Just got my ZD-915 from bourne electronics in Melbourne at the bargain price of $189. Best thing I have bought in ages! The desoldering pump works like a dream. No more burnt fingers and the components just drop off the board like Dave showed in the vid. I got a bit carried away desoldering a pcb from a old pc power supply trying all the different components. My only slight criticism is the filter in the pump seems to get clogged after a bit. Has anyone tried cotton wool as a cheap alternative to the little filter pads? Dunno if the solder might be a bit too hot for it and start to burn it? My missus was nt impressed, when I suggested I can now grab peoples electrical rubbish for component salvage.
You did really good dude...
if you need some filters or tips then let me know with a PM because I bought a few to many last time from Rhino, I am also " happy " to advise on a few tricks for the best performance of the unit that you have purchased.
Best Regards and
Life Solder Sucks
Muttley
Sorry the confusion. I meant the ZD-917 the dual desoldering/soldering iron. It was after a long day hv switching, I was a bit cream crackered.
I still love it tho the solder station that is, although being a A.P keeps me in job. I do agree tho about the price of stuff here in oz, when you compare it to the U.K can be a bit dear. In screwfix you could buy 1000 BZP m5 nuts for £5.65=>$11.30ish where as here I have nt found anywhere as cheap here yet. Does anyone know any cheap fixture and fasteners shops/online companies here in OZ?
I had a look at Rhino tools Muttley and for a dollar for a set of filters can`t be bad.
Try stuffing a wad of glass fiber batting in there and see if it helps. I don't get solder on the spring and it cleans up with a pair of tweezers.
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to try that on my next desoldering job. I use a CSI (Aoyue?) 474 and I dread that part. Like the previous poster, with mine, I have to wedge a hot iron tip into the spring while holding it with a pair of pliers, then pull up on it and let it snap back down until it releases the glob. It's as much of a PITA as it sounds like and usually takes several tries. I was anxious to see what happened on Dave's, but his just popped right out. I did notice his spring was a bit larger at the tapered end than mine.
Take Care
Is there anywhere else besides Australia to get parts for the ZD-985. The prices are fine but shipping to USA has to suck.
Is there anywhere else besides Australia to get parts for the ZD-985. The prices are fine but shipping to USA has to suck.
what parts? the gun is the same as 915-917, and costs $17
Due to the poor quality of the gun, did anyone replace it with a better one?
Are there better quality compatible guns for ZD985?
Due to the poor quality of the gun, did anyone replace it with a better one?
Are there better quality compatible guns for ZD985?
What are your main complaints about this gun? I only used this and xytronics desoldering irons, so have no comparison to the top shelf stuff
I would buy it (it costs about EUR 90 in Europe), but I'm unsure due to several people claim poor quality of the gun.
So I was wondering if I could replace the gun with a better quality one (if anyone tried this)
I would buy it (it costs about EUR 90 in Europe), but I'm unsure due to several people claim poor quality of the gun.
So I was wondering if I could replace the gun with a better quality one (if anyone tried this)
ehh, so you never used one (this or any other), and base it on 'some people claim" without linking to those people :/
price is ~$70
http://diolut.pl/stacja-rozlutownicza-rozlutownica-zd985-esd-grzalka-80w-p-4789.htmlsame as zd915
How do you rate it?
Do you suggest it? (for a non intensive use)
How do you rate it?
Do you suggest it? (for a non intensive use)
I have no comparison
I also had no problems using one, so no complaints.
It strikes me you could vastly improve one of these inexpensive desoldering tools by doing the following
1) Create a small vacuum chamber out of a couple of inches of 1" PVC/ABS pipe and hook that to the internal pump.
2) Change the pump switch to run off a vacuum switch to pull the chamber down to negative pressure (trial and error rqd here)
3) Change the trigger on the tool itself to open an air valve between the tool and the new vacuum chamber.
This way when you pull the trigger you get an initial whoosh of suction.
It strikes me you could vastly improve one of these inexpensive desoldering tools by doing the following
1) Create a small vacuum chamber out of a couple of inches of 1" PVC/ABS pipe and hook that to the internal pump.
