Hot Tweezers - what are cheaper versions like ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: lordvader88
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2018, 03:51:51 am
content: Anyone try the ones like 938D for $40USD ?https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Portable-Pro-Hot-Tweezers-Mini-Soldering-Station-for-BGA-SMD-Repairing-110V-220V/112518185382?hash=item1a329b41a6:g:-PoAAOSwX-VZi9pl:rk:40:pf:0I'm sure they won't last as long as 200,300,400 models, but they should only cost 100, no more

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 12, 2018, 07:48:33 pm
content: I've never personally seen the point in tweezers, lots of places I've worked have had them but I've managed with a soldering iron or hot air station.

author: ogdento
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2018, 11:03:02 pm
content: I've never tried those but I did get a cheap pair of Tenma 40W tweezers from Newark... they've been great forremovingvarious smd components but I wouldn't try to solder anything with them - they're too unwieldy. The tips on the Tenma pair get loose and misaligned from the heat/cool cycle and the ones you linked to look like they might be better.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 12:34:25 am
content: I'd not recommend soldering with them, they are designed for desoldering and removing smd quickly. Mine take blade style tips which also allows you to remove a variety of inline packages and connectors.As TheBay mentioned tweezers aren't entirely necessary as you can use hot air, but depending on the situation you will want to use one over the other. If you are just removing small smd resistors and caps, a knife blade tip which has a longer edge than a chisel will work, same goes for using two irons. Tweezers are just generally the fastest of all options.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 01:04:12 am
content: Quote from: Shock on October 13, 2018, 12:34:25 amI have 3 irons on my bench, FX951 with a few tips for 90% of work, a Weller WSD80/WSP80 with a really small tip which I use for tiny SMD stuff like capacitors or resistors and legs on flat package IC's, also comes in handy for removing bridges. The other iron is the TS100 but I generally just use that if I want to solder something in another room or out and about.Or I use the hot air for a whole host of things, removing, replacing, assembling etc. Never once considered buying a set of hot tweezers, found them more of a hindrance every time I used them in places I worked. Though the production line staff used them for moving resistors to configure boards differently, which they are perfect for that sort of fast paced job.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 01:12:10 am
content: Quote from: TheBay on October 12, 2018, 07:48:33 pmThey're very convenient to just pick components off the board. Hot air can heat both ends of a part too, but is less precise and might harm surrounding parts.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 02:01:07 am
content: Forgot to mention you can buy SMD removal tips for irons as well, or cut a notch in one if you have a large enough tip. Even do this with an old tip and use tweezers to pluck. Many ways to "skin a cat" if you are short on money. Just remember the road to hell is paved with good intentions.(image removed)

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 07:50:02 pm
content: The cheap versions are crap. Good hot tweezers need two things: excellent tips and good tip alignment. The best hot tweezers I've used so far are the ones from Ersa (chiptool) and they can be used to solder with but you have to hold the component down. I bought mine because I had to rework 400 boards which included changing some 0402 components (a BOM oops). Review here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ersa-chiptool-quick-review/They are not cheap though.

author: lordvader88
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2018, 10:48:40 am
content: I have a hot air station. I haven't soldered any amount of SMD stuff yet. I have a bunch of salvaged SMD PCBs, so far thats my collection of spare random SMD bits and pieces.I should practice on them with air and iron for a while.Some people really like hot tweezers tho. They sure make fast work of some stuff. The curved tips look useful imo.I'll probably get them next month for the hell of it. If they aren't built solid, maybe they can be modded.On the other hand, I have an old broken pencil iron. I wonder if I can mod that with a split tip just using some heavy copper wire. Just for fun.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2018, 04:41:28 pm
content: I use two irons for small and. The danger is a part gets suck on the iron and you need to flick it off fast and it won't work for complex parts