Good quality desoldering station suitable for beginners - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ullbeking
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 04:54:34 am
content: Hello!I've been looking around at the ZD-915 and its clones, in search of a good desoldering station. I am in the UK, and would like one that has a UK plug and has been certified to work here.One recommendation in previous threads was the Proskit SS-331 from Farnell element 14. It sounded great! However it seems that they only stock the gun now, with no base station. Their official successor is very expensive, a different brand, and costs about £400.Would my next best bet be to troll ebay, looking for the SP-1010DR? Has anybody got any opinions on this? In the UK, mercateo.co.uk stocks these at about £65... with an EU plug :-/ Is that liable to cause problems? This seems to be a very "EU" unit, whereas I'm looking for one to use in the UK.Does anybody have any other recommendations? Thanks!!Kindest regards,Andrew

author: TuxKey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 12:51:13 pm
content: Hi Andrew,i'm looking for the same thing and live in The Netherlands.As i'm starting in the DIY mechanical keyboard modding i plan to de-solder a few keyboards and don't want to mess around with pumps.But i don't want to break the bank.. so to say..My research led me to these options..Hakko FR-301 sold by Batterfly don't know if they sell it with UK plug but i find it to expensive for €300 without vat.https://www.batterfly.com/shop/hakko-fr-301my second option was the Aoyue 8800. directly from AoYue distributor in Germany. for arround €120 + €12 shipping to me probably add €10 for you.http://www.aoyue.eu/aoyue-soldering-hotair-rework-desoldering-station-preheater-repairing/aoyue-desoldering-station-lead-free-solder/aoyue-int8800-desoldering-station-pump-hand-held-type.htmlBut after reading and asking around for a solution that's around the €100 mark as that seems to be the budget level for desoldering solutionA couple of guys recommended the ZD-915 also reviewed by Dave on the channel..I was looking at the ZD-8915 for €120https://www.eleshop.nl/zd-8915-desoldeerstation.htmli wanted to get a portable solution as i don't have lots of space and when i'm done desoldering i want to store it out of the way.That's the reason why i was looking at the 8800 from aoyue..But on the mechanical keyboard forum and chat one guy told me to go for something like the SD-915 because replacement parts where cheap / low cost ;-) ..I did find one negative customer experience regarding the 8800 on amazon.com also someone complaining about getting parts for it.So it seems a valid argument..It all depends on the space you have and the budget you have..If you have the space i would go for the "Aoyue 474A++" checkout the review on youtube where the guy tests the older model and the newer one .. seems you would want the older model.. if possible..The reason i was looking for it.. was that it was solid build nice metal body and easy to replace parts.price is €180If your'e like me and starting of and want to spend as little as possible but have it serviceable i would go for the SP-1010DR from these guys. it's €70 and a new gun is €16,61 new heating element is €6,24https://www.tme.eu/en/details/sp-1010dr/desoldering-stations/solder-peak/from what i have read it's wise to grab a spare gun, one spare sleeve , couple of filters and NozzlesYou don't want to be stuck mid work because of a €1,14 nozzle got to wide ...It's a store in PL nice low prices and i'm sure they can help you with your UK plug needs.. btw no import fees..After weeks of looking around i think i'm going with this option.. even if it's to big for me.. i'l just move it after each job..It's not like i'l be desoldering a keyboard every week.. But i don't feel like spending a whole day on a job and possibly most likely ruining a pcb just because i wanted to save €50.. because i good desoldering pump is also arround €10 and not to mention the hassle and time / pain.

author: ManCave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 01:10:31 pm
content: Andrew,EU can be used in the uk with adaptor or just change the plug.What are you looking to use it for? If you want a cheap and chearful basic device, I once bought this guyfor £8 and it worked pretty good for desoldering most of the stuff including 16-pin DIP packages. It has no temperature adjustment (as you might expect) but might serve your purpose for now and you save some cash to buy a better one when you need it.Farnell stock it:http://uk.farnell.com/duratool/d01849/desoldering-iron-sucker-40w-uk/dp/2251950next one up is this one:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/80W-Desoldering-Station-230V-480-C-/351206055077?clk_rvr_id=1479967295011&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=twenga&utm_campaign=twenga&utm_param=eyJlcyI6MCwicyI6OTcyMDIzNywiY2kiOiIwMzg1NDYyZDBkNDM2M2RmOTczMTMwNzQ0NTYwODM0NyIsImkiOiIzNTEyMDYwNTUwNzciLCJ0cyI6MTUyMjE1NjA3NSwidiI6Mywic28iOjE1MDAsImMiOjEwOTU1N30%3D&rmvSB=true

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 03:31:39 pm
content: Maybe for $10this fits the bill for some.. (providing it's still available)

author: TuxKey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 04:35:29 pm
content: Quote from: ManCave on March 27, 2018, 01:10:31 pmThe next up is the one i'm getting from PL for the same price with shipping and your able to get all supplies you might need in the same order ;-)https://www.tme.eu/en/details/sp-1010dr/desoldering-stations/solder-peak/its £61 basically the same one just re branded

author: OZ1LQB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 06:35:02 pm
content: Hi all.I have the zd-915 for 7-8 years now and it is still good as new.it has seen heavy use..BUT if you do buy it you should also buy a handful of tips becausethey dont last that long especially if working with leadfree solder..and if it dies one day i will for sure buy another again.all the best from denmark

author: guisveld
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 06, 2018, 06:09:00 pm
content: Hi,my experiences in desoldering through hole components: I have worked with Hakko 474, Denon SC7000, Aoyue 474+ and the ZD-8915... OK, the built quality of the Hakko is the best. BUT the results, the heating capacity and the suction is the best with the ZD-8915. It simply works better. And if you live in Europe for this price I wouldn't doubt to buy it again:https://www.bifelectronic.com/reworking-desoldering/2416-zd8915-bif.html