SMD soldering iron / station, fine tip - budget

[sn4k3]

JBC also have a new analog station in a budget (JBC - BT-2BWA)

I'd bet $$$ that the T210 (micro iron) would work with it as well. 

BTW, how are the ergonomics of the TS100?

Yes, it's just like the digital version but in analog style, still i prefer to see real temp on a LCD, i have bad dreams with analog station faking their temp and unable to solder my joint
TS100 design is a bit odd and from first view seens not ergonomic, but the true is it's comfortable to use, you can use it like any other pencil iron and also you can use it from any side, i use with buttons facing up and grab like i grab a pen or other iron, when soldering you forget it and barely fell the iron in the hand. Make sure to use a light dc power coord with some lenght, silicon cable will do the work just fine. For the price it cost it worth the try, thats why i have adquired one with full set of tips. TS-ILS with 0.15mm perform extremely good. It outpreform ERSA 0.2mm, 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm tip (Not optimized versions, only new 0.3mm optimized ersa tip is good). TS-ILS and TS-I finer tips have good thermals and can solder leg to leg melting solder only at end of the tip.
TS100 have a screw to lock the tips, but is not necessary to use, the connection on terminals are strong and tip will not move, so for fast swap make sure to not tight the screw or remove it
You can also touch the bottom tip ring without burn your finger, the tips are good optimized. The advertised features are not a lie.
I'm sure this outperform Hakko T12 clones. A station based on TS100 would be awesome

[illusive]

Hi to everyone,
I'm in the same dilemma, i cannot choose the right soldering iron for my DIY soldering station. I'm also going to solder mostly SMD stuff, not the finest and the smallest but still i will need a good selection of iron tips.

I know that the JBC T245-A is farely popular choise, easy to implement, good quality and good choise of tips. The other popular solution is the hakko handles and the T12/T15 tips. But i just can't justify for myself the price that i need to pay on these products.

The only other iron that caught my eye is that one https://www.tme.eu/bg/details/sp-90b-iron/poyalni-stantsii-rezervni-chasti/solder-peak/ The station that it is used with is in the link bellow it.

It has good selection of tips good handle in my opinion. I just can't figure out does it use a thermocouple for sensor or does it use the resistance of the heater for sensing. Is someone familiar with that station to give me advice?

Thanks!

[Shock]

The only other iron that caught my eye is that one https://www.tme.eu/bg/details/sp-90b-iron/poyalni-stantsii-rezervni-chasti/solder-peak/ The station that it is used with is in the link bellow it.

Solder Peak SP-90B might be a rebadged Atten AT-90DH (Chinese brand). Tenma rebadge Attens also. Solder Peak also uses Zhongdi (another Chinese brand). Atten probably copied the original designs from other stations so buy at your own risk until you know the full story.

[illusive]

Yes, there are many rebrands, i just can't find information wether the iron uses thermocouple or not.

[stj]

that one does i think, it looks like a clone of a weller - atleast the tips look that way.

it's far to expensive though,
i know you already know this, but if your spending over 20€ you really want all-in-one cartridge tips like T12 or JBC.

[nanofrog]

that one does i think, it looks like a clone of a weller - atleast the tips look that way.

it's far to expensive though,
i know you already know this, but if your spending over 20€ you really want all-in-one cartridge tips like T12 or JBC.

Found the full station on TME.eu (SP-80B), and it definitely looks to be a clone of the Weller WD1 & WSP80* IMHO. There are also Chinese made LT series clone tips available now as well (i.e. eBay).

* For disclosure, I own both as well as the WMP and the stop-n-go stand that allows me to use the full range of setback features (without it, a timer is all that's useable).

...costs of JBC... and other options...

Regarding costs, a new WP80 (newer version) is more expensive than either a JBC T245 or Hakko FM-2027* handpieces.

And regarding tips, Hakko's would be the way to go as they're top quality and the common profiles (chisel, hoof, ...) are less expensive than JBC's, and are on par with the Weller LT series tips not made in Bosnia (BTW, Bosnian made tips have ~ a 30% failure rate IME). The US, German, or Japanese made tips do not have this issue, but they do cost more.

For cheaper than this ^ but still get decent stuff, you'll have to go with used.

* There's currently an open box version that includes the stand (switched type that can connect to your DIY station for full setback features), and a brass wool cleaner. New is $20 more. Oh, and this is before the 6% off for EEVBlog members for anything you buy from them.

All this said ^, you'd actually be cheaper to just buy a Hakko FX-951 IMHO as by the time you get all the pieces/parts (i.e. transformer, enclosure, and stand), you'll likely be at or even over the cost of a new one (assuming you're in the US/CAN as your location isn't listed below your userID).

• Demo Unit ($183.80 after the discount)
• Brand New ($222.30 after the discount)

Oh, and these have a manufacturer's warranty.

Used for the iron and stand could possibly get you around the cost of the demo unit, but it may be a long wait.

The only other suggestion would be to get a T12 soldering station kit, a suitable SMPS PSU that will fit (24V @ 3A), aluminum enclosure, stand and tip cleaner. Previous post that has links to this stuff.

The handle that comes with the T12 kit or ready-made station (also linked) will use genuine Hakko T15 series' tips (T15 replaced the T12 series, though I suspect it was really just a P/N change to differentiate the genuine article vs. the clone/fake T12 stuff that's available).

[illusive]

I just can't find conclusive information about the 90W iron.

Here it says the the iron uses 220V:
http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/bc0024434/soldering-iron-220v-90w/dp/2535181
datasheet - http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2037300.pdf?_ga=2.36400296.98810545.1508409025-1164816491.1508236072

But in the station datasheet it says 24V output voltage 
http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/at-90dh-eu/soldering-station-90w-220vac-eu/dp/2535179?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce
datasheet - http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2032714.pdf?_ga=2.98267031.98810545.1508409025-1164816491.1508236072

[nanofrog]

I just can't find conclusive information about the 90W iron.

