To JBC, to Weller WX system or Ersa I-Con system( don´t know it) ?
Just post your experiences here...
I’m not a fan of Weller*. I have used both JBC and Ersa i-Con 1 and
2 2V at work, and I have the i-Con nano at home.
I prefer the “big” i-Con models (= all except the nano and pico) overall of all of them. The big i-Cons are better than the nano in 3 ways that matter to me, having used both extensively: backlit display, front-panel power switch, and more heater power, in order from largest to smallest factor. They share the same tips, heater, and handle style. I much prefer the Ersa handle to the JBC, which are longer than they need to be.
(The i-Con pico I would avoid: it’s only slightly cheaper than the nano, but is not ESD-safe, on account of using a cheaper heater with plastic threads for the tips. And IIRC, the pico is made in China while the nano and the big ones are made in Germany.)
I also MUCH prefer the Ersa iron stands over the JBC’s built-in stands. I like to have the stand within easy reach, and I hated having to drag the entire JBC station across the bench just to have the stand closer. (I think it’s separate in the really expensive modular JBC models, but not the mainstream ones.) The Ersa stand is made entirely of rubber with a ceramic (not plastic or metal) insert. I like the angle it’s at, I like that the stand is light, and thus easy to move, yet doesn’t slip around because of its design, which makes it grippy on the bench.
The JBC has the advantage of the fastest tip changes, and a MASSIVE selection of tips. But the JBC tips cost so much that actually taking advantage of that selection would cost a fortune. And to add insult to injury, those expensive JBC tips don’t last as long as Ersa tips, which mostly cost a lot less. (Like €30 for a JBC chisel vs €10 for an Ersa chisel. Even if you factor in the €5 screw holder thingie — I totally agree you should get one for each tip — it’s still half the price, and if you should ever wear out the tip, you can still reuse the holder.
If I were going to buy one now, I’d probably buy the i-Con 2, to enable both dual irons for grabbing chip resistors and stuff (instead of tweezers), and to be able to have two irons with different tips at the ready. (I’d want this even with a JBC.)
Despite the Ersa not being a cartridge heater system, the real-world performance is outstanding, and feels indistinguishable from the JBC in actual use.
I’d love to test the Pace ADS200 and see how it stacks up. I have a Pace desoldering station and really like it. While it doesn’t have the sheer heating power of Ersa’s desoldering handpiece (x-tool vario, I believe it’s called) for the i-Con stations, the Pace vacuum pump is far, far better, and I find it to be much better at clearing holes. (And the Ersa desoldering tips and supplies like filters are crazy expensive!)
I haven’t used JBC’s desoldering tool, since I haven’t worked anywhere that had one. (Nor have I used the very latest Weller desoldering tools. I have used older ones and they were awful compared to Pace.)
*The one thing Weller does best is having hands down the softest cable of any soldering iron I’ve ever used. Everyone else should learn from this!