Soldering station, simple and resistant

[David Hess]

If I understand correctly as you also explained to me the temperature is fixed and is controlled by this magnet on the tip that opens and closes a switch based on the Curie temperature.

The temperature is changed by changing the tip.  The tips come in 500, 600, 700, and 800 F degrees, but this is probably not what you are looking for.

As you explained it is difficult to find the replacement tip but this one lasts decades.

It is easy and inexpensive to buy replacement tips, although I do not see many on Italy Amazon.

My next choice would be the lease expensive Weller station which use ETS tips, but it is more expensive than your other options:

https://www.amazon.it/Weller-Professional-T0053298699-T0053298399-Temperatura/dp/B079ZN87FT/

[marck120]

@tatel

Thanks for the explanations

About the pond I found this:

https://www.cedelettronica.com/it/prodotti/elettronica/stagno-in-bobina-100g-60sn-40pb-0-75-mm-alfa-e/3431

https://www.amazon.it/ROCCHETTO-SALDARE-SALDATURA-LABORATORIO-QUALITY/dp/B08P52M34V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P8VQK3WKH0X2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0tKD671St4xdwz6J-PAmIBhm0YU_WJIBaV4ObhbvbwIKNQ-5EUOEnvDcMzdg0f2G1BRdKt6_oLp4tqGTGOn3tMPDVqJTlXOFp_elwc4ToEhValax4Z0_C3_GWcw4zTg6frnhghiRU10-Kf-0XgSf3qq0p37nerEF3h6SUsqfs8zTRkXLiepvqV2vvM7RRu50GgaI0mH-OB3aLPj8Fu8pEtkEcSYo3-O0HP90aMFClJhyeq21nXUvCodRU8lz3h1b3q2Joabe5G3PKQUCGgfvDSDQ-nswDolhBK6fo2SmplA.Yd_TNmJtbb75UQNcEpZKMEnKGQX4PoF0kFUQ2LGBqvg&dib_tag=se&keywords=stagno+60%2F40&qid=1726220561&refinements=p_n_free_shipping_eligible%3A20930967031&rnid=20930966031&sprefix=stagno%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.it/STAGNO-60-40-MM-100GR/dp/B072FN1FPB/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1P8VQK3WKH0X2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vCVvYvoyszENs-D6pqhc9jXtH8t_tEz3rUFQfK4nyJ4Wrl7eznajUJO4IDtoXw8RsShXZhtSmST97NVzZVwC6hRxUrxWESSYQIZId_CnLj4X9dzgffE1NUVNPkc94uoKP74HLnods33VWeF6V8mn8pRNfICMp8oK3BRfKPDdWHiTVYnMlXWuYO7YwrRwk6jQzinPbdZLx1DUy5oQficorxs42HAmFpkltr4OSOSCtlYCN-K_RoQ_rRgYJuiY_vvAwcdhZdGRGTO2t00lB4ntVwvbEJ44_0BKeqg-G303L08.qpYKvsrk-kxyGIuj-eut9ckntypP9LPcpRO5PAZOTzE&dib_tag=se&keywords=stagno+60%2F40&qid=1726220600&sprefix=stagno%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-6

As I said they recommended the RASW.031 4OZ but it is difficult to find it in European shops, on digikey there are €18 for shipping:

https://www.digikey.it/it/products/detail/chip-quik-inc/RASW-031-4OZ/9681988

About the tips, so the original Haako/JBC are already calibrated from the factory, the calibration depends entirely on the tips, I would have found these but I don't know if they are original:

https://www.batterfly.com/shop/it/hakko-t12-bl

https://www.batterfly.com/shop/it?route=product/search&search=HAKKO%20t12

https://eleshop.eu/t12-series-soldering-tips.html

However for now I am happy with the T12 clone tips that come with the soldering station, yes I also found a set of tips on aliexpress, I think they are fine:

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005364965035.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.7.507a4465lEb8Tl&algo_pvid=a7184db2-5dd1-4993-ac64-6cbb4d6776b2&aem_p4p_detail=202409130231092889571287478260000135313&algo_exp_id=a7184db2-5dd1-4993-ac64-6cbb4d6776b2-3&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%214.52%210.91%21%21%214.89%210.98%21%40211b617a17262198694224279e8ace%2112000032754550861%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=eBMDBunRLpuR&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A&search_p4p_id=202409130231092889571287478260000135313_1

If you know of any shops where you can buy good clone tips, please send me some links.

