Solder-Rework stations

[videobruce]

I'm looking for a solder/rework/hot air station. I had it with solder wick (which rarely worked) and solder suckers (which mostly worked, b ut still falls short).

I looked at the type that has the pump in the tool itself, but I don't like that due to it making the devoice too bulky. Besides most that I have seen seem 'cheap' and I don't just mean cost.

I dismissed those $1k and up stations as being overkill.

Two that I am looking at are from AOYUE. Models 2702A+ for $240 and the newer 2703A+ for $300.
The biggest difference being all three 'tools' can be 'on' at once vs only two of the three with the older (cheaper) model.
All I would want in the hot air gun & the solder sucker, but that combination isn't available.
One thing I don't like is the solder pencil with the smoke sucker that makes the 'pencil' bulky.

Here is the link to the US importer;
http://www.sra-solder.com/aoyue-2703a-all-in-one-digital-hot-air-rework-station-4391

Anyone have experience with these can shed some light or anyone else have suggestions for anything else (under say $400)?

Thanks in advance.

[BradC]

I have a much older Aoyue model (701a) which I'm really happy with. It worked passably out of the box, but the tips would not tin and the vacuum was so-so. I made an adapter to use genuine Hakko tips and I gave the vacuum system a complete tune up (dismantle down to parts and re-assemble with sealant on all the gasket and seal surfaces), replaced the filters with Hakko parts and it has been a pleasure to use for a couple of years now (and sucks like a $20 hooker). Thankfully Aoyue moved away from their un-tinnable tips and the new ones tin up nicely. I think it was a phase they went through. The Hakko tips are nice though.

I cut my teeth on high end Pace gear (20 years ago) and this works as well as that did but is easier to maintain and clean. I'm positive the newer high end stuff is an order of magnitude better, but it's also an order of magnitude more expensive.

[nanofrog]

They're not that well built from what I've seen of the internals.  Reliability is a major Achilles Heel, which makes them a false economy as well, and the usability isn't that great either. The biggest  stumbling point to me though, is if one tool breaks, you loose the use of the others while it's non-operable or under repair (don't try to use one tool to fix another, as you don't want to solder on live circuits).

Best to have separates. Which also allows you to spend the money on quality where you'll use it the most, namely the soldering iron. For example, you can get a Hakko FX-888D for under $100, and you can get a well built separate hot air station from Quick brand, such as the Quick957D on the bottom end (~$100), or a Quick861DW (~$235) if you want a professional grade station without paying Hakko, Weller, JBC, Pace, ... prices.

As per desoldering wick, you need to buy quality, such as Chemtronics, Henkel/Multicore, or Techspray. Same goes for your solder and flux (Kester 44 in 63/37 alloy & 66 size flux core in whatever diameter you want, and MG Chemicals 835 will fill these needs well respectively for example).

[ManateeMafia]

I like my Blackjack Solderwerks BK4050 and Hakko FR-300. I have an AOYUE (can't remember the model). The Hakko is worth it especially with all the tips. I bought my items from circuit specialists. I hated the wick and the AOYUE wasn't much better. I got the Hakko in July and it is the best tool I have bought this year.

[wblock]

I have a couple of Aoyue things and it would take a lot to make me want another.  The standalone hot air station has not let me down yet, but I have not used it much.  It's the only hot-air station I've used, so can't compare its performance to others, but I suspect it is anemic.  The standalone soldering iron was mediocre for a couple of years of light use, then became reliably unreliable.

If/when I replace the hot air station, I will probably look at the 858 D++%-123XYZ cos(phi) model that is often recommended here, or a used Hakko.  I bought a used JBC iron for less than the Aoyue cost new, but in performance the JBC is a Steinway and the Aoyue was, at best, a kazoo.

The Circuit Specialists irons used to look like rebranded Aoyue, and people seem to like them.  They do have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so there would be a chance to test things with only the cost of shipping.

[videobruce]

I'm positive the newer high end stuff is an order of magnitude better, but it's also an order of magnitude more expensive.

I have no intention of buying $50 to $150 'stations', but on the other hand the same goes for $700 to $1500 stations either. 
.

They're not that well built from what I've seen of the internals.   Reliability is a major Achilles Heel, which makes them a false economy as well, and the usability isn't that great either.

Does that apply to their current offerings or models from 3-5 years ago?
.

The biggest  stumbling point to me though, is if one tool breaks, you loose the use of the others while it's non-operable or under repair

Interesting point I didn't consider.

[videobruce]

As far as Hakko goes, I can't get past the absolutely worst choice of colors. Ugly would be a compliant. Toy-like would be closer to the truth. I do realize they appear to be kinda popular, but............

I will look at Circuit Specialists & JBC (which I never heard of before).

[nanofrog]

Does that apply to their current offerings or models from 3-5 years ago?

It's a mix.

If you search the forum (use Search at the top where you find Home, Help, Profile, ...), you'll be able to find photos of internals members have posted in review/teardown threads for example. There's also photos of the Quick957, Quick957D, and Quick861DS as well (worth comparing photos IMHO  ).

What follows the letter D is market specific info from what I've noticed (i.e. input voltage & wall plug).

As far as Hakko goes, I can't get past the absolutely worst choice of colors. Ugly would be a compliant. Toy-like would be closer to the truth. I do realize they appear to be kinda popular, but............

I will look at Circuit Specialists & JBC (which I never heard of before).

Hakko is very popular (reliable, good - excellent performance depending on model, and have excellent quality tips).  FWIW, the FX-888D is also offered in silver (not sure how easy it will be to find one in the US). Weller also makes the WES51 around the $100 mark as well (I'd give Hakko a leg up on tip quality, but WES51's UI is just a knob). UI on the WESD51 is nicer than the FX-888D IMHO as well, but it's more expensive and has a higher rate of variable tip quality.

You won't touch JBC other than used within your budget, but it's well worth looking for (other brands too, such as Weller, Metcal, and Pace; Ersa too if you've 230/240V single phase power, swap transformers, or use a step-up transformer and still have it come out cost effective). Just make sure used units have all the necessary bits to make it work before buying (i.e. base + iron at a bare minimum). 

[videobruce]

I managed to find the US importer for 'Quick' and the apparent sole seller: MCM Electronics for those "Quick". units, but reviews elsewhere didn't have much good to say about them.

[nanofrog]

I managed to find the US importer for 'Quick' and the apparent sole seller: MCM Electronics for those "Quick". units, but reviews elsewhere didn't have much good to say about them.

MCM is not the only seller. 

Prime Distributing

• 957
• 957DW
• 861DW

Production Automation Corporation (PAC)

• 957
• 957DW
• 961DW

Quick used to sell directly through commerce sites such as WalMart and Tonzof (how I got mine). Probably still would if you contacted them directly.

Which reviews are you talking about?

FWIW, members that own them are happy AFAIK, particularly those of us with the 861Dx model. Do keep in mind, the 957 & 957DW are built to a price in the bottom segment, so don't expect perfection on that budget.  But they are better built than the 858 models that can be had very inexpensively (squirrel fan in the hand piece).

[videobruce]

Thanks for those links. When I went to 'Quicks' US site, that was the only reseller that was listed.
Interesting that both outfits have the same cost down to the penny for that 861DW. 

Never heard of "Tonzof" and after seeing their web sites home page I can see why.