buying advice soldering iron + jot air rework station - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: luisr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 04:40:59 am
content: Hi there guys...I'm about to upgrade my soldering iron and also buy a hot air rework station. I can only spend $180 for both tools so both tools must be cheap but still decent to be able to work with SMD/SMT devices. In the soldering iron department sens like the Hakko FX-888 (and its newer digital version) wins hands down so I probably will be buying that...In the hot air rework station I was planning to buy the one that Dave reviewed: Atten AT858D+ but amazon doesn't have them, instead they have available a... clone?: W.E.P AT858DAmazon also have a X-Tronic 8060-XTS for about $169 that seens like a good buy too...What do you think, Should I get the FX-888D + W.E.P AT858D or should I go for the X-Tronic 8060-XTS?I really wih to be able to solder lqfp packages with 0.5mm pitch if possible (got a project that so far requires a lqfp208 microntroller and tft) so please have that in mind when giving your advice.Thanks in advance

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 06:09:41 am
content: Separate units, as the Hakko iron is a higher quality product IMHO.Either separate units or the AIO unit would allow you to perform either a drag solder technique or paste + hot air, but separate units will also allow you to use the Hakko to fix the ATTEN when it breaks.

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 09:14:11 am
content: Quote from: luisr on January 16, 2013, 04:40:59 amThe "Atten" is probably a clone too, but of sufficient quality. Check eBay if you want the Atten ... letters.

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 12:06:34 pm
content: Definitely separate imo. FX888 is nice for the soldering iron and the 858D does the job so far for me but I haven't done much with hot air. I bought a dual unit and the soldering iron (hakko clone) is useless.

author: luisr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 03:46:01 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on January 16, 2013, 06:09:41 amThat's a good pointI just ordered a Hakko FX-888D plus a W.E.P 858D+ for $150 shipping included to MiamiI hope that the W.E.P 858D+ has decent quality...Thanks for your anwsers guys...

author: luisr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2013, 09:49:15 pm
content: Just wanted to let you know that my hakko 888D and my W.E.P 858D+ arrived today. The build quality of both units is excellent... did a quick test and both are working as expected...I really want to thanks all of you and specially Dave (for reviewing a similar the unit) this was the best "bang for the buck" I've ever made.

author: mobile
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 07:58:07 pm
content: Atten 858D+ does its job very well, soldered dozens of SOT23 SMDs already with it and still working well.As solderiron we use JBC which is also upper class and a joy to be used with SMDs

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 11:48:40 pm
content: Quote from: dr_p on January 16, 2013, 09:14:11 amNo. Just no. Atten is the OEM for the WEP model