Anyway maybe it is as I said, power supply and controller are interchangeable, to power the controller you just need a negative and positive wire:



Even if in the end the GX16 5 Pin connector must always be soldered:

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005003671476138.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller.11.56c6sr29sr296L&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40196.366102.0&scm_id=1007.40196.366102.0&scm-url=1007.40196.366102.0&pvid=9bc0bfc4-cde4-4dcd-b8f3-5c69fce6a388&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40196.366102.0,pvid:9bc0bfc4-cde4-4dcd-b8f3-5c69fce6a388,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238108%231977&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%218.49%218.49%21%21%219.19%219.19%21%40211b80e117262309794744293ed07a%2112000031960329922%21rec%21IT%21%21ABX&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_from%3A

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005004550846283.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.5.a2af5f62KGrmAw&algo_pvid=7bb5fde8-12af-4ab7-a3cc-217f844b807f&algo_exp_id=7bb5fde8-12af-4ab7-a3cc-217f844b807f-2&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%212.01%212.01%21%21%2115.49%2115.49%21%40211b653717262318888817550e01ab%2112000029579397370%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=kBay6KN36EZh&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

I don't understand what the acronym "IIRC" means.

@David Hess

Here, I didn't know that the temperature also changed based on the tip, maybe it's not easy to find the tips on the market.  I've seen so many soldering stations that it's really complicated to choose.

Regarding the Weller WE 1010 despite the shipping costs it costs me much less on amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Weller-Digital-Soldering-Station-WE1010NA/dp/B077JDGY1J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1I0Z0Z1W6E40J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Poi5oWl3q_wd_85H12B4yyaix5-GQs2GoNMm9rAjMlmMkabpNVM1pKLRvMurLCEjV-tBVXFTBT7Amp4yHC564KSXpMb7NtQinWww1a80mZm5mMKZi_U9aWF655Pyzqv8oDIot5Yaf_Qi1x2lcPuSR1uBfB4Cm3l8wLlQhmJkVyrW3lGFphgvhQcZDcJS085FPPU2ianiTUgrAqxlYSSVKGlGgt7rujOKosdeNfovpiDptNH935jHeeOkqoVzw9jrU6J76OzqMTvTBOAn1vvRNqL2c6reGsBxAxfaA69pclY.s9CfkZDDXjAm6VCSrANSt31pYNrXVadxdwRUQ2QaRRo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Weller%2BWE%2B1010&qid=1726232922&sprefix=weller%2Bwe%2B1010%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-1&th=1

Amazon.com 104,32€ + 26,97€ = 131,29€, on amazon.it costs 174,28€

It's a shame there are such high shipping costs.

[tatel]

As I said they recommended the RASW.031 4OZ but it is difficult to find it in European shops, on digikey there are €18 for shipping:

Digikey has free shipping on purchases over $50+VAT orders? Anyway I'm pretty sure you will be able to find 63/37 tin in Europe (if needed). 60/40 will quite probably work fine. It does so for me. YMMV

About the tips, so the original Haako/JBC are already calibrated from the factory, the calibration depends entirely on the tips, I would have found these but I don't know if they are original:

Both batterfly and eleshop are reputable european sellers, I very much doubt they would be selling fakes.

The matter with T12 clone tips is, you can buy, say, 2 D52 tips, measure the resistance on both and find one is 8 ohm and the other is 6 ohm. No way the same calibration, PID parameters, etc, could be applied to both. Hence, you need to calibrate and fine tune each and every T12 clone tip you get. Perhaps, more than once in the life of the tip.

Originals are expected to be much more the same to each other, so perhaps it would be enough to calibrate once one tip of each type... This has a price, however, and I found I can work with clone tips after carefully calibrated and fine tuned. This is a time consuming task, more so the first times. You can expect to put quite a few hours in it. Again, this is a matter of work vs money. YMMV

However for now I am happy with the T12 clone tips that come with the soldering station, yes I also found a set of tips on aliexpress, I think they are fine:
(...)
If you know of any shops where you can buy good clone tips, please send me some links.

I got my tips on quicko store.
https://aliexpress.com/item/32833768846.html
https://aliexpress.com/item/32834486432.html
https://aliexpress.com/item/32833792043.html
and so on...

