Ebay:  Steinel heat gun (a.k.a. hot air gun) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 05:41:44 am
content: There's no digital readout but it's got the variable fan control and variable heat control on the handle which makes a lot of sense. The tip is odd, I'm thinking maybe it's for welding plastic. It's more than I'd like to pay but you can bet it's better than a chinese hot air station.eBay auction: #141255482224Anyone have a steinel or used one? The construction looks solid on all the models I've looked at, I may be picking up an 803.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 06:32:24 am
content: I have one ofthese, and it seems to be a very well made, reliable piece of kit.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 06:46:50 am
content: The datasheet says 940 grams but I'd guess they include the weight of the case and the gun. That's a nice model, past my budget though. They look well thought out and with good construction.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 07:10:17 am
content: 940g sounds about right, the gun is heavy. Bear in mind, though, that the model you're looking at is quite different, and might be better suited for light electronics work.I think mine is really aimed more at pipe soldering and paint stripping, though on minimum airflow it's perfectly capable of reflowing parts that have some size to them... TQFPs and DPAKs, that sort of thing. 0603 and smaller parts tend to go flying if you're not careful, though.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 06:20:41 pm
content: @AndyC_772, Ok around 2 lbs. sounds like a lot, but for bigger jobs should not be a problem at all. I'm going to pass on the ebay one. I'm looking at the gun-type that's around $60 (u.s.). I may make my own nozzles with some D or C cell battery casings and a hose clamp.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 06:43:49 pm
content: While it is nice bit of kit, I don't think that it is well suited for small electronics work. I have worked with similar Leister heat gun (which was smaller than this), and can say that cheap Chinese junk hot air station is much better for such use. I don't say that Atten is good, just big hot air gun is not suited for such use. Minimum air flow can also be a problem, so small parts will be blown away. Nozzle is weird because it is for plastic welding.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 07:12:15 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on April 14, 2014, 06:43:49 pmThe unit on ebay has continuously variable air flow, I'd have to check to see the lowest flow rate. I may be getting the 803 and making my own nozzles. If the minimum flow rate is too high I'll make a nozzle that diverts part of the air flow away. Not hard to do.I won't expect to find a mutilated squirrel cage fan in the steinel like Dave found in that chinese hot air station.That was no doubt due to poor engineering. They didn't realize that the fan was mismatched for the heat so they had to allow for more air flow. Instead of putting in the right part they mangled the existing one. That kind of poor design casts serious doubt over the entire product.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 14, 2014, 07:36:01 pm
content: If you want better station just buy with normal diaphragm pump inside the station itself. Not so more expensive. As for good station which don't cost a fortune, Quick 861(DS, DE, ..) is very good for the price. I got such for 200 EUR.http://www.quick-global.com/2-lead-free-rework-2.htmlBut might be difficult to obtain in many regions.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 12:17:40 am
content: Quote from: wraper on April 14, 2014, 07:36:01 pmCan you take some photos of the internals?I'm not sure I like the air hose implementation for a hot air station, it adds some complexity to the design and some additional points of failure.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 04:37:06 pm
content: Blower motor is 13500 RPM BLDC driven by separate board containing 6 IRF9540 mosfets for coil switching. CPU Atmega16A, Triac BTA41-600B. All electrolytic capacitors are Jamicon which is pretty decent brand. Air flow 1-120 L/min, heater power 1kw. I measured temperature some time ago, was within 2-3oC from shown on display.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 04:43:37 pm
content: Quote from: GiskardReventlov on April 15, 2014, 12:17:40 amMost decent hot air stations (Weller, JBC) have an air pump inside the body of the station to keep the tool lightweight and handy.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 05:30:31 pm
content: @wraper, that looks well built, I really like the construction. For that price range it seems like a good buy. They should send one to Dave to tear down. Very cheap advertising for them.You mentioned a diaphragm pump before but that's not a diaphragm pump.I'm opting for a more versatile tool that I can use to remove paint too. The more purposes for a tool the more I like it.Thanks for the pics.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 06:31:03 pm
content: Just most stations have diaphragm pump inside, Atten, Auyue and others make them. That is original hakko construction which was widely cloned. Their older models all were such. Blower inside the handpiece was the move to make cheaper. IIRC they started to widely appear about 4 years ago.I don't think that BLDC in this station was to make cheaper as it requires pretty complicated electronics to drive, as there are also 3 hall sensors inside the motor according to which coils are switched. Also it allows very wide airflow regulation.For paint removing better buy another cheap hot air. Soldering small parts with a huge hot air gun is a real pain, I have experience.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 06:48:10 pm
content: @wraper, I understand now what you meant about diaphragm pumps. (they use them in aquarium air pumps)I'm not going to be doing smd, I will use it for desoldering, heat shrinks and paint stripping. Might do some plastic welding too but it's not a reason I'm buying the 803.I'm not sure that I'd use a hot air gun for smd anyway. The reflow ovens make the most sense for that. And there's another thread here where they are setting up a jig with how air guns with two guns, one above and below. Maybe for reballing??

