Good soldering station and tack welder like kweld but for aviation lab - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: pcm81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 12:44:58 am
content: Looking for recommendations for 2 set-ups.Both are for aviation instrumentation lab.Budget $5K per tool.1. Soldering/dessoldering station. I am thinking something like JBC stations.2. Tack welder. I have kweld and it works great, but i need a real commercial grade tool. Looking for something that, like kweld, can measure energy, rather than just pulse width and deliver 1,000A+Intended use is to repair PCBs and battery packs in aviation electronics lab.We had to repair a battery and its BMS so i brought in my Aixun soldering station and Kweld. Now the management wants to buy "real" tools with similar functionality.My AiXun:https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Electronics-Soldering-Station-Handle/dp/B0CZXZTGD2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RX0L2DMBEPC8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sZ3Og7F6C9ki90AehH6NMoD7FpeoqzBzmx8ChHLv01g.f2FdJkPAxnfGT8wPsATHRa3atZyZAanzRdL3RjFBWGM&dib_tag=se&keywords=aixun%2Bdual%2Bchannel%2B200W&qid=1754527329&sprefix=aixun%2Bdual%2Bchannel%2B200w%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1&th=1Thanks\ for recommendations

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 03:15:01 am
content: Quote from: pcm81 on August 07, 2025, 12:44:58 amYou should revisit the Kweld website and link your boss to it too.https://www.keenlab.de/index.php/portfolio-item/kweld/Tatus has indicated he's working on a Pro version:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/guesses-on-what-i-am-attempting-here/msg5987525/#msg5987525

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 05:00:07 am
content: I'm curious why folks would consider the Kweld 'not real'. Is it the fact you have to assemble it and lack of finished and ready to use product?Lab testing and certifications?I worked previously in the medical device manufacturing industry and similar to aviation we had to track birth records of materials and all sources of data on calibration and so on. But we had custom built equipment too that didn't have any standardized certifications because its custom built for the particular task. So we did our own write up and validation procedures for those tools.I have recently acquired a GeeBoon soldering station and really like it. I have never used the JBC but if its as nice as working with the GeeBoon I'd say that's a good choice.

author: WattsThat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 05:27:55 am
content: If you want a proper soldering station that will still be working and you can still get parts for 5, 10, 15 years from now, without question the brand to buy is Pace.GeeBoon? Just more WungHungLow E waste. Here today. Gone at 5pm. I have never understood the mindset of buying what should be a forever tool in some cheap knock off unknown brand that will gone in weeks or months.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 05:41:56 am
content: Quote from: WattsThat on August 07, 2025, 05:27:55 amSeems pretty passionate.

author: WattsThat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 01:00:10 pm
content: Don’t mistake passion for experience. Buying no name tools may have its place, for that job you do once and never again, sure, buy what gets the job done without breaking and save some money. Why buy Hilti when Harbor Freight gets the job done?But - something that gets used everyday that requires replacement parts because bits of the tool are disposable, wear out items then why would you buy some unknown brand that has no parts availability or interchangeability, brand stability or known performance record? Unless of course you’re okay with throwing out a $100 tool multiple times over your working career. Buy it once for $300-$500 and you’ll use it for a lifetime.Our throw away society has become all pervasive.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 03:04:37 pm
content: Quote from: WattsThat on August 07, 2025, 01:00:10 pmThanks for the suggestion on not making mistakes, I do try to avoid that indeed. I believe you'd suggest Snap-On over Harbor Freight. Even if the Harbor Freight performs better in tests, has the same or better warranty. The old cry once buy once argument. There's only the established brands that can be trusted. But what if a brand is trying to establish itself? I guess it sucks to be them. What about those brands that get purchased and degraded? I'm guessing that doesn't happen to a forever brand like Craftsman.Our throw away society is manufactured by the engineers creating planned obsolesce into products.

author: Rubo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 03:43:41 pm
content: Quote from: Cyclotron on August 07, 2025, 03:04:37 pmWhich Harbor Freight product are you referring to and from which line? Are you talking about $10 Pittsburgh ratched or a $30+ Icon?Having all of the above (including a Snap-On), if I was going to buy a new ratchet again, I would buy Icon first, Snap-On second, Pittsburgh never.Quote from: Cyclotron on August 07, 2025, 03:04:37 pmYes it does. If a brand wants to establish itself, they should come out with a good product, support said product for more than a week, and not keep churning out new products that offer no improvements over their existing product (except a "modern" interface or "smart" features). After some time (if they keep make good products) they WILL be an stablished brand.Just my $.02

