Need advice about buying soldering station . - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: SH@RK
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2011, 06:12:31 pm
content: HiI was looking for soldering station at local stores and found tow acceptable according to my cash .1:- Velleman vtssc50nGoes for 340 SR == 90$http://shop.rabtron.co.za/catalog/soldering-station-temperature-control-420c-p-4926.htmland this one2:- hipower smd rework station 852d+Goes for 340 SR == 90$Absolutely China madeAlmost a copy of this with other company name . See my photo in attachments .http://www.obd2motor.com/saike-852d-220v-2-in-1-smd-rework-soldering-iron-hot-air-gun_p5056.htmlmore infohttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SAIKE-852D-Hot-Air-Gun-2-1-REWORK-STATION-soldering-/290582781215and this is videoAnd this is what I found and u can read company name on it but I did not find that company in the internet .So what do u think I should buy ?I can not buy from internet because shipping only will be no less than 60 $Thanks

author: SH@RK
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2011, 06:23:26 pm
content: And this how they make almost same product in China .So do u think it is good product .

author: melrel
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2011, 11:41:14 pm
content: HiI don't know how long you have been in electronics but I have just started and find that the best way to make sure you get good kit is to trust people who know the score. I watched Dave's video on what you need for starting in electronics. I took his advice on buying the Hakko FX-888. It was a shade more than I wanted to pay but hell this is a good soldering station. I was used to the plug-in-mains type and was blown away with the Hakko's performance. Also his advice on reducing solder dia has absolutely revolutionised my soldering. My solder joints are indistinguishable from manufacturers (although I say it myself). Take Dave's tip and keep away from unknown makes. Happy soldering bud. All the best

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2011, 11:49:55 pm
content: Quote from: melrel on November 22, 2011, 11:41:14 pmThere's a catch in this approach. When I was starting buying my first lab tools and equipment I had tons of contradictory recommendations from professionals, like "buy the X brand meter, Y is a crap", "don't listen to him, X is a crap and Y is the best brand". This applied mostly to multimeters and soldering stations, but other things as well. It was really frustrating when you ask on some forum "which meter should I buy?" and all you get is a flamewar about the superiority autoranging over non-autoranging meters (and vice versa) etc.One solution to this is just picking the guy you want to listen and listen only to him and this is what I did. Unfortunately I didn't know EEVBlog at this time, but Dave was just starting then anyway.

author: RCMR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 12:23:02 am
content: The other option is just to buy the cheapest product you can find -- then, once you've become utterly frustrated with its limitations and faults -- then go buy something really good (like the 888).Quality is just that much nicer when your frame of reference is so far down the lader!I used a regular 30W iron for years and it was only after I bought something decent that I realized just how much difference it makes.No burnt solder, your flux doesn't vanish in a puff of smoke as soon as you feed the solder into the joint and no getting really pee'd off when a thick wire drains all the heat from your iron and leaves the joint cold and dull.If you think about it - a soldering iron is probably your number-one tool, push the boat out and spend $100 on a decent station like the FX888 -- every time you use it you'll be glad you did.

author: Armin_Balija
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 01:19:51 am
content: In my opinion: Soldering Iron with station = Hakko FX-888

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 02:33:42 am
content: Quote from: melrel on November 22, 2011, 11:41:14 pmFor sure. Nothing worse than a cheap-o brand soldering iron or and/or tips. The poor quality materials mean the cheap ones just don't last.You don't save a huge amount compared to a quality Hakko brand either, but unfortunately, it's not available everywhere at good prices.But you can't go wrong with any of the major brands, Ersa, Weller, Pace, Metcal et.alDave.

author: SH@RK
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 03:26:10 am
content: Thank u all .Sorry did not say that I have watched#180 - Soldering Tutorial Part 1 - Toolsand searched for Hakko fx-888 and found it for around $84www.amazon.com/Hakko-Soldering-Station-FX-888/dp/B004M3U0VUbut shipping will cost about 60$ .The only solution is that I u Dave help me or any one else in Australia .I have friend in Australia exactly in Brisbane and he is coming back next month .I already talked to him but he does not know were to buy it .So anyone can help us finding good store or website from Australia so he can buy it for me ?And if that were place fore other electronic tools so we can buy anything I need it will be the best solution .Thanks

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 03:30:04 am
content: Unfortunately you can't buy it cheap in Australia.Amazon is US based.Dave.

author: SH@RK
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 03:57:29 am
content: Unfortunately , looks like I will have to wait till when one of my US friends is coming back .So how about rethinking about "hipower smd rework station 852d+" .Dave or anyone , can u watch the video or read anything about it and judge it from your experience ?It is eather taking no name product or sticking to plug-in-mains type {and it is very poor quality} .Everybody what do u think ?========================I am working in part-time-job in my university to get money to buy these things so I can not buy with to much shipping cost .========================Thanks

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 04:19:01 am
content: Quote from: SH@RK on November 23, 2011, 03:57:29 amIt'll solder stuff. Just expect to replace it in say 5 years time or something, and to possibly replace tips often because they are poor quality.When you cheaper no-name brands you take your chances...Dave.

author: SH@RK
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 04:27:48 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 23, 2011, 04:19:01 amThank u5 years is more than enough for me .5 years , hopefully I will have finished my undergraduate and started graduate study in US .About the tips should I buy a good quality one and replace it so it last long ?And in the attachment the first project I ever made in first lab class .Thank u again .

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 11:21:38 am
content: Quote from: SH@RK on November 23, 2011, 04:27:48 amYou can't get "good quality" tips for a no-name ironUnless it happens to be compatible with a known brand's tips.Dave.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 12:35:10 pm
content: Quote from: SH@RK on November 23, 2011, 03:57:29 amI have one, but I have it packed away most of the time. I currently just have a standalone soldering iron on my desk, and I only drag out the 852d+ when I need the hot air desoldering. Buying just the desoldering unit without the iron is probably a much better idea. It takes a lot of desk space, and the cord on the iron was too short.The 852D+ uses Hakko tips, but the iron element and the hot air element are custom to the 852D+. The soldering iron looks just like a Hakko 936 iron, but the element uses a different sensor, and it uses wire in the tip whereas Hakko uses some kind of element deposited on the ceramic itself. I suspect it uses a thermocouple temperature sensor, rather then a resistive sensor. The first element that came with the soldering iron got stuck in the supplied non-Hakko tip, and when I tried to remove it, the element just broke. If you get it, buy spare elements from the seller (they are pretty cheap) and replace the tip with a Hakko one before you start using it. The temperature calibration of the iron is rough - I think mine was up to 50 degrees out in places after replacing the iron element. The control board has a number of sealed adjustment pots and I have no schematic, so to work out how to recalibrate the iron would take a lot of work. Many of the pots are not easily accessible. The "manual" is useless - nothing about recalibrating mentioned.The 852D+ is a generic device sold under many different brand names, so the "Hipower" brand does not mean much.Richard

author: burnit
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 23, 2011, 06:26:02 pm
content: IMO you need good tips(points?), I have a soldering iron for about $20 and know what I have to work with. It does everything I need it to do and I know the limitations of it. The next iron I buy will not cost $10, but as it is I have no real need for a top notch iron and everything between the budget and premium products are usually not worth the cost. I would never buy anything China made since I have had a job where they bought lot of products from China. If you want quality from China it will cost about the same as"real"brands and if you go with the cheap stuff you need to buy 3 products to get one good, ramping up the real price a lot.Also don't get fooled by CE marking, it has nothing to do with quality but for some reason people believe it does.