"high grade" ones
https://aliexpress.com/item/32834661555.html

STlink V2
https://aliexpress.com/item/32830611775.html

I don't understand what the acronym "IIRC" means.

You can google all these acronyms

[thm_w]

The GEEBOON TC20A seems the same as the Aixun T3A, it's not that they have the same problems.

Geeboon advertises tip to ground connection, and they have told me the same thing. Aixun T3a does not have this.
I have not seen internal photos of the geeboon yet to verify this though. So yeah I would wait until someone does a proper review on the TC20A.

[marck120]

@tatel

Thank you very much for the advice.

About the calibration of the tips, however, it is not a problem, I buy the calibration device that you recommended, to start with the clone tips will be fine, without calibration it is impossible to understand at what temperature the tip is, usually I have seen that they solder around 300 °, it depends on the components obviously.

Regarding the tin, 60/40 in general is easier to find, I found some spools of 63/37 tin but it is of low quality, the branded one costs quite a lot, since there are no big differences I will use the 60/40 with a thickness of 0.8

As for the acronym IIRC obviously I did some research on Google and it appears If I Recall Correctly, so it means: "If I remember correctly" but I'm not sure.

EDIT :

They answered me in the discussion you indicated, they told me to check the github, at this point is it better to take the T12-958 v2 or which model ?

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005002724765690.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.3.3d43hoVrhoVrcJ&algo_pvid=06311a3b-57b1-4d27-b671-9c9b69f25a5d&algo_exp_id=06311a3b-57b1-4d27-b671-9c9b69f25a5d-1&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%2167.42%2156.99%21%21%2172.98%2161.68%21%4021038e7717262740116864301e0409%2112000021872948123%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=xiIqCmTsdtVd&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A#nav-review

"Almost perfect, just a small grounding issue. The station can accept mains input or 24VDC input. On 24VDC the frame and the tip of the iron are both grounded, but on mains only the frame is grounded. The soldering iron handle connector has a ground pin - tying it to the ground pin on the mains input IEC connector with a single wire solved the problem - see the black/red wire in the attached picture. The station now works perfectly and is a pleasure to use."



https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controller?tab=readme-ov-file#compatibility

Currently supported controllers:

Quicko T12-072: First gen Quicko, STM32F072 variant. Compatibility issues were fixed since v1.04.
Quicko T12-103 First gen Quicko, same board but mounting a STM32F103.
KSGER v1.5: Profile for STM32F103 (There are no other known CPUs used in this board).
KSGER v2, JCD T12, T12-955, Handskit: Profile compatible with all STM32F101/2/3xx models.
KSGER v3, T12-958: Profile compatible with all STM32F101/2/3xx models.
T12-958 v2: Profile compatible with STM32F103. Needs a mod for battery to work.
Don't follow the version reported in the original firmware to identify your board.
To this day, the easiest way to quickly identify your controller version is by checking the OLED screen connection:

4 pin (I2C) = Generic v2 (KSGER/Quecoo/Handskit/etc.)
6 pin (SPI) = Generic v3
7 pin (SPI) = Only used by KSGER v1.5 or first gen Quicko, easy to differentiate.
For KSGER v2/v3: As long as use the correct firmware, any STM32 variant (101/102/103/C8/R8/CB/RB) will work.
There are several compatible/cloned boards in the market that will work fine with KSGER profiles.

T12-951, T12-952, T12-956, T12-959 use STC MCU, not supported by this firmware.

@thm_w

Perfect thanks for the information, regarding the Aixun T3a in the video there was no mention of the problems with the grounding but it had difficulty maintaining the temperature, perhaps some bug in the software, I don't know.

Regarding the QUICKO, among the user reviews I found a photo of the inside of the soldering station, you can see the grounding cable, but I don't understand if it is a user modification.

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/32803295956.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.3.6b1cafe2hrSUxZ&algo_pvid=7ec99343-1511-4fd2-9052-97b92c797d27&algo_exp_id=7ec99343-1511-4fd2-9052-97b92c797d27-1&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%2147.88%2138.25%21%21%2151.83%2141.40%21%40211b6c1717262177045842226e537c%2110000000955772946%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=EsCiLxwx43jl&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A#nav-review

Checking better I saw that the station is built already with the grounding.

[tatel]

They answered me in the discussion you indicated, they told me to check the github, at this point is it better to take the T12-958 v2 or which model ?

