Hot air station for constant use? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ryanmills
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 07:38:13 pm
content: I'm sorry to ask a question so similar to what has been asked a number of times. I went thru pages in the search but could not quite find the answer I was looking for.I need to pick up a hot air station for daily use but I have not used one in the past and don't know anything about the brands. I'm a hakko fanboy but their hot air stations are outside the price range I can get approved for. There is a giant mess of hot air stations on amazon but the pricing seems to either be >$100 junk or <$1000+. My experience with cheap irons has me really hesitating on the 858D clones. Some of them are just silly, why would someone want a MP3 player in a hot air station. I don't need 20 cheap tools and arms included. I don't have any use for a dual station, I love my hakko. I just need a single solid hot air gun I can use daily to assemble prototypes as well as fix boards in the future. By chance are there any 858D clone brands that I should lean towards or should I really be using for the higher end rework stations? Ideal budget range was around $300 USD but now I'm not sure if it's worth it unless I spend over $1,000 USD.

author: ryanmills
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 08:02:56 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on January 15, 2019, 07:52:47 pmOhh I had just found the 861DW and came back to ask about it. When you say the 861DW geared to larger boards, why is that exactly? I do have larger boards and I would be flowing a lot of parts on at a time.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 08:07:08 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on January 15, 2019, 07:52:47 pmWith 861DW you get handpiece of the same size but almost 2 times more max power. You can set airflow in wider range, both min and max. There is no downside other than larger base.

author: mvs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 08:47:54 pm
content: Quote from: ryanmills on January 15, 2019, 07:38:13 pm858D clones may do the job, but if you consider to buy one do not leave it unattended while mains connected. Heating element is controlled by a Triac, which may fail short due some transient and cause fire.There some cases known, like this in video:

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 08:55:16 pm
content: my 858d ceased to function after a year and a half of light use. I leaved it plugged to main, and hopefully I was beside it when it started to heat at max power, only the heating element without fan. it could have lead to a big fire if I hadn't unplugged it right away ...now I bought a 861DW as replacement. more expensive but no comparaison possible...

author: ryanmills
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 10:18:41 pm
content: I will just forward that video to the accounting department when they ask why I can't use a cheaper oneI actually keep the clip lights above my bench and irons on a power strip so I don't forget to turn off the iron. Tempted fate leaving my iron on all weekend one time...Thank you everyone, will be going with the 861DW!