Author Topic: Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners  (Read 3854 times)

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Offline ullbekingTopic starter

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Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners
« on: March 27, 2018, 04:54:34 am »
Hello!

I've been looking around at the ZD-915 and its clones, in search of a good desoldering station.  I am in the UK, and would like one that has a UK plug and has been certified to work here.

One recommendation in previous threads was the Proskit SS-331 from Farnell element 14.  It sounded great!  However it seems that they only stock the gun now, with no base station.  Their official successor is very expensive, a different brand, and costs about £400.

Would my next best bet be to troll ebay, looking for the SP-1010DR?  Has anybody got any opinions on this?  In the UK, mercateo.co.uk stocks these at about £65... with an EU plug :-/  Is that liable to cause problems?  This seems to be a very "EU" unit, whereas I'm looking for one to use in the UK.

Does anybody have any other recommendations?  Thanks!!

Kindest regards,

Andrew
 

Offline TuxKey

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Re: Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2018, 12:51:13 pm »
Hi Andrew,

i'm looking for the same thing and live in The Netherlands.
As i'm starting in the DIY mechanical keyboard modding i plan to de-solder a few keyboards and don't want to mess around with pumps.
But i don't want to break the bank.. so to say..
My research led me to these options..

Hakko FR-301 sold by Batterfly don't know if they sell it with UK plug but i find it to expensive for €300 without vat.
https://www.batterfly.com/shop/hakko-fr-301

my second option was the Aoyue 8800. directly from AoYue distributor in Germany. for arround €120 + €12 shipping to me probably add €10 for you.
http://www.aoyue.eu/aoyue-soldering-hotair-rework-desoldering-station-preheater-repairing/aoyue-desoldering-station-lead-free-solder/aoyue-int8800-desoldering-station-pump-hand-held-type.html

But after reading and asking around for a solution that's around the €100 mark as that seems to be the budget level for desoldering solution
A couple of guys recommended the ZD-915 also reviewed by Dave on the channel..
I was looking at the ZD-8915 for €120
https://www.eleshop.nl/zd-8915-desoldeerstation.html

i wanted to get a portable solution as i don't have lots of space and when i'm done desoldering i want to store it out of the way.
That's the reason why i was looking at the 8800 from aoyue..
But on the mechanical keyboard forum and chat one guy told me to go for something like the SD-915 because replacement parts where cheap / low cost ;-) ..
I did find one negative customer experience regarding the 8800 on amazon.com also someone complaining about getting parts for it.
So it seems a valid argument..

It all depends on the space you have and the budget you have..
If you have the space i would go for the "Aoyue 474A++" checkout the review on youtube where the guy tests the older model and the newer one .. seems you would want the older model.. if possible..
The reason i was looking for it.. was that it was solid build nice metal body and easy to replace parts.
price is €180

If your'e like me and starting of and want to spend as little as possible but have it serviceable i would go for the SP-1010DR from these guys. it's €70 and a new gun is €16,61 new heating element is €6,24
https://www.tme.eu/en/details/sp-1010dr/desoldering-stations/solder-peak/

from what i have read it's wise to grab a spare gun, one spare sleeve , couple of filters and Nozzles
You don't want to be stuck mid work because of a €1,14 nozzle got to wide ...

It's a store in PL nice low prices and i'm sure they can help you with your UK plug needs.. btw no import fees..
After weeks of looking around i think i'm going with this option.. even if it's to big for me.. i'l just move it after each job..
It's not like i'l be desoldering a keyboard every week.. But i don't feel like spending a whole day on a job and possibly most likely ruining a pcb just because i wanted to save €50.. because i good desoldering pump is also arround €10 and not to mention the hassle and time / pain. 
 
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Offline ManCave

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Re: Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2018, 01:10:31 pm »
Andrew,

EU can be used in the uk with adaptor or just change the plug.

What are you looking to use it for? If you want a cheap and chearful basic device, I once bought this guy



for £8 and it worked pretty good for desoldering most of the stuff including 16-pin DIP packages. It has no temperature adjustment (as you might expect) but might serve your purpose for now and you save some cash to buy a better one when you need it.

Farnell stock it: http://uk.farnell.com/duratool/d01849/desoldering-iron-sucker-40w-uk/dp/2251950


next one up is this one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/80W-Desoldering-Station-230V-480-C-/351206055077?clk_rvr_id=1479967295011&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=twenga&utm_campaign=twenga&utm_param=eyJlcyI6MCwicyI6OTcyMDIzNywiY2kiOiIwMzg1NDYyZDBkNDM2M2RmOTczMTMwNzQ0NTYwODM0NyIsImkiOiIzNTEyMDYwNTUwNzciLCJ0cyI6MTUyMjE1NjA3NSwidiI6Mywic28iOjE1MDAsImMiOjEwOTU1N30%3D&rmvSB=true
 

Offline Cliff Matthews

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Re: Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2018, 03:31:39 pm »
Maybe for $10 this fits the bill for some.. (providing it's still available)
 

Offline TuxKey

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Re: Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2018, 04:35:29 pm »
Andrew,

EU can be used in the uk with adaptor or just change the plug.

What are you looking to use it for? If you want a cheap and chearful basic device, I once bought this guy



for £8 and it worked pretty good for desoldering most of the stuff including 16-pin DIP packages. It has no temperature adjustment (as you might expect) but might serve your purpose for now and you save some cash to buy a better one when you need it.

Farnell stock it: http://uk.farnell.com/duratool/d01849/desoldering-iron-sucker-40w-uk/dp/2251950


next one up is this one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/80W-Desoldering-Station-230V-480-C-/351206055077?clk_rvr_id=1479967295011&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=twenga&utm_campaign=twenga&utm_param=eyJlcyI6MCwicyI6OTcyMDIzNywiY2kiOiIwMzg1NDYyZDBkNDM2M2RmOTczMTMwNzQ0NTYwODM0NyIsImkiOiIzNTEyMDYwNTUwNzciLCJ0cyI6MTUyMjE1NjA3NSwidiI6Mywic28iOjE1MDAsImMiOjEwOTU1N30%3D&rmvSB=true

The next up is the one i'm getting from PL for the same price with shipping and your able to get all supplies you might need in the same order ;-)
https://www.tme.eu/en/details/sp-1010dr/desoldering-stations/solder-peak/
its £61  basically the same one just re branded 
 

Offline OZ1LQB

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Re: Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2018, 06:35:02 pm »
Hi all.
I have the zd-915 for 7-8 years now and it is still good as new.
it has seen heavy use..
BUT if you do buy it you should also buy a handful of tips because
they dont last that long especially if working with leadfree solder..
and if it dies one day i will for sure buy another again.
all the best from denmark
 
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Offline guisveld

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Re: Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2018, 06:09:00 pm »
Hi,

my experiences in desoldering through hole components: I have worked with Hakko 474, Denon SC7000, Aoyue 474+ and the ZD-8915... OK, the built quality of the Hakko is the best. BUT the results, the heating capacity and the suction is the best with the ZD-8915. It simply works better. And if you live in Europe for this price I wouldn't doubt to buy it again:

 https://www.bifelectronic.com/reworking-desoldering/2416-zd8915-bif.html
« Last Edit: August 08, 2018, 02:39:54 pm by guisveld »
 
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