Analysis paralysis? At this point I think it's pretty clear that quicko 958 should work with custom firmware. You could ask the seller if it does really have an original STM32/oled display/what handle it comes with

I really can't add much more to what is already said.

Good luck

[coppercone2]

On the durability of irons, I recommend you go wood fired.

https://www.bestmaterials.com/detail.aspx?ID=21013

[marck120]

@tatel

Thank you, yes I was asking for confirmation, yes exactly I have to ask the seller if the quicko 958 is the v2 version.

Thanks again for everything.

@coppercone2

These last even if they are not very practical to use, but if they sell them someone uses them, I have an old soldering iron and it has a copper tip, after 20 years it still works, obviously it has no temperature regulation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thank everyone who replied to me, I received a lot of advice, very kind.

[tatel]

Thank you, yes I was asking for confirmation, yes exactly I have to ask the seller if the quicko 958 is the v2 version.

Thanks again for everything.

No need for it to be v2 version; what's needed is it has real STM32 or fully compatible clone, and oled screen

[marck120]

Thank you, yes I was asking for confirmation, yes exactly I have to ask the seller if the quicko 958 is the v2 version.

Thanks again for everything.

No need for it to be v2 version; what's needed is it has real STM32 or fully compatible clone, and oled screen

Perfect, I'm trying to contact the seller, but from what users say and the photos they posted it's a STM32F103 :

"It has a decent STM32F103 processor Extremely easy to calibrate hints and select hints and a myriad of menus that allow sleep time/temp and stdby time/temp."

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005002724734568.html

[tatel]

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005002724734568.html

Is that white handle what you want? I would recommend the blue one

[marck120]

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005002724734568.html

Is that white handle what you want? I would recommend the blue one

With the blue handle there is this model, but there is less information about it, a review left by a user I did not like very much, he says that it is not very powerful, in the photos I do not see the ground cable, but I think it is identical to the STM32 T12-958 station that I showed you yesterday.

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005003064223657.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.ba1723adW5rTH5&algo_pvid=36a93af5-790c-47df-b839-bdf0764c0fb1&algo_exp_id=36a93af5-790c-47df-b839-bdf0764c0fb1-0&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%2156.14%2146.05%21%21%2160.77%2149.84%21%402103835c17264000729154228e4566%2112000023729562246%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=BAs9Ll79C04h&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A#nav-review

User comment :

"the article lacks power but for mini welding it is perfect"

[tatel]

With the blue handle there is this model, but there is less information about it, a review left by a user I did not like very much, he says that it is not very powerful, in the photos I do not see the ground cable, but I think it is identical to the STM32 T12-958 station that I showed you yesterday.

Yep, I very much doubt there's a different kind of 958 station just because of the handle. However the connector could have a different number of pins depending on the handle. I think the last one you linked could serve you well. Picture in the listing shows a 6-pin OLED display, this means it's the SPI version, faster than I2C. As said before, I think it's the same thing I got, the only difference would be mine has a CKS clone inside, not a real STM32.

That user reporting it's not very powerful could be right. We don't know what that guy considers "powerful enough". We don't know if he was using custom firmware. We don't know which tip he used. But we know T12 tips are 80W, not 120-130W like others, and we know custom firmware allows us to pump PID settings, giving results similar to these 120-130W tips on different tests, not just the "coin test"

Of course there will be cases when even that wouldn't be enough. I have some non-regulated 220V irons for these cases, including one I got from a CRT TV retired repair guy, which is just a real monster. I use these when I need brute force and I don't fear there's anything that could get cooked/damaged. Yet I'm looking for a hot plate for cases where I do fear something could get cooked/damaged. There's a reason why even guys with 120W soldering stations buy hot plates, there's a reason why people buy hot air stations, and there's a reason why people buy desoldering guns.

Fact is, no station could do all.

At the end of the day, I think that quicko 958 will serve you well, if you can be bothered to buy that thermometer, these thermocouples, the STLink, some good chisel tips, and take the hassle, first to put custom firmware into that STM32, then to get each and every tip carefully calibrated and fine tuned. All of it for half the money other stations would set you back? Work/time/hassle vs money. Pick your poison.

It's your money and your decision. This has worked fine for me. I'm happy with it. YMMV.

[marck120]

@tatel

First of all let me thank you for all the explanations you have given me and the time you are dedicating to me, I hope your explanations are also useful to all the users who read the forum.