author: pcm81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 04:17:36 pm
content: For my garage harbor freight works well. For aerospace flight test site we use snap on and other name brands due to liability. Still looking for recommendations on good tack welder, like kweld. Snap on version of kweld... and same for soldering station. $5K purchase limit per item.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 08:28:36 pm
content: Quote from: Rubo on August 07, 2025, 03:43:41 pmI have both Snap-on and Icon and they both are high quality tools with outstanding warranties. Brands mean little though. Snap-on is more of a credit company than a tool company. A lot of mechanics maintain a substantial debt with them.These guys do a lot of testing. The Harbor Freight jack which I have is the exact same jack that Snap-on sells and Snap-on even tried to sue over it. They outsource some of their tools and Harbor Freight uses those same outsources (mostly Taiwan).Pace manufactures some of their stuff in China so I'm not sure how that enters the equation. While tend to prefer US manufactured products I do not "require" them.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 08:31:16 pm
content: Quote from: pcm81 on August 07, 2025, 04:17:36 pmI don't understand how a name brand avoids liability. Can you explain that? I've have experience in birth to death manufacturing for medical devices that will literally kill you if something is wrong and never saw any brand name provide protection from liability.Tools have to be calibrated/adjusted and maintained. Tested and validated regularly. I just never heard anyone say that a brand name provided some liability protection.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 10:23:18 pm
content: I asked to move to the correct section of the forum:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/as this is not test equipment.JBC or Metcal for soldering and desoldering.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGPVhv5fZGshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6s5dy2L6EIf the battery welder can sit on the bench a transformer based unit would be good. You don't want a battery based one like the kweld. Supercap based unit might be ok, sunstone has a few of those.https://www.sunstonewelders.com/collections/battery-welders

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 10:26:09 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on August 07, 2025, 10:23:18 pmThe OP can move this themselves with the Move Topic feature at the bottom left of their page, only they can see.No need to involve Moderators.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 10:47:44 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on August 07, 2025, 10:23:18 pmMy Kweld doesn't use batteries. It has a KSupply and a KCap.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 02:55:24 am
content: https://www.msesupplies.com/products/mse-pro-single-point-pneumatic-welding-machine-for-cylinder-cell-battery-tab-welding?variant=39492091150394&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=15502649027&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16489440374https://www.tequipment.net/JBC/RMSE-2QG/Desoldering-Equipment/Rework-Stations/?Source=googleshopping&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21096115394Those nearly meet your budget maybe shopping around you can get them under the 5k limit.

author: Rubo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 03:11:01 am
content: Quote from: Cyclotron on August 07, 2025, 08:28:36 pmAs a former mechanic, guilty as charged. Sure am glad don't have to give half my paycheck to the Snap-On guy every weekAnd yes, I've watched pretty much every video TTC has posted (since the beginning of their channel)The biggest problem with no-name brand tools (I'm talking T & M here), it's hard to find any company willing/able to calibrate/maintain them.If you have KS/Tek/Fluke/R&S/Hioki etc. almost any calibration house can do the job.Try requesting a calibration for MicSig/Hantek/put whatever else here.Good luck

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 03:38:42 am
content: Quote from: Rubo on August 08, 2025, 03:11:01 amThis is undoubtedly an excellent concern for tools and process systems that require calibration.I expect the output of the work product in the tooling asked about in this thread to require validation, but probably not the tooling itself.For instance, I would expect (we had to do this in my previous job) them to have a temperature testing tool that is calibrated and certified to use for being sure the soldering station is accurate. We also had to test solder joints periodically.I expect the spot welder's work to require pull/tear testing to pass validation. Again, it's probably not about calibrating the device, but rather adjusting the settings to achieve the expected outcomes and then incorporating that into the QA testing procedures to ensure it reliably meets those criteria.As for hand tool calibration, I've had several TTI torque wrenches calibrated. The local shop that did that had a metrologist who probably sailed with Noah on the ark, and he said that almost all torque wrenches, no matter the brand, were built by TTI. That was 10 years ago, maybe, and I didn't challenge his word.One of my sons is about to begin his journey in the field of HVAC, and we've had several discussions about tooling. I absolutely have no issue with Snap-on or Williams, or so many others. But I told him to buy used and splurge only on truly necessary things.Nothing like going on the Snap-on candy truck.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 04:43:59 am
content: Quote from: Rubo on August 08, 2025, 03:11:01 amThere are labs out there that can handle most of the better known B brands. It's true, if calibration is a concern for you/your company, you should certainly check with your favorite cal labs to see if they're capable of calibrating (and hopefully adjusting if needed) anything you consider purchasing.I find what some of the manufacturers charge for calibration to be comical though.

author: Rubo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 05:11:36 am
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on August 08, 2025, 04:43:59 amThat's the thing,most of the better known B brandsis pretty much limited to BK Precision, GWInstek, Siglent, Rigol & maybe couple more.The rest are pretty much useless when it comes to calibration or spare parts/maintenance. Even if, let's take MicSig for example, makes a great product,with no support/calibration/maintenance it pretty much limit's them to hobbyist/home users/small start-ups etc.Find a call house that will (or knows how to) calibrate a HanmatekQuote from: KungFuJosh on August 08, 2025, 04:43:59 amI was pleasantly surprised by how little Hioki charged me for a full calibration of DM7276 (even if mine did not require adjustment, it would have been included if it needed it).Then again, I just checked and Keysight will do a full calibration of 34465A (the equivalent of what Hioki did) for $359 per incident ($312 with calibration agreement).

author: Rubo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 05:29:12 am
content: To get back on topic. I personally am a Hakko fanboy, so I would suggest one of their new FX-97x series.I have the FX-971 and love it.But if I had to do it again, I would probably get the FX-972. It's more versatile, you can use 2 irons with it or their tweezers.They also have FX-973, which includes a desoldering gun/pencil.