KSGER T12 Solder Handle Opinion Needed - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rfdes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2023, 11:09:06 pm
content: Hi -I am considering purchasing a new handle for my KSGER T12 station and noticed the handle shown in the thumbnail being sold. Does anyone have any experience with this handle version or know where an online review exists? I've heard that the aluminum handles tend to get hot and I believe this handle is made of high temp plastic but not sure.ThanksJim

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2023, 11:29:40 pm
content: The first gen black aluminium handles did get too hot. The newer version i have just gets warm.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2023, 12:15:04 am
content: I went back to the original blue plastic handle, it won't melt or anything!No regrets, so much better handling, not burning your hand after 5 minutes.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32871508100.htmlHah! Was 50% cheaper 1 year ago.

author: rfdes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2023, 01:05:43 am
content: Yes - I have the original blue handle version and it has worked well but is starting to give me some issues. Figured I would purchase a new one and was wondering about the black one shown in the image.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2023, 01:43:06 am
content: Yeah the contacts eventually wear out and you start getting tip errors every then and now, chinese crap...

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2023, 02:16:26 am
content: Important is the handle fit in your stand. So far it's a gong show with handles not fitting well in stands, they either fall out or get stuck

author: Jono434
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2023, 01:56:48 pm
content: I am in similar situation at the moment and trying to match the right combination of handle and stand is so frustrating because there are so many options and they are all cheap but nothing stands out as the best option. Even if you find a good handle, the stand diameter might be too big or small.I'm leaning towards Aixun T3A stand with Sugon T12 Handle -https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003717752698.htmlThe connector is 6 pin and needs rewiring. But the handle is the same size as C245 and fits the stand well and works well with stand mode sleep detection. For KSGER handles, there are many options and none of them stand out. The best seem to be the plastic ones, there's two blue and black ones that people seem to like. It's hard to comment properly without trying them.It's really a personal preference thing but plastic definitely seems better than aluminum or stainless steel. Who thought of that? An excuse to charge more money? What other good reason is there? It seems like these people don't even solder with their own station to feel the difference.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2023, 02:51:25 pm
content: Because Steel/Aluminium looks fancy, and people have no clue, most are just "youtube-skilled".This is just like polishing a hammer to later hit a wall... plain stupid and useless.There's not a single brand making their handles in metal!Some might have a small metal ring at the tip to protect it from wear and heat, like JBC, but that's all.How to explain chinese crap makers that 400ºC/750ºF, metal handles and human skin don't mix well?

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2023, 06:25:29 pm
content: I have the KSGER aluminum handle and it's gross. It is small, simple and cheap.The grip is just a small sleeve of silicone tubing, it has no grips. The rest of the tube is slippery. After say 1/2 an hour the handle gets hot. Cable strain relief is a zip tie.It fits in no stand very well. This is my biggest complaint. I am convinced the chinese cannot make a decent stand, they can only copy and cheapen. Then they mix up handles the Hakko knockoffs with their own primitive handles. What a mess.

author: nunya
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 13, 2023, 07:04:03 pm
content: Hello. when choosing handles for soldering stations you might want something thats not too long, if you imagine writing with a pencil and gripping all the way up on the end, it gets difficult to write, right. Same with soldering, you want your hands close to the tip. Personally I have usedhttps://vi.aliexpress.com/item/4000012359087.htmlfor a long time and loved it. The ones on your link also looked very nice.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2023, 07:31:08 pm
content: That one is crap, same one as what I mentioned, well aside from being "ABS" yet the ad posts a picture of the aluminum tube version? Oh and for the same price lol.Nothing much for a finger stop, it's too long and skinny and the grip is primitive, and it gets hot to hold after >30minutes, strain relief does nothingIt accomplishes the chinese mandate of maximum efficiency/minimum materials used for maximum profit. Quicko has the same ones as well.china cannot manufacture a textured handle so it doesn't not slip, or a bigger finger grip etc. Copy Hakko but fail to match the design quality ingredients.Oh and how's that cheap stand for it coming along, just as bad

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2023, 07:35:34 pm
content: $15 for that? ;-DD.My old blue handle was partially melted by accidentally dropping anotheriron on it, a year ago I bought a new for for $4.F** chinese crap sellers. Specially KSGER, average rubbish twice as expensive.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2023, 08:29:31 pm
content: Is it that they are cheap or too much pride or lacking original thought? It must be terrible in their factories, soldering irons that don't last and just unreliable and not comfy.I found KSGER was good quality in the build, better than many other stores, although other forums say it has gone downhill lately.