a bigger project such as this...

Currently got a Zhongi, had several of those already, they eventually die (pump membrane, electronics) and you have to change the gun since it will start to clog no matter what you do. Cleaning it is a PITA.

 

[dbelousov]

The previous one (808? don't remember exactly) was a beast. They improved all their big stations over the old ones, so it should be even better. 

This Goot should be good as well
https://www.howardelectronics.com/desoldering/desoldering-stations/by-manufacturer/goot/tp100as/tp100as-goot-portable-desoldering-gun-with-case/

I've never had it, but this company's products served me well in the past.

 

[Gold]

I didn’t feel the 808 did a better desoldering job than the 915 I have now.  The 915 works great as long as it’s clean. The 808 needed constant cleaning too.  Maybe a little less than the cheap one but not that much less. The major difference was the fit and finish. The Hakko 808 was much better built. Even after it broke in half it worked when I gaff taped it together. Not as well but it did work.

 

[fazer]

I had a friend buy me a hakko for recapping his focusrite Red 6.  I could not be happier with through hole desoldering.  It made the job go easy on some 60 plus caps and was easy to clean.  The tip can get clogged but usually because it’s not at work temperature.  I was reluctant to buy one myself.  I think it was about $300 or so.  I now wonder why I didn’t spring for it earlier.  No experience with China ones.  I did buy a Chinese SMD heat rework station.  I got through three jobs but there is more to it with solder masks and things.  I’m learning.  I’m sure the expensive ones are better but mine cost $75. And you got start some where.

 

[Ricardus]

I need to get one. I was just going to go with the Hakko.

 

[Whoops]

the previous model was the FR-300:

https://www.batterfly.com/shop/en/hakko-fr-300

Is seems the FR-301 is the new model. I normally prefer to pay a bit extra and get equipment from a well know and supported brand than I can get replacement parts in the future than an unsupported cheap product from an unknown brand.
But saying this not all Chinese products are made the same, and quality has improved in some areas

 

[synthiaks]

here is a picture of the old Ersa i bought cheap on eBay. It feels like impossible to clog as the whole tube and tip gets enough heat. It's mounted on one of the old CT-80/81 irons. You can still get rubber gaskets, tips and filters for it. The glass tube might be a bigger problem if it somehow breaks.

But i wouldn't want to bring it anywhere for a job though

I got it with two CT-80s, VAC, Foot pedal,  heather unit and a lot of extras for 150€

 

[Whoops]

Looks good,
I have an Ersa soldering station and it's really good, great iron

 

[synthiaks]

I love Ersa, I have 3 stations now and even the low budget Analog 60 beats the crap out of the cheap Weller we have at work which I hate more than Pro Tools.