Your considerations are right, I don't know what else to add, however I saw that there are QUICKO models with a 120w power supply, I don't know what advantage they have since the T12 tip as you explained to me reaches 80 watts.

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005196528703.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.5a2363cd4dGjMX&algo_pvid=189eae5d-2a2e-4a94-ad57-8fbc9ce5bdb3&algo_exp_id=189eae5d-2a2e-4a94-ad57-8fbc9ce5bdb3-0&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%21139.46%2136.32%21%21%211071.92%21279.14%21%40211b61bb17264756454646178e3fff%2112000032093449966%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=0XJfNvbwoKO2&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A#nav-review

However it has little importance, whether the power supply has 120w or 108w I think it is irrelevant.

Yes exactly, I agree, the consideration of "not very powerful" regarding the user's comment I think is completely useless for us, we do not know his personal needs and the tests he has done, instead we know well the characteristics of a T12 tip and all the benefits of the customized firmware.

In the end I don't need a lot of power, in case of heavy jobs that require a lot of power there are specific devices like the ones you indicated, yes it's true it's not possible to do all the jobs with a single device.

Despite everything I'm strongly considering a C245 soldering station like these, the price is almost identical to a T12 station, I would have a more performing 120 watt tip, I still need a thermometer with the thermocouples that you recommended, the only disadvantage is the price of the C245 tips, an original JBC tip costs a lot but I think you can find some good clones, what do you think ? Is it a bad choice ?

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005943750062.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.7.66455ee4aMs1JZ&algo_pvid=6e949ec1-b043-4820-be8a-2682218f773f&aem_p4p_detail=202409160108269291118852401960015629784&algo_exp_id=6e949ec1-b043-4820-be8a-2682218f773f-3&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%2173.69%2157.58%21%21%2179.82%2162.37%21%40211b6c1917264741063852398e5700%2112000038395193543%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=3gc6Rv5ZyXxh&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A&search_p4p_id=202409160108269291118852401960015629784_1

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005540641453.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=272-267-0231&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&gclsrc=aw.ds&&albagn=888888&&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=x&ds_e_product_group_id=&ds_e_product_id=it1005005540641453&ds_e_product_merchant_id=107896085&ds_e_product_country=IT&ds_e_product_language=it&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=20730495829&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrp-3BhDgARIsAEWJ6SyzNfYsneAe8fuMjxAc3XjnHk8INaqQfh6Rv3sk8xUjxEGkCca7L-saAulcEALw_wcB#nav-review

I was looking at the tests on this Wemon T31 120W soldering station, it says that it is undersized and is only suitable for SMD soldering, but how is it possible that a 120w station is undersized, if the C245 tip only reaches 120w what is the point of using a more powerful power supply, for example the AIXUN T3A or AIXUN T320 or the new AIXUN T413 have a 200w power supply, at this point I believe that a more powerful power supply can keep the temperature high on the tip more constantly without letting it cool down:

https://youtu.be/GAjn6MKeBYI

[tatel]

I don't have any experience with 120W soldering stations. Perhaps they could be used with C245 tips. Some mod could be needed. However that 952 seems to have an STC micro and I don't think that's compatible with custom firmware. If STC and STM32 are pin compatible you could perhaps mod it. I know T12 stations with custom firmware could be made to work with C245 tips quite easily, again no experience on this. However there's not enough power to make the tip to works as hard as it could do with a mightier PSU.

Clone JBC tips are not recommended but I have no experience at all.

If that ksger-C245 has a STM32 it could be interesting.

If you get one of these C245 stations I would be interested in knowing about your experience and opinion.

[stretchyman]

Just get a SH Metcal.

Job done.

Nothing else compares.

J.

[thm_w]

I was looking at the tests on this Wemon T31 120W soldering station, it says that it is undersized and is only suitable for SMD soldering, but how is it possible that a 120w station is undersized, if the C245 tip only reaches 120w what is the point of using a more powerful power supply, for example the AIXUN T3A or AIXUN T320 or the new AIXUN T413 have a 200w power supply, at this point I believe that a more powerful power supply can keep the temperature high on the tip more constantly without letting it cool down:

https://youtu.be/GAjn6MKeBYI

Its not 120W if you watch the SDG video, it peaked at 60W or something. Fine for T115 and T210, but a bit low for T245.
Still usable though.

