Cheap soldering station with temp control - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:16:14 am
content: I was seraching on a local price comparison engine for a cheap-as-hell soldering iron (i'm not a professional so i dont really care about having the best quality possible) and i found a very simple soldering station with 2 years warranty.It seems to have good specs:Fast heat-upReplaceable tip48W150-450CThe brand is "FixPoint" which is only available in balkans and europe(Greece and all the countries above)They also make stuff like glue, solder wire and few other stuff. So it's a normal brand unlike other no-name stuff.Before i tell you the price i want your opinion. How much would you pay for something like this?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:23:22 am
content: Junk. No temperature control, just triac dimmer, slow heat-up. Huge soldering iron with awful tips. Medicore firestick with no temp control actually performs much better than this crap. Rather get some Hakko clone like Atten or others if you want cheap half-decent soldering station + buy some chisel tips as which come is standard is no good for most of the jobs.

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:32:17 am
content: Doesn't look that great really. I may work but for how long is anyone's guess. Those things are branded differently everywhere....http://www.amazon.co.uk/28020-Fahrenheit-Analogue-Variable-Temperature/dp/B00HSJFKZ6/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_2_0

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:34:40 am
content: Yeah. The price is 18 euros here.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:38:09 am
content: Better buy this if you want something at such price.http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__32515__Soldering_Station_with_Adjustable_Heat_Range_with_EU_plug_EU_warehouse_.html

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:40:54 am
content: Quote from: wraper on March 07, 2015, 11:38:09 amThe exact same station costs 63 euros in Greece.... Robbery

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:50:46 am
content: It is out of stock now but IIRC delivery was about 10 EUR within EU when sent from the EU warehouse in Netherlands..

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:54:31 am
content: http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__24789__Soldering_Station_with_Adjustable_Heat_Range_with_AUS_plug.htmlbut delivery will be more expensive. If you wait some time with the page open, you should get popup with slightly decreased price offer. Wrong mains plug of course.

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 11:56:25 am
content: Quote from: wraper on March 07, 2015, 11:50:46 amI can see that the EU warehouse has few and i can complete the order.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 12:23:17 pm
content: It shows -5 (negative?) and back order. No button to buy.

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 12:27:35 pm
content: You're right. The second link you send me has 5 available. I might get thisone and cut the plug.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 01:35:30 pm
content: QuoteFor that kind of prices, it is a great deal.Sure, it doesn't have all those fancy features of more expensive units. But if you don't value those fancy features, why pay for them?

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 01:39:01 pm
content: Just in case you are interested, there are solder handles on the market that has a built-in temperature control unit in the handle itself. They usually go for less than $10 each.More expensive ones now have a digital readout for the temperature - they are only 220v right now.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 03:38:20 pm
content: Hakko clones > Weller clonesThe huge handle-to-tip distance and overall banana-sized iron is a big turn-off.There's also the problem of parts availability - tips for Hakko clones are far more common, as are heaters and the other bits of the unit... and given the price, you're likely going to have to replace those parts.

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 04:16:43 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on March 07, 2015, 03:38:20 pmYou're right on this. Hakko clones parts are all over the ebay. Very easy to replace

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 04:36:21 pm
content: Currently im having this piece of crap.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 04:39:48 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on March 07, 2015, 01:35:30 pmIt's not. Actually an awful deal for 18 eur. The worst soldering iron (with standard tip) I ever tried to use.EUR 8.79 in Germany under it's original name:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Regelbare-Lotstation-Lotkolben-ZD-99-150-450-C-incl-Lotschwamm-48W-/400849664372?pt=DE_Haus_Garten_Heimwerker_Elektrowerkzeuge&hash=item5d54807974

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 04:50:33 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on March 07, 2015, 04:39:48 pm1) Indeed! With 14$ you can buy a normal Hakko clone2) I almost burned my arduino mini pro with this iron. It just couldn't melt the .3 wire

author: picandmix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 05:00:55 pm
content: As Wrapper has said one of those 936 clones with a temp sensor in the iron is much better and good value , got one from here in the UK other month which was only e 30, find it works well and the tips are standard ones and cheap.They do ship to Greece but for another e 22 ! but if you search ebay on '936 solder station' you might find one cheaper / in Greece ..?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/312086-936-Electronic-Soldering-Rework-Station-400-Degrees-Temperature-Control-/291045808647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43c3ae9a07The Hobby King / BangGood have been out of EU stock of those solder stations for many months as I was going to order from them originally.

author: FlevasGR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 05:08:17 pm
content: The problem with the 930 is that everyone has the old prive (50 euros) and none of them has updated the price. However after searching on ebay i found the full hakko controller (panel)Can't i just but this and then find the right transformer to power it? Is it gonna work ar i will burn my house down?