Pace SX-80 desoldering station doesn't work! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 08:46:26 pm
content: Bit of a heat scratcher (I'll get some pics later)Basically, the element works well, gets nice and hot, the vacuum pump has good suction.But!The front seal doesn't seal to the back of the barrel... I bought a new seal, and its exactly the same as the old one?I stole this pic, too lazy to take my own photos.The red/orange seal is meant to seal between the solder collection tube, and the barrel from the tip, it does get subjected to some heat, which is why I assumed that was the issue, but a new seal seems to have made no difference.

author: quint
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 09:27:28 pm
content: At the risk of asking a stupid question, are you using the correct desoldering tips for an SX-80? As far as I know, the front seal doesn't seal to the barrel which holds the tips. The tips for the SX-80 have a long thin tube which goes through the seal and into the solder collection tube. The seal is between the tip and the collection tube. Check out pictures of the SX-80 tips on the Pace website. Or perhaps I'm telling you something you already know and I've misunderstood your question...

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 09:35:21 pm
content: No, I'm quite sure you're onto something there...

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 09:45:09 pm
content: Thankyou very much!I could have gone around in circles for days!I didn't buy this desoldering station, I was given it from work with the story "I don't know whats wrong with it, its just been sitting here for years"Well, it seems to have an SX-70 tip in it, which doesn't have the long barrel on the tip to seal to the front seal.... Something I never would have even considered till you pointed it out to me!Now, to find reasonably priced tips!Thanks again!

author: quint
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 09:57:30 pm
content: You're welcome. I'm glad it was a simple fix! The SX-80 is a nice unit and tips are still easily available. eBay is probably the best place to get them cheaper but new tips are also available from most dealers and from Pace directly.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 10:02:52 pm
content: Interestingly, Element 14 list this tip as suiting the SX-70, 80 and 90...http://au.element14.com/plato/30-0600/tip-desoldering-iron-round-2-9mm/dp/1695638And I reckon that's the tip I have now.

author: quint
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 10:21:46 pm
content: That is clearly wrong. It might work with a SX-70 but I don't see how it can work with SX-80 or SX-90.

author: willb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 11:57:34 pm
content: BTW, SX-80 and SX-90/SX-100 tips are not interchangeable between the 2 UNLESS the heater in the SX-80 has been upgraded to an SX-90/SX-100 heater. Pace redesigned the heater and tips in the newer hand pieces to reduce and eliminate clogging. I own an SX-80 with an upgraded heater, and trust me, it's worth every penny if you do a lot of through hole desoldering. The new heater set me back 90$ CND from my local Pace dealer. So before you buy tips, check which heater you have. If you have the older heater and need new tips, I highly recommend replacing the heater at the same time as it makes the tool so much more enjoyable to use.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2013, 12:00:12 am
content: I went diggingI have these two items, both have the same plug, so I assume they were used with the same base station, which of course I don't have...I also found just a few of the disposable filters to go with the SX-80... 100 in total, should last a while!Then there are these Pace desoldering tips, that don't suit the SX-80And of course, TWO SX-70 tips, that won't work in the SX-80...The PaceAnother Pace... which I pulled apart a week ago, heating element is dead, and it has the suction of a... well, it doesn't suck...And, I also seem to have a Hakko 900 pencil, with no base station...I believe the three Hakko items all went with the same base station

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2013, 12:01:32 am
content: Quote from: willb on November 15, 2013, 11:57:34 pmFrom what I read, SX-80 tips can be used in the SX-90, but not the other way around.How does one determine which heater they have?

author: willb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2013, 12:10:29 am
content: Quote from: AmmoJammo on November 16, 2013, 12:01:32 amYeah, I do believe you are correct about that, but truthfully, I don't know why anyone would want to do that!You'll have to check the part number on the heater.http://www.blackandco.com/govtsales/pace/PACE_SX-90_Solder_Extractor_Desoldering_Handpiece.htm

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2013, 03:15:29 am
content: Quote from: willb on November 16, 2013, 12:10:29 amBecause if someone already had half a dozen SX-80 tips, but their heating element failed, they wouldn't want to have to replace the element, AND all the tips when there was nothing wrong with the old tips.I'm fairly sure this is an SX-80 element, no useful numbers on it that I could find, but based on the distance I can insert a drill bit into the elemet

author: quint
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2013, 07:39:06 am
content: Quote from: willb on November 15, 2013, 11:57:34 pmThat is worth knowing. But I assume you have to replace both the heater and the tips to get the better performance. Still, if my heater fails it might be worth it to get some new tips and an SX-90 heater if it is really that much better.