[marck120]

@tatel

Unfortunately I have no experience either, I was referring to soldering stations built to work with C245 tips, the KSGER is only compatible with C245 tips from what I understand, and has a 180w power supply, the 982-I has a 120w power supply, but is compatible with C210, C245 tips, on the KSGER I found few reviews about it, the 982-I seems to be a more tested station, the KSGER's 180w power supply, since it is more powerful, I think it is more suitable for jobs that require more power.

I wanted to say this, the C245 tip always has 120w, but used on soldering stations with more powerful power supplies it has greater performance.

https://youtu.be/Wbf2Odz6MxU

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ksger-c245-soldering-station-psu-220v-only/

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/solder-station-new-model-yihua-948db-ii/

As I was saying the price of the tips is an important factor, an original JBC 2C45 tip costs 35€- 40€, on AliExpress it is around 25€

https://www.cepeitalia.it/wec/jbc-punta-saldante-c245-931-a-cucchiaino-27-mm/442af9b210d6eb42e74a97ac852afd00/scheda_articolo/?forcelang=it#main

https://www.amazon.it/JBC-ricambio-saldatrice-T245-C245-903/dp/B00KABRA0W

https://www.conrad.it/it/p/jbc-tools-punta-di-saldatura-forma-a-punta-dimensione-punta-1-mm-contenuto-1-pz-1712448.html?source=googleps&utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping-feed&utm_content=free-google-shopping-clicks&utm_term=1712448&refresh=true

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005876617834.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.364f1f751dAqpQ&algo_pvid=fd8b8bae-07c2-41f1-854e-52ae831d6f3d&algo_exp_id=fd8b8bae-07c2-41f1-854e-52ae831d6f3d-0&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%2138.17%2117.26%21%21%2141.35%2118.70%21%40210385db17265366486016955e2f65%2112000034668211526%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=7MvWuCLiH62F&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

Too bad that most of the soldering stations are not available on Amazon, Aliexpress apart from the quite long delivery times I think it does not have the guarantee and the Amazon return system, the only T12 station shipped by Amazon that I had found is the 948DB+ 75w that I had shown you.

@stretchyman

The Metcal stations are very expensive, I did not understand which model you are referring to exactly, at most I could spend €120 which is already a lot.

@thm_w

I can't understand, why did it only reach a peak of 60W ? I don't think there is an official website, shouldn't it have a 120w power supply ? It says peak power 120w, at least that's what the specifications on Aliexpress say, it should have the same power supply as the GVM H3 which is 80w

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005006393604934.html

[stretchyman]

SH =Second Hand.

MX500 is my fave.

I have 3 and paid no more than £150 for any of them with irons and bits.

Utterly pointless messing around with all the cheap rubbish. No professional or company uses anything else.

Best iron ever, simple as.

J.

[tatel]

As I was saying the price of the tips is an important factor, an original JBC 2C45 tip costs 35€- 40€, on AliExpress it is around 25€

If that's the price difference, I would get originals. Perhaps also just one clone to compare it against the original.

I very much doubt you could get a 120W soldering station with original JBC tip(s) for €120 or less. Anything else would be a gamble I think.

If you really need more than a T12, I would look at Weller and JBC stations. Do you really need more than a T12? I don't think so, at least not right now.

Sorry, but it is what it is.

[marck120]

@stretchyman

Is this the MX500 soldering station you have ?

https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/soldering-desoldering/soldering-desoldering-systems/mx-series/MX-500P

I imagine you bought them used, new they cost over €600

Unfortunately I can't afford a professional device, for hobby use it would also be useless to spend so much money.

I understand that it is not possible to find a quality device at a low cost, but even with an investment of €100-120 you cannot find a quality product, I'm not talking about buying a professional device but at least some soldering station built with quality components that do not come from China.

@tatel

Yes indeed, to start you could buy just one C245 clone tip to test its quality, yes the price difference between a clone tip and the original is not huge.

But even excluding the original JBC tips, all the soldering stations for C245 120w tips are the various Chinese-made clones, the only original C245 soldering stations are the JBC ones, but I do not take them into consideration because of the high price, the only Weller at the lowest price is the WE1010NA as well as the hakko fx-888d, but both do not use cartridge tips.

In reality, the T12 tips are also enough for me, but even in this case the same thing applies as before, so far I have only seen low-quality Chinese T12 soldering stations, the only original hakko station that uses T12 tips seems to me to be the HAKKO FX-951

Ultimately the various T12 80w and C245 120w stations are clones of Hakko and JBC and consequently they are all Chinese-made stations.

