Experience with Zhongdi ZD-8908 or RS PRO 858D hot air stations?

[blurpy]

The Atten 858D clones seem kinda nice as a beginner hot air station, but reading about the safety issues with these makes me worried. I'm not experienced enough to evaluate and fix mains voltage electronics.
The Quick 957DW+ gets a lot of positive feedback, but I can't find it in a European version other than on AliExpress, and not really sure what to expect from there.

So I'm looking at the local options.

From a store close to me I can get a "Kjell" hot air station: https://www.kjell.com/no/produkter/elektro-og-verktoy/verktoy/lodding/loddeverktoy/digital-varmluftstasjon-smd-p40399
I think it's originally a Zhongdi ZD-8908: http://www.china-zhongdi.com/product/22.html

Another option might be a 858D clone from RS Components: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/soldering-stations/1244133/

I have not been able to find much about the ZD-8908 at all, or whether the RS PRO 858D is any safer than the other Chinese clones.
I'm thinking that they probably should be safe to use out of the box since they are sold by European companies under their own brand names?

Does anyone have any experience with these, or thoughts about their pros and cons?

[blurpy]

I asked RS about the hot air station, and turns out it's not a 858D clone, but a SS-969B clone.
The SS-969B is very similar to the 858D but seems to be better quality from what I can gather from reviews.

Still interested in hearing if anyone has any experience with these.

[bluey]

I’m interested too.

Conrad has Toolcraft ZD-8908 and Velleman similar but different
https://www.conrad.com/p/hot-air-solderingdigitalsmd-rework-station-300-wtoolcraftzd-8908100-up-to-500-c-1488529
https://www.conrad.com/p/velleman-vtss210-repair-station-digital-300-w-100-up-to-500-c-2159255

These are 300W as is Hakko.

Atten 858d is 700W.
Atten ST-8800D specs quote +/-35degC.

If uncontrolled works, then i can try my Weller Pyropen Jr.

[bluey]

My misbehaving very old Weller Pyropen Jr will do 320degC hot air (catalyst hot blow tip) on low gas flow according to type K thermocouple. Needs new O-rings to restore full flow and higher temp.

[blurpy]

I hadn't noticed that Velleman made a ZD-8908 as well. I was wondering whether the 3-24L / min that was listed on Kjell was correct, as it seemed so little compared to the 120L / min for the 858D/SS-969B. Even with the 300W vs 700W difference. Velleman lists the same specs as Kjell, so I guess it's correct.

[bluey]

I have found that "GuangZhou YiHua Electronic Equipment Co.，Ltd，Focusing on the "maintenance. tin. desoldering" industry, it is the largest manufacturer of repair and desoldering tools and power equipment in china." They make Yihua and W.E.P. brands and presume clones. Website says they have made 21 million units to date. So I will look at them as the benchmark for chinese desoldering.
http://yihua-gz.com/about/about.html

Dave compares Quick 861DW to Atten 858d+, well worth watching to see the difference between low end and better. The construction quality of the 861DW didn't really impress me as good. More like typical china cheap.

New prices of Weller Pyropen are significant, so electronic is probably a better option. Airflow from butane/catalyst is probably low, though so maybe less likely to blow SMD parts away. Haven't managed to find a review of hot air rework using pyropen. Can get 1.5mm hot air nozzle.

[bluey]

Yihua not having a happy time trying to make quality products, despite the company size and 20 engineers. Unless they have changed tack recently???

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/yihua-8508d-smd-rework-station/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/1300w-hot-air-stations/msg2780508/#msg2780508

[bluey]

Looks like Quick 957DW might be pretty good for the money.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/quick-review-quick-957-analog-rework-station/25/

[blurpy]

Looks to me like Quick makes good products. I can't find 957DW+ anywhere in Europe though. I can get the 861DW, but it's 4 times the price of the RS PRO station when including shipping, VAT and customs fees. Not sure if it's worth it for occasional hobby use.