Hot air rework station (US$50 budget) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2019, 08:20:26 pm
content: Hello guys,So I am getting back into the electronics field and I also have a laptop which needs some work done. I narrowed down the problem to an IC that needs to be replaced. I don't have a rework station though and I haven't used one before (but I got a dead logic board to practice on).I haven't kept up to date on recent EEVblog videos or the forum, but I was hoping you guys knew of a usable hot air rework station at a low cost, preferably at around US$50.Ivan

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2019, 08:26:16 pm
content: I was looking into this one:https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-858D-Soldering-Rework-Station-Iron-Desoldering-Hot-Air-Gun-Tool-3-Nozzles-US/333207973394?hash=item4d94be2e12:g:Ny4AAOSwH1Vc5m3rIt's US$37 and seems like a clone of the Atten rework station Dave reviewed many years ago. Would that be sufficient for the task? This is not going to be used full time professionally, only for my personal electronics repair and hobby SMD PCB assembly.

author: luma
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2019, 08:32:23 pm
content: If you're looking to get one IC removed as cheap as possible, maybeChipQuikmight be a decent solution for minimal $.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2019, 08:45:05 pm
content: Quote from: ivan747 on November 16, 2019, 08:26:16 pmI'd try to get a more original Atten 858D+ but you should be able to find something in your budget. Just make sure to check the internal wiring before plugging it in.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2019, 08:50:50 pm
content: Quote from: luma on November 16, 2019, 08:32:23 pmIt's a QFN so I'm out of luck with that

author: bianchifan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2019, 08:52:40 am
content: 858D+ works absolutely ok.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/youyue-858d-some-reverse-engineering-custom-firmware/

author: excitedbox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2019, 12:24:46 am
content: I am in love with my Handskit 9305D 4 in 1 which can be had for between 100-120 but comes with everything you need if you go with the full kit that you won´t need to buy any supplies for months. It also has a 30v 5A power supply so you save 50-60 there as well. It also has an additional heating element for the iron and the air gun and some of the nicest chinese made tweezers I have used. They have cheaper stations but if you need a lab supply as well this is a solid way to upgrade your soldering station without spending too much money. And it looks nice as well.This is really my number one recommendation especially with all the stuff that comes in the kit which would easily cost 40-60 Euros on it´s own. You are really getting the most for your money with this one. I actually spent 4-5 months researching before settling on this station and it was quite the hidden gem at that time.Their staff is also really nice. I ordered the one without the full kit from china to save a few bucks but they emailed me and said they had the full kit in stock in their Spain warehouse and for $25 I could upgrade. This saved me 3 weeks of waiting, the 30 euros in taxes AND I got about 20 euros worth of extra tools etc that weren´t in the basic kit. That was really nice of them and if I was to buy another station knowing what I know now it wouldn´t even be a question I would buy this one again.Only downside is that the power supply doesn´t have a ground plug and with so many features in one device it does take some getting used to figuring out all the buttons.Another brand that makes nice stations and also manufactures a ton of other brands is Yihua. They also make ones with integrated power supplies which in my opinion saves space and money since it uses the stations power supply as a bench supply. 8786 costs 43 Euros and has tons of extras but for a little more the 953 has a power supply and for around $100 the 853 or 862 look like solid choices.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2019, 03:54:58 am
content: Mine's a "WEP" branded 858D and it works great for the price.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2019, 09:47:04 am
content: Another vote for the “858D”, mine is WEP branded, but there are variations in the name.As mentioned by others, check the mains and in particular the earth wiring.

author: excitedbox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2019, 07:37:10 am
content: I think WEP is a rebrand of the Yihua. I have seen a disassembled WEP and the PCB was labeled/made by YIHUA. They do manufacture for a ton of other brands.Handskit started out doing clones of the Yihua stations much like many others but later started designing their own. They came out with a really nice one a few months ago with a full LCD but it cost almost 300 Euros.I have been considering designing my own soldering iron. I have an idea of making a self feeding iron that works like a mechanical pencil. It would be like a ts100 or ts80 with a hollow shaft down to the tip and a tiny induction coil or resistance wire right behind the tip. The tip would be notched / trenched so the wire can be fed to the very tip where it then melts and wicks onto the pad.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2019, 09:46:56 am
content: I'd avoid buying an all in one anything, when something dies unless it's easily repaired or replaced it will have dead bits hanging off it like a leper at a rave. Stick to the Atten 858D or similar make sure it comes with nozzles or you can get the right ones.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 01:45:29 am
content: So I ended up getting one 858D clone. This one:https://www.ebay.com/itm/858D-Soldering-Rework-Station-Iron-Desoldering-Hot-Air-Gun-Tool-3-Nozzles-LED/192876815122?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649The brand is Zeny (www.zeny.us). Worked perfectly well. It does not use the ATmega microcontroller. It uses a S3F94C4EZZ-DK94. I don't mind that.Also I fixed the laptop, barely (first time using a hot air station). This thing already paid for itself twice over.

author: simone.pignatti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 06:06:27 pm
content: That's smart!https://youtu.be/8CHrTF6IY60

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 06:17:53 pm
content: Quote from: ivan747 on December 09, 2019, 01:45:29 amGreat to hear that it worked for you! When you find some time, do open it up and look at the protective earth connections, as well as the wiring for the mains input and the heater element. These things tend to work alright, but fail to meet any safety standards.Also, when you put the handpiece away into its holder, I recommend that you place it with the hot end pointingawayfrom you, opposite to what the ebay listing's pictures show.