N-in-1 Soldering Station Recommendation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nathon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2023, 02:27:32 pm
content: I currently have a 853D soldering, hot air, power supply (really?!?) station that I use on my home bench. However, fun story... it came with the side caved in, blue paint somehow smeared on it (new in box) and it shocks me whenever I touch the case, so that's fun to use. I got a reasonable discount and have used the soldering/hot air for years now. My son said it's time for me to spend some money on myself, so it's time to replace it.My bench space is limited, so I'm hoping to get something that will "tick" all the boxes in one unit... without getting bit by junk. I know, a tall order.WishesSolderingDesoldering PumpHot AirI'm considering this, which I know is just the new version of my old unit. The definition of insanity, hoping for a different outcome. I don't mind spending a little money (sub $500, sub $800?), but I don't have room for 3 different units on my bench. Every brand name I see is a separate unit or many hundreds to $1k+. Any recommendations that I haven't noticed? I'm not super familiar with all of the good brands in soldering equipment.Yihua 948-IIhttps://www.amazon.com/YIHUA-Soldering-Desoldering-Suction-Station/dp/B07RNL7YT9/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=HORET970Z1LQ&keywords=yihua+948-ii&qid=1687269943&sprefix=yihua+948-ii%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

author: CountChocula
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 20, 2023, 05:20:30 pm
content: How often do you use each feature relative to the others? I ask because, for me, it's soldering >> hot air >> desoldering, so I bought aPineciliron (which, despite looking like a toy, works really well for me), and acheap hot air stationthat, at least so far, has never let me down. For desoldering, I'm holding out until I can find an excuse to buy a Hakko 301 or similar.I suspect that the amount of real estate required may actually be less than an all-in-one solution, with the added bonus that you can put things away if you don't use them, and any one failure doesn't require replacing the whole thing.

author: nathon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2023, 05:34:33 pm
content: Thanks for the reply and good point! I'd have to say, having all 3 tools is most important to me, even if I have to pull tools out of a cabinet. The soldering iron is an all the time use tool, so it's #1. I don't yet have a de-soldering pump, but I have situations where I need one frequently. I currently make a combination of solder wick and those cheap plastic solder suckers work... if they work. Otherwise the project goes in my "waiting to be worked on" pile. The hot air gets used less frequently, but is also a must have for heat shrink and SMD. I guess I'd say the soldering iron and hot air get used frequently enough that I wouldn't want to pull them out of a cabinet. The de-soldering pump, I wouldn't mind.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2023, 09:27:54 pm
content: Don't get an all in one station if possible.You won't get a better hot air unit unless you are going to spend ~$200+, and none of those are compact units. But you can find some 858D that are more compact and stackable, eg:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002965789645.htmlFor the main iron you can look at a T245 clone, theaixunhas a flat PSU so would also be stackable. Or make your own shelving to hold more equipment.

author: Wallace Gasiewicz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 12:43:08 pm
content: At the radio repair shop we had a few "multi use" stations.They have all failed, Some were repaired and failed again.This includes bargain units and expensive units both. The cheaper units are much worse though.SMPS units are hard to repair and not worth the time. Depends if the SMPS goes or just something minor.The solder stations are on at least 40 hrs a week.The only brand that has not failed in our use is a little known brand: EDSYNThey are really meant for production lines.We have 20 year old units that are still working very well. Tips are also long lasting.The EDSYN are made in the USA, Surprise!!!The solder pencil can fail but not the control unit.Prices are not cheap but not extravagant, in my opinion.This person sometimes has refurbished units that are quite nice:https://www.eaesales.com/Look at this one:https://www.eaesales.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=65_66&product_id=67At home I use an old PACE combo unit with solder iron and hot air and solder sucker. I have had to fix it but it was easy. I like it because it also has power for dremel like tools. It is so old that it is not "temp controlled"I also use a PACE MBT solder sucker / hot air unit. Really nice unit. You can switch the hand desolder unit for a regular solder iron, mine has only one connector.Some solder sucker units can be converted to hot air by switching the air tubes. The MBT can do this.I like to think of it this way:In a solder sucker there are already two components, A heating supply and an air pump.So if you get one that can also use a plug in solder iron, you have all the three units alreadySolder iron, Solder sucker and Hot AirBut maybe not enough hot air???