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 07:20:27 pm
content: If you make whole board then reflow oven is better. But if you want to solder some components then you need hot air. I have all of those devices: reflow oven, for Big BGA I use IR station (includes IR preheater). For smaller parts, hot air station + hot air preheater (for multilayer boards). Anyway even if you are not repairing anything, hot air is very handy for making prototypes.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 11:27:46 pm
content: @wraper, sounds like you have a complete PCB factory. Did you ever repair any PS3?I have an old one that I may try to repair. I found PS3 solder masks on ebay.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 12:16:46 am
content: Quote from: GiskardReventlov on April 15, 2014, 11:27:46 pmWell yeah, almost, right now assembling simple devices for selling on ebay.No, I didn't repair PS3 but repaired quiet some notebook motherboards. It will be difficult to repair PS3 with just a hot air gun. Preheater is mandatory, also you need a really big nozzle then. IR is much better for that. Before you try any BGAs, you need some practice on scrap boards. I'm not really sure about PS3 but on xbox360 there was chip fault, reballing is useless. Just revives chip for some time. BTW, you can try just heat bga, without reflowing, if it starts to work, then it needs replacement, not reball. And remember, ebay is full of reheatet faulty BGAs, especially made by Nvidia. There are also a lot with fake date codes or rebadged similar chips.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 12:35:34 am
content: Quote from: wraper on April 16, 2014, 12:16:46 amSo you place parts by hand? Ebay's a tricky place, lots of fraud going on. I've done some analysis of some very questionable things that ebay allows and basically encourages by implementing the features. But now that I know I also know how to take advantage of it. Ebay don't care, either way they win.QuoteDo a lot of notebooks use BGAs?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 12:45:27 am
content: Quote from: GiskardReventlov on April 16, 2014, 12:35:34 amEvery notebook have at least 1-3 big BGAs and some small.

author: GiskardReventlov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2014, 02:06:11 am
content: Quote from: wraper on April 16, 2014, 12:45:27 amDo you have to have the solder mask to repair a BGA?

author: alexjordon27
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 18, 2014, 05:40:49 am
content: Hey,I visit above link. This Ergonomic heat gun is really looking nice. Its look like too awesome. But you didn't mention here the heat produced by this Heat Gun. I need to know how much temperature heat this heat gun will produce?Thanks & RegardsAlex

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2014, 08:21:13 pm
content: Quote from: alexjordon27 on April 18, 2014, 05:40:49 amAbout Quick? 100 - up to, 480 or 500oC. Can't check now, I'm abroad. Heats to target temp almost instantly as it is 1kW, there are also 1,2 kW modifications.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2014, 08:26:20 pm
content: Quote from: GiskardReventlov on April 18, 2014, 02:06:11 amYou mean stencils? Yes I have, but don't use them too often as I do not reball usually. Just changing BGAs. It's more like occasional job for me now as I earn most of my money in different ways.