Hot air soldering gun

[dan3460]

I have been looking at a Hakko hot air gun and a Weller, but I also see on Ebay cheap Chinese models for $40-50 including freight. I haven't needed hot air that much but I'm getting to do smaller SMDs. For the price of an Hakko or Weller I can buy 10 of the Chinese ones, even if it only lasted for 1 year, I can buy one each year for ten year and still just even with a Hakko.
Is there a compelling reason not to buy a cheap one?

[BravoV]

I haven't needed hot air that much....

For the price of an Hakko or Weller I can buy 10 of the Chinese ones, .....

.....even if it only lasted for 1 year, I can buy one each year for ten year

Reading above, I guess you summarized yourself pretty well, there is no reason to buy those expensive branded blower.

[TheBay]

I've got a Hakko 951 and a Weller WSD80 for soldering, but my hot air is just a cheap WEP with a fan in the handle 

[dan3460]

That is what I thought. I do too, I have a Weller soldering gun, that I have gone through several tips already.

[baastrup]

Im in the same situation, but we might consider a butane solder with replaceble tips?

[anman]

Cheap Chinese HOT AIR can be brought to a decent condition with custom firmware

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/youyue-858d-some-reverse-engineering-custom-firmware/

[dan3460]

That is interesting.

[wraper]

Better get Quick 861DW http://www.gotopac.com/quick-soldering-quick861dw.html if will be working with it more than a few times a year. On par with Hakko HAKKO FR-810B but much cheaper. Those chinese stations are crap IMO, sure they'll do the job but not nearly as good as that quick.

[TheBay]

Better get Quick 861DW http://www.gotopac.com/quick-soldering-quick861dw.html if will be working with it more than a few times a year. On par with Hakko HAKKO FR-810B but much cheaper. Those chinese stations are crap IMO, sure they'll do the job but not nearly as good as that quick.

I still keep meaning to buy a Quick station, just not got around to it yet!

[dan3460]

Better get Quick 861DW http://www.gotopac.com/quick-soldering-quick861dw.html if will be working with it more than a few times a year. On par with Hakko HAKKO FR-810B but much cheaper. Those chinese stations are crap IMO, sure they'll do the job but not nearly as good as that quick.

I think my point still valid, the price of the Quick is $235, plus shipping let's say $30, with that money I can buy 6 of this : http://www.ebay.com/itm/700W-110V-YH-858D-SMD-Hot-Air-Gun-Rework-Station-Solder-Black-Best-Price-US-ship-/152348301134?hash=item2378aa974e:g:9cgAAOSwj85YQkzc

[wraper]

Better get Quick 861DW http://www.gotopac.com/quick-soldering-quick861dw.html if will be working with it more than a few times a year. On par with Hakko HAKKO FR-810B but much cheaper. Those chinese stations are crap IMO, sure they'll do the job but not nearly as good as that quick.

I think my point still valid, the price of the Quick is $235, plus shipping let's say $30, with that money I can buy 6 of this : http://www.ebay.com/itm/700W-110V-YH-858D-SMD-Hot-Air-Gun-Rework-Station-Solder-Black-Best-Price-US-ship-/152348301134?hash=item2378aa974e:g:9cgAAOSwj85YQkzc

But it likely will last more than 10 of those
at least heater. In my experience, set chinese crap hot air station to max temperature, and it may destroy a new heater in a couple of minutes, YMMV though.

[wraper]

And you will still run through 6 of shitty stations which don't perform nearly the same as one good.

[dan3460]

Well, I did it. I bought a crappy Chinese hot gun. It was $34 including freight. Let's see how long it will last and how well will it performs. I don't think is a huge financial risk.

[TheBay]

Well, I did it. I bought a crappy Chinese hot gun. It was $34 including freight. Let's see how long it will last and how well will it performs. I don't think is a huge financial risk.

You can always use it for doing heatshrink.

[daybyter]

My 858 station works ok for a few weeks now. No complaints so far.

[9a4wy]

Did someone try this one???
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Estacion-soldadura-aire-caliente-600W-YIHUA-853AAA-/182224692435?hash=item2a6d7024d3:g:BZoAAOSwdzVXnBsW
pros-cons please??
tnx

[nanofrog]

Better get Quick 861DW http://www.gotopac.com/quick-soldering-quick861dw.html if will be working with it more than a few times a year. On par with Hakko HAKKO FR-810B but much cheaper. Those chinese stations are crap IMO, sure they'll do the job but not nearly as good as that quick.

Absolutely +1. 

Quick's stuff is very well made IME (mains are wired correctly, use decent parts, and is neatly constructed inside). And FWIW, mine's still going after a 1+ years without a hiccup.
It should also be noted that it's UI is rather intuitive. So much so, it's easier to operate than the FR-801 as I understand it (Hakko makes good stuff, but their UI design is terrible).

Nozzles are cheap from what I've seen (P/N's start with an N; they're friction fit so no screw to mess with). That said, I've not encountered anything the 3 included round nozzles couldn't handle. Just make or buy shields/protectors if the board is tight & nearby components are too delicate to use a blanket rework method (JBC makes them).