Author Topic: Hot air station for constant use?  (Read 1211 times)

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Offline ryanmillsTopic starter

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Hot air station for constant use?
« on: January 15, 2019, 07:38:13 pm »
I'm sorry to ask a question so similar to what has been asked a number of times. I went thru pages in the search but could not quite find the answer I was looking for.

I need to pick up a hot air station for daily use but I have not used one in the past and don't know anything about the brands. I'm a hakko fanboy but their hot air stations are outside the price range I can get approved for. There is a giant mess of hot air stations on amazon but the pricing seems to either be >$100 junk or <$1000+. My experience with cheap irons has me really hesitating on the 858D clones. Some of them are just silly, why would someone want a MP3 player in a hot air station. I don't need 20 cheap tools and arms included. I don't have any use for a dual station, I love my hakko. I just need a single solid hot air gun I can use daily to assemble prototypes as well as fix boards in the future. By chance are there any 858D clone brands that I should lean towards or should I really be using for the higher end rework stations? Ideal budget range was around $300 USD but now I'm not sure if it's worth it unless I spend over $1,000 USD.
 

Offline ryanmillsTopic starter

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Re: Hot air station for constant use?
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2019, 08:02:56 pm »
Quick 957DW or 957DW+.
I have mine since 2014, and it still works fine like new.

861DW is a larger model with higher power and larger size.
It's more a professional unit than a hobbyist unit, for larger boards.

Since I do mostly small (tiny) boards, 957 is more than enough.
I do use it professionally for building professional boards, and I make a living off it.

Ohh I had just found the 861DW and came back to ask about it. When you say the 861DW geared to larger boards, why is that exactly? I do have larger boards and I would be flowing a lot of parts on at a time.
 

Offline wraper

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Re: Hot air station for constant use?
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2019, 08:07:08 pm »
Quick 957DW or 957DW+.
I have mine since 2014, and it still works fine like new.

861DW is a larger model with higher power and larger size.
It's more a professional unit than a hobbyist unit, for larger boards.
With 861DW you get handpiece of the same size but almost 2 times more max power. You can set airflow in wider range, both min and max. There is no downside other than larger base. 
 

Offline mvs

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Re: Hot air station for constant use?
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2019, 08:47:54 pm »
My experience with cheap irons has me really hesitating on the 858D clones.
...
By chance are there any 858D clone brands that I should lean towards or should I really be using for the higher end rework stations?
858D clones may do the job, but if you consider to buy one do not leave it unattended while mains connected. Heating element is controlled by a Triac, which may fail short due some transient and cause fire.

There some cases known, like this in video:

« Last Edit: January 15, 2019, 08:51:02 pm by mvs »
 

Online kripton2035

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Re: Hot air station for constant use?
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2019, 08:55:16 pm »
my 858d ceased to function after a year and a half of light use. I leaved it plugged to main, and hopefully I was beside it when it started to heat at max power, only the heating element without fan. it could have lead to a big fire if I hadn't unplugged it right away ...
now I bought a 861DW as replacement. more expensive but no comparaison possible...
 

Offline ryanmillsTopic starter

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Re: Hot air station for constant use?
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2019, 10:18:41 pm »
I will just forward that video to the accounting department when they ask why I can't use a cheaper one  :o I actually keep the clip lights above my bench and irons on a power strip so I don't forget to turn off the iron. Tempted fate leaving my iron on all weekend one time...

Thank you everyone, will be going with the 861DW!
 


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