Here it says the the iron uses 220V:
http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/bc0024434/soldering-iron-220v-90w/dp/2535181
datasheet - http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2037300.pdf?_ga=2.36400296.98810545.1508409025-1164816491.1508236072

But in the station datasheet it says 24V output voltage 
http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/at-90dh-eu/soldering-station-90w-220vac-eu/dp/2535179?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce
datasheet - http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2032714.pdf?_ga=2.98267031.98810545.1508409025-1164816491.1508236072

It runs at 24V. And FWIW, I see it as the replacement for the WP80, which also runs at 24V.

The only stuff from Weller that runs the heating element at wall voltage are their 900W hot air stations (hint: no transformer between mains and the heating element).

[illusive]

This is the newer version of the station and the soldering iron from ATTEN:
http://www.batronix.com/shop/soldering/Atten-ST-80.html

And that is the iron itself:
http://cpc.farnell.com/atten/bc0027126/soldering-iron-st-80/dp/SD02068

I like that one better, because it uses the standard 900m series tips. The problem is, if it can be called a problem, that it uses the resistance of the heater wire to measure temperature, Atten calls it PTC wire if i'm correct.
Is there any big disadvantage with this method?

This is the heater for the iron:
http://cpc.farnell.com/atten/cbb019217/heating-element-for-st-80/dp/SD02059?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce
Its a dual core heater, whatever the advantages comes with that.

[sn4k3]

This is the newer version of the station and the soldering iron from ATTEN:
http://www.batronix.com/shop/soldering/Atten-ST-80.html

And that is the iron itself:
http://cpc.farnell.com/atten/bc0027126/soldering-iron-st-80/dp/SD02068

I like that one better, because it uses the standard 900m series tips. The problem is, if it can be called a problem, that it uses the resistance of the heater wire to measure temperature, Atten calls it PTC wire if i'm correct.
Is there any big disadvantage with this method?

This is the heater for the iron:
http://cpc.farnell.com/atten/cbb019217/heating-element-for-st-80/dp/SD02059?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce
Its a dual core heater, whatever the advantages comes with that.

Theres also the Atten ST-100 Version: http://www.gratten.eu/atten-st-100-solder-station.html

[thm_w]

It seems like T12 is the way to go for commonality/cost as the tip selection is much better. Metcal tips are $30/ea for me, well worth it but upfront investment is high.

The only thing I see lacking is there is there is no "good" handle available, ie something on par with a JBC or MX1.

I see this handle which looks cool: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Soldering-Iron-Station-Temperature-Controller-Handle-Stand-For-HAKKO-T12/32498356014.html
Although it is an $80 premium over the other units with the plastic handle, and it has no soft rubber grip so one would need to be added.

[nanofrog]

It seems like T12 is the way to go for commonality/cost as the tip selection is much better.

A Hakko FM-2027 handle and T12 tips would be cost effective. (genuine Hakko T15 tips would add a bit @ $10.47 for common profiles, but they'll last a LOT longer).

[Shock]

I see this handle which looks cool: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Soldering-Iron-Station-Temperature-Controller-Handle-Stand-For-HAKKO-T12/32498356014.html
Although it is an $80 premium over the other units with the plastic handle, and it has no soft rubber grip so one would need to be added.

Welcome to the world where stupid people pay stupid money for crap and the quality manufacturers all go broke or hike up the price even further. Because if people paid that much for this station, this is where we are heading.

[stj]

It seems like T12 is the way to go for commonality/cost as the tip selection is much better. Metcal tips are $30/ea for me, well worth it but upfront investment is high.

The only thing I see lacking is there is there is no "good" handle available, ie something on par with a JBC or MX1.

I see this handle which looks cool: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Soldering-Iron-Station-Temperature-Controller-Handle-Stand-For-HAKKO-T12/32498356014.html
Although it is an $80 premium over the other units with the plastic handle, and it has no soft rubber grip so one would need to be added.

that is a 30$ base with the worse iron i ever saw.
i know it doesnt look like much, but this is the most comfortable to use:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Professional-t12-welding-handle-oled-digital-welding-station-modified-handle-FX-9501-handle-silicone-wire-handle/32774926734.html

infact this is a good way to see if you like T12 stuff
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/EU-Plug-T12-Digital-Soldering-Station-Portable-soldering-iron-BGA-solder-station-220V-50W-5-pcs/32786830474.html

[thm_w]

A Hakko FM-2027 handle and T12 tips would be cost effective. (genuine Hakko T15 tips would add a bit @ $10.47 for common profiles, but they'll last a LOT longer).

Yeah that is probably the best quality handle atm, would need to change the connector over from Hakko to the threaded style.

that is a 30$ base with the worse iron i ever saw.
i know it doesnt look like much, but this is the most comfortable to use:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Professional-t12-welding-handle-oled-digital-welding-station-modified-handle-FX-9501-handle-silicone-wire-handle/32774926734.html

infact this is a good way to see if you like T12 stuff
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/EU-Plug-T12-Digital-Soldering-Station-Portable-soldering-iron-BGA-solder-station-220V-50W-5-pcs/32786830474.html

Its the slimmest non-plastic style I could find, but yes its base is no different than the others.
I will try the first handle, thanks for the suggestion.

[nanofrog]

Yeah that is probably the best quality handle atm, would need to change the connector over from Hakko to the threaded style.

The Hakko just uses a female DIN connector. 

Less work and would look cleaner IMHO.