Ersa IR500 solder SMT rework station. Still relevant??

[dazz1]

Hi
I have come across a Ersa IR500 smt solder rework station. 
I found a really old article/review here http://www.digifixltd.co.uk/articles.html which says nice things about it.  The price then was eye watering.
Getting original vacuum suction cups could be an issue, but I suspect others are suitable.

Is this thing still relevant/useful or is there something better/cheaper etc?

[thm_w]

Without providing a price, we can't say if there is something better/cheaper.
It looks quite good. Maybe only limitation is the preheater (400W), so medium/small boards. https://toolboom.com/en/infrared-soldering-station-ersa-ir500a/

The IR bulb will not last forever, so you may want to look up what part that uses.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/bga-rework-station-t862-halogen-lamp/

[dazz1]

Hi
I am thinking if parts are still available, they are likely to be way too many dollars. 
I have a hot air rework station that does what I need.  I don't do BGAs so the Ersa IR500 would  be a nice to have that I would rarely use.  Maybe never.
The one I am looking at is about 1/10th the original new price.  I think I should spend my cash on something else.

[_Wim_]

I have one of these that I bought cheap locally (250€) and I like it. For suction cups I use these from Ali-express:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32766278446.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.552b3409Rt3TrC&algo_pvid=03439d2e-1ed9-4bfd-9441-07427ce07de6&algo_exp_id=03439d2e-1ed9-4bfd-9441-07427ce07de6-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2265954847888%22%7D&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21EUR%21%219.11%219.11%21%21%21%21%400b0a555e16544059565736566e9dc4%2165954847888%21sea

Have not yet replaced any heating elements, but it uses an Elstein T-HTS 400 heating element for the bottom heater and something similar for the top heater (have not checked that one). These elements still same available.