2) Change the pump switch to run off a vacuum switch to pull the chamber down to negative pressure (trial and error rqd here)
3) Change the trigger on the tool itself to open an air valve between the tool and the new vacuum chamber.
This way when you pull the trigger you get an initial whoosh of suction.
I think this
http://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fr400.htmlmight have valve in the handle instead of pump switch
Anyone else have to replace the heater element on one of these? I just did, and it is a relatively painless job... Except for the fact that the temp sensor is a thermocouple which is not marked for polarity in any way.
If you get it hooked up backwards you don't get a screwy temperature reading (as with most industrial TC systems). You get a display that stays stuck on 77F while the heater warms up. After a few seconds the unit drops out on a fault. Presumably when there is no response from the thermocouple within X seconds,CPU sets an error (and hopefully) shuts down the element to prevent overheating. Nice to see that they did put some thought to protect against this (or a shorted sensor), as well as having a separate fault for an OPEN thermocouple.
The replacement heater comes with tiny brass crimp sleeves, which need to be used because the thermocouple and heater element wires are not copper, and won't take solder easily. I did flow solder over them after crimping to fill any voids left in the dodgy crimps.
I replaced my heater because the tube got clogged with something that is resistant to melting, presumably oxides and carbon from flux, etc. Got most of it reamed out with a drill but need a longer drill to get it all out. Hopefully can save it for a spare. Not sure how it happened, as I'm pretty religious about running the cleaning rod through the thing.
When you put the spring in put some motor oil on it, along with the seals. that way the solder is easy to remove.
FWIW,
I've been using Rory's suggestion of fiberglass batting (from back at post #138) for the past few desoldering jobs. If there's a downside to it, I have yet to hit it. The solder never makes it back into that small end of the spring and it doesn't seem to noticeably impede the airflow either. Wish I had been doing it all along.
- this of course is for those more tightly wound springs with the cone shaped end
Does anyone know a ZD985 supplier in the UK or Europe that accepts Paypal, preferrably the ESD version?
Diolut in Poland (also on
Allegro) have ignored my messages (even with a Google translation to Polish)?
Hotair (also Poland) have the ESD but only accept bank transfers (expensive for me + slow and no protection if something goes wrong) and shipping to UK is expensive.
Emporio Tecnologico in Italy take Paypal but only have the non-ESD version + waiting on new stock (this week appt.).
I wouldn't even mind importing from China, my usual go-to
AliExpress doesn't seem to have it.
Does anyone know a ZD985 supplier in the UK or Europe that accepts Paypal, preferrably the ESD version?
Diolut in Poland (also on Allegro) have ignored my messages (even with a Google translation to Polish)?
Hotair (also Poland) have the ESD but only accept bank transfers (expensive for me + slow and no protection if something goes wrong) and shipping to UK is expensive.
Emporio Tecnologico in Italy take Paypal but only have the non-ESD version + waiting on new stock (this week appt.).
I wouldn't even mind importing from China, my usual go-to AliExpress doesn't seem to have it.
in the repair forum was a thread about broken pump, dude was able to directly mail Zhongdi(?) and they were happy to sell to him directly. You might try that route.
Thanks Rasz, I actually tried that (using their
web form IIRC) but I haven't had a reply yet. I'll try the two email addresses on that page. Really strange that they're not even on AliExpress though, and nobody else in UK / EU?
Thanks Rasz, I actually tried that (using their web form IIRC) but I haven't had a reply yet. I'll try the two email addresses on that page. Really strange that they're not even on AliExpress though, and nobody else in UK / EU?
Diolut sells them in Poland, but they dont ship internationally.
@Rasz, good to know. They coulda still sent a reply saying so though.
@wilhelm right, those are both ZD-915's (the other seems a rebadge), like the Duratool rebadge which is available in the UK
here (this is a cheaper code then you get if you search for it), I could buy that here.
I prefer the 985 for the clear tube & overall design though (blue and white is nice
). And the new version heats up faster than the 915 right?
Zhongdi got back to me, but wanted 75USD (courier) / 65USD (airmail) shipping to UK. They say the package is about 4kg, that can't be right surely?