Questions about Velleman VTSS4

[picofarad]

I need a cheap backup soldering station, just for emergencies.
I have some questions to ask to the owners of Velleman VTSS4 or any chinese soldering station that looks like this:


First question: Is the tip well insulated? Can someone check with a multimeter how many AC volts there are between mains ground and tip? This because sadly I had a badly insulated soldering iron with 12v AC on the tip!
Second question: On the internet comments about this type of soldering station are various. Some says that it's a very great product, some says that it's a piece of garbage. Which is the truth?
Third question: Is this soldering station grounded? I mean, there is the ground pole on the mains connector?

Thanks!

[mmilejski]

I can't answer most of your questions, as I am not at home right now, but I certainly can say that this station is a waste of money. I've had it for about a year, and one day it just stopped working. Apart from that... Handpiece cable isn't flexible at all, and although the station has a bag of sand in it, it slides on the bench as you use the handpiece.
It has earthed plug, but I'l have to check if the tip is actually earthed - later today.

[Wytnucls]

The tip is properly earthed. The station is made in China, but under Velleman's supervision. I couldn't find anything dodgy inside. Works fine as an emergency soldering station. Mine has been gathering dust, since I got the Hakko FX888 though.
There is a slab of chunky metal inside to weight the station down.
Nothing fancy, but for the price, a safe and usable soldering station.

[G7PSK]

Try http://www.circuitspecialists.eu/soldering/desoldering-hot-air-rework?gclid=CKuqlJORnLwCFUj4wgoddU4A1Q

they have some reasonable soldering stations at quite good prices I got one a couple of years ago and it still works fine and the tip is earthed.

[picofarad]

Yep, prices are good, but I just need a backup soldering station for emergencies and I don't want to spend so much. The Velleman station goes for 15-20€, that's good.
But now I'm also looking to those soldering irons that you plug directly to the mains. Maybe one of these will work fine for emergencies.

[Polossatik]

maybe more than you want to spend , but i have (for years) a Portasol P-1K 

it not that i use it very often, but it has been a few times very handy to have, especially when repairing stuff

But you're not going to solder a production run with it.