Which Sub $400 hot air rework station - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2012, 08:51:37 am
content: HiI am looking at purchasing a hot air rework station.The type of stuff I want to do is nothing fancy, no BGAs but other small smd and maybe a lot of Cree Leds.I am looking at something likeAoyue 2703A+(just came out) , or ATTEN 850DIn the price range of maybe up to $400 including shipping to Aus. But obviously I don't want to pay for what I don't need.Anybody got any views on what I should purchase and where I should purchase.Also has anyone gone through AliExpress they have the ATTEN 850Ds.I'd appreciate the feedback.Thanks

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2012, 09:43:36 am
content: I have an Aoyue 968, does hot air rework perfectly fine.The soldering iron is a bit odd though, shape is a bit weird due to the smoke extractor tube.

author: dfnr2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2012, 11:58:19 pm
content: For what it's worth, I have the Aoyue 852A++, and it works just fine. Less the $150 shipped (in the USA). I would skip the all-in-one stations.Dave

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2012, 11:38:20 am
content: Thanks for the input.I'll probably go with one of those AliExpress links, at $52.00 shipped, what an amazing price.I wouldn't mind the Aoyues, but the shipping from US is about $80.00.We have Aoyue soldering irons at work but our technician has burnt both of them out. He turns up the temperature instead of getting a thicker tip, to do heavy inductors. I repeat this wasn't the Aoyues fault.

author: scasagrande
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2012, 01:46:52 pm
content: I recently got myself the a "Yihua 8508D" off eBay. I did an unboxing video and a mini-teardown and review video.Unboxing:Internals, Operation, and Repair:

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2012, 02:00:52 pm
content: @DaveS I just assumed it was the heating element, when I get the chance I will have a look. Thanks for the tip. (no pun intended)@scasagrande Thanks I will have a look.

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2012, 07:39:15 pm
content: $400.00 ?Wait and catch a Leister Hot Jet S, off ebay, I recently bought one for $275.00. Solid like a rock. You will feel the quality in your hands. The temperature and air flow control are on the unit, small and portable.David.

author: Core Memory
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 21, 2012, 02:27:40 pm
content: scasagrande,Very informative videos, especially the second one. Congratulations on being very self-controlled when you discovered the unit didn't work and maintaining your composure while trouble-shooting the problem and remedying it.You should get a tripod for your camera and some real screwdrivers. A tripod would imrove the quality of the video and enable you to use both hands (The movement was distracting and I was getting motion sickness.). Those multi-tip homeowner screwdrivers are not for professionals and caused the stripping of the screw head because the tip was the wrong size which allowed the tip to slip out of the screw's socket and, even if the tip was the correct size, the stubbiness of the screwdriver probably wouldn't enable enough torque to easily turn the screw.Your revelation of the hot-air rework station and handle's "guts" has caused me to think about building my own with an Arduino controller and a hot-air paint stripper or hair-dryer which has various sized tips. The Arduino would independently pulse-width-modulate the fan and element voltages to control the fan speed and the element's temperature, not on-off voltage cycling which causes inaccurate temperature and thermally shocks the heating element which reduces it's life.

author: Nermash
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2012, 02:47:12 pm
content: Quote from: Core Memory on March 21, 2012, 02:27:40 pmNope, crap chinese soft aloy screws caused the stripping. I've dissasembled one unit some time ago, and I had to drill out few of the screws.That being said, I just got a 858D+, and it is pretty good for the money spent on it. Big plus for me is lack of the roaring and vibrating pump.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2012, 10:18:56 am
content: @scasagrande thanks for the videos, interesting.I got the Aoyue 968, Psi said he had one, and the price was pretty good. $160 shipped.But when the parcel arrived it looked like somebody had smashed it with baseball bats.The resulting damage to the station is in the photos.The only actual functional damage is the air hose adapter to the soldering iron. I am currently in dispute with AliExpress and my vender about this.I tested the reworking capabilities on a few hbleds and it was really good. the soldering iron is fine too.the much maligned pump is loud but I don't mind it.The station makes a sound when it draws current, like a heavily loaded transformer, which I do like, as it is giving you an aural indication of what it is doing.