best desolder setup below £130?

[cypher007]

looking for a desolder setup as when working on old 8 bit machines using a trigger solder pump is a pain.

was considering the ZD985. anything better at that sort of price or cheaper? ebay uk has the ZD985 but its from spain.

[MosherIV]

Hi

Welcome to the forum.

Try this
https://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d00672/desoldering-station-uk-eu-plug/dp/SD01384?scope=partnumberlookahead&ost=D00672&searchref=searchlookahead&exaMfpn=true&ddkey=https%3Aen-CPC%2FCPC_United_Kingdom%2Fw%2Fsearch
Looks like a Duratool clone of the ZD985

I have one of these
https://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d01849/desoldering-iron-sucker/dp/SD01702

I have bought from CPC a number if times and can vouch they are ok to deal with, they are a subsidury of Farnell

[andy3055]

I got one of these that works great:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Professional-S-993A-110V-100W-Electric-Vacuum-Desoldering-Pump-Solder-Sucker-Gun/182781530383?epid=8011459723&hash=item2a8ea0d10f:g:vpUAAOSwvGZZxJ~t

[Gyro]

Hi

Welcome to the forum.

Try this
https://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d00672/desoldering-station-uk-eu-plug/dp/SD01384?scope=partnumberlookahead&ost=D00672&searchref=searchlookahead&exaMfpn=true&ddkey=https%3Aen-CPC%2FCPC_United_Kingdom%2Fw%2Fsearch
Looks like a Duratool clone of the ZD985

I have one of these
https://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d01849/desoldering-iron-sucker/dp/SD01702

I have bought from CPC a number if times and can vouch they are ok to deal with, they are a subsidury of Farnell

CPC also do the spares, tips, filters, even the glass tubes really cheaply (way cheaper than any you can find on ebay)....

https://cpc.farnell.com/search?st=zd552&aka_re=1

[cypher007]

I’ve got one of the yellow ones I bought from Maplin. Had variable results with it.

The duratool one I nearly bought but one guy on amazon who reviewed it said it was the worst one he’d used.

I don’t know maybe I’ll just have to get the zd985.

I saw another one by auyo I think it was. Has anyone had good or bad experience?

[MosherIV]

The yellow one works for me. I can desolder a 14pin dip chip.

I doubt you will find anything as cheap as the Duratool version of the zd985.
Bear in mind that there are only 2 bad review at 1star and similar for 2 stars, all the rest are positive.
It is a 'value for money' unit. However, I doubt you will get anything better buying unknown units from China.

I read one forum post from someone who rebuilt the gun from similar model with parts from Hakko.

One golden rule is to keep the trigger (vacummn) on for a couple of seconds as you take the tip away, it stops the solder from clogging in the barel.

[cypher007]

so the duratool is on a par with the zd985? if so ill just get that.

[Gyro]

Yes, it is a 'brand name' import version.

You also have the benefit that CPC is a proper UK company, part of the Farnell group. So you have all the normal provisions, returns, warranty, safety assurances, etc. associated with buying from a reputable UK company.


P.S. The best way I've found to avoid clogging is to hold the PCB (near) vertical and the gun horizontal - it sounds odd but is surprisingly natural in practice, it also stops you putting excessive pressure on the solder pads.

One other thing, the ZD985 seems to have adopted a black plastic solder debris chamber, while the Duratool retains the original glass one (which afaik can also be retrofitted to the ZD985 and is only £2.45 from CPC).