All the main T12 clones are Aixun, Quicko, KSGER, Yihua, AIFEN, Bakon, GEEBOON, SUGON, the same thing applies to the C245 stations, the brands are the same, the only difference is only in the price of the tips.

The choice always falls between these brands, perhaps the most reliable are Aixun and Yihua ? AIFEN and SUGON are the same brand I think.

[stretchyman]

Think I mentioned they were SH, or perhaps I was being too subtle??

I know they were £800 new and used to joke my soldering iron was worth more than my car. Ha ha ha...

Look, if you want a good soldering iron then buy the best.

I have the older MX500's with the 2 connections are vertically stacked.

There seems to be an enormous amount of 'overthinking' here?

Its a very simple choice.

Every company I've ever worked for (30+) all used Metcals.

I just dont know why you would use anything else?

J.

Like this;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305601286383?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=v2sFsq9BSea&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=2WIdMalNRd2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[marck120]

@stretchyman

Thank you for the advice, I actually didn't want to buy used products, I wouldn't have any guarantee, I don't know how long they worked, how they were treated, in fact it's a risk to buy even on Aliexpress, in fact the ideal would be to buy on Amazon.

I'm happy with a less professional product but built in a simple and robust way with few components, the soldering stations with the linear transformer for me remain the most resistant, obviously only soldering stations compatible with JBC C245 or HAKKO T12 handles, the stations with proprietary handles are to be discarded.

Just as an example I mention some stations with linear transformer:

GVM H3, WEMON T31, AiXun T413, STP 920, RF4 RF-ONE, Toor T12-X, LEISTO T12-X, SUGON T26D, i2C 2SCNi, I2C PDK1200, WEP 982D, AIXUN T420D, Quick TS1200A, Best BST-933B, Jabe UD-1200, JBC BT-2BWA

After some research on the forum I understood that most of the stations with switching power supply have problems with voltage drops and grounding, not all of them obviously:


New Yihua soldering station with T12 tips!? - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/new-yihua-soldering-station-with-t12-tips!/

Solder Station New Model: YIHUA 948DB+ II - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/solder-station-new-model-yihua-948db-ii/

Good quality chineese soldering station - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/good-quality-chineese-soldering-station/

Any opinions on the Aixun T420D? - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/any-opinions-on-the-aixun-t420d/

Hi guys! Im looking for new soldering station im at middle of aifen a9 pro vs aixun t320.Can anyone help me to choose or suggest me a soldering iron 100$-230$.Thanks! : r/soldering
https://www.reddit.com/r/soldering/comments/1egzjww/hi_guys_im_looking_for_new_soldering_station_im/

Jabe UD-1200 vs AIXUN T3A vs others? : r/soldering
https://www.reddit.com/r/soldering/comments/114uovo/jabe_ud1200_vs_aixun_t3a_vs_others/

New Aixun T320 - Any opinions on it? (with inside pics) - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/new-aixun-t320-any-opinions-on-it-(with-inside-pics)/

Aifen A9 - is it safe? - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/aife-a9-is-it-safe/

Soldering Station that's not crap? ("advanced hobby" use) - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/soldering-station-thats-not-crap-(advanced-hobby-use)/

Any opinions on the AiXun T3A? - Page 7
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/any-opinions-on-the-aixun-t3a/150/

Jabe UD-1200 Soldering station nice JBC clone - Page 1
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/jabe-ud-1200-soldering-station-nice-jbc-clone/


I don't know if these voltage drops and grounding are a big problem, because in this case the main soldering stations with switching power supply always remain the hakko t12 and c245 clones:

C245

Aixun T320, AIFEN A9 Plus, Aifen-A3, Sugon t21, KSGER C245, Silverflo 982-I

T12

YIHUA 948DB +-II, Preciva 948DB+ II, AIFEN A8, quicko t12-958, OSS T12-X PLUS, GEEBOON TC20A, Aixun T3A, KSGER T12

[stretchyman]

Good luck.

We have very different methods.

I'll leave you to the 'overthinking'

Regards.

J.

[marck120]

Good luck.

We have very different methods.

I'll leave you to the 'overthinking'

Regards.

J.

Of course, we have different points of view, I like to evaluate well before buying, they are not excessive thoughts, I thank you for your help and availability, I greet you and wish you a good evening. See you soon.