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Recommended Hot Air Rework Station?

udanis

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Hey guys, I am buying a hot air rework station in the near future. Do any of you guys have experience with any of them and have recommendations?

Thanks
A
 





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I don't any with a rework station, but I heard you can take a $20 heat gun from walmart, and buy a focusing tip online to reflow solder. You have to be careful with the stations though. Perhaps temperature control is an option?
 
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I got one of those Aoyue 968 rework stations a while back. Now they're up to the Aoyue 986A+ which includes a nice digital temperature display for the soldering iron instead of just the dial.

How does it work? Well, to be honest, I used the hot air rework more for heat shrink than any rework, but it did melt solder when to tried it. The rest of the setup was pretty nice, and the price is good.
 
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bought an aoyue 6028 a few months ago to use at work because they were to cheap to buy me a hakko station and it has worked like a charm.... only cost me a $100
 
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Hey Im in the market for a reflow solder station as my soldering iron has packed up.

@ Badger would you recommend the 968 as the soldering iron is only 35 W...Is it powerful and work well enough or would you suggest the 968A+ at 70 W??

I also found these, which are quite a bit cheaper: WEP 872D, WEP 852D+ and the Atten AT858D+

Basically has anyone got any experience with these and are the included soldering irons any good?

Thanks:beer:
 
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Things

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I think there is a 110V version, but yes, they're not changeable, so watch out for that. That being said I have an 858D+ and it's been great for me. To be honest I use it more to keep my pizza warm, but hey, works great for soldering too, multi purpose :D
 
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I looked for a 110VAC version of it and found one quoted 110VAC
on eBay but when checked the specs and photos on the listing I saw
it was not 110VAC version but another 220VAC version....

I think I would go with the Aoyue 986A that BB linked to...
It has a lot of extras when bought off eBay from a guy in
the USA.


Jerry
 
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Thanks for the replies!

@ Things how good is the 858D at soldering, I mean is the iron good enough? I have tried to solder with crappy irons before and there is nothing more frustrating spending a few hours trying to get the damn solder to melt! Yes was using flux and had a clean tip!;) Just want to be sure they didnt thow in a $2 ebay iron as the set...

@ Lasersbee Yup saw there was a voltage issue but Ill be buying in europe as postage from the US varied between $60 and around $350 :p

:beer:
 
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About a year ago, I bought the WEP 858D. This is the one without the iron, just the blower. The heating element is very nice and the device is rather efficient. I would recommend this one for SMD work, because of it's decent price. About $75 on Amazon.


WEP 858D (110V) Hot Air Rework Soldering Station, $75.00


But when it comes to through-the-hole desoldering and rework, I was disappointed. It may not be the fault of the unit. Perhaps it isn't designed for through-the-hole work. I've used other "hot air" devices that DID work effectively for this latter kind of work, but not this one.

Another thing I like about the unit, is it remembers it's temperature setting, even when powered off (and unplugged) for weeks at a time. Again, for SMD work and working with solder paste, this is an ideal unit, in my opinion.
 
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Thanks. Ive heard some good things about WEP (also some bad stuff but Ive heard that that about the Atten too!)

The WEP units are half the price of the others and that could well clench the deal, provided they are at least as reliable and fuctional as the others.

Any more info / experience would be greatly appreciated! :beer:
 
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@ Badger would you recommend the 968 as the soldering iron is only 35 W...Is it powerful and work well enough or would you suggest the 968A+ at 70 W??

I don't think they sell the plain 968 anymore, only the 968A+. It's still about the same price though.

I liked the soldering iron on the my Aoyue. It heated up quickly and worked fine. I rarely bothered with setting the temperature to specific points after the initial setting, and didn't use the hot air or smoke sucker on the tip as much as I thought I would. It's was nice having the capability when I needed it though. Overall, I think the station has good value and should last you a while until you decide to get something better.
 
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Ok thanks BB. Its the choice then between the WEP 872D @ around $65, or the 968A+ at $220. To be honest Id rather spend less, unless it can really be justified...ie far superior functioning, soldering capabilities and life time, but to be honest they are both Chinese products and so will probably be similar. Only difference is, I could replace the 872D if it died and still have cash left over. :thinking::beer:
 
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Probably a good choice if you don't need the soldering iron too. I originally bought the 968 for both capabilities, but if you need just hot air the WEP sounds like a good deal.
 
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:p I need both! Thats why I was asking how good the irons were ;) lol. Anyway I decided to go for the WEP 872D station and Ill let you guys know if its any good. Thanks for all the help :beer:
 
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I would like to also add, the build quality of the WEP I mentioned is better than your typical Chinese-made gear. It could easily pass as American made. Sure, it's mass produced for the least amount of cost. But it feels good in your hands, and the buttons feel decent, too. Just my 2 centavos.
 




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