What soldering station manufacturer is best? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 12:22:00 pm
content: Who is the ducks guts? Who makes highest quality? Hakko,Ersa,JBC,Weller,Metcal... can anyone tell me who is best? I am thinking about high end models,not the budget entry ones.If you had alot money,what would you buy?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 12:33:36 pm
content: The best heating capability - JBC, although people find that tip cartridge durability is not that great and they are expensive. The most durable tips - Ersa and it still has one of the best performance in the market, and tips are relatively cheap. So it boils down to what you will use it for.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 12:46:34 pm
content: What about Weller? I am not sure but I think I read something two years back that Weller isnt as good as it used to be,that they moved the production to China.Also Metcal have some new "whiz bang" contact something thing that people here are sceptical and call it BS,but I also read that military uses them? That sounds like something I want.I quickly checked all the above manufacturers pages and I like Weller WXR 3 the most so far.Is there any other top quality brand I missed?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 01:27:10 pm
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 27, 2018, 12:46:34 pmif you can afford to spend that much, why would you choose a Weller? Its not the 70s any more, and its a long time since Weller was the go to product for someone with a decent budget. The problem isn't that they manufacture in China. Its that they make poor quality products. The designs aren't too bad, but they seem to specialise in implementing them with plastics that fall apart.

author: agehall
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 02:58:45 pm
content: I've got a WX2 and it is awesome if you ask me. The high end weller stuff is really good.

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 03:13:37 pm
content: The answer to this question is always going to be influenced by personal preference and experience.My general rule for Weller...Blue - Good stuffOrange - Consumer market junkBlack - Expensive junkI have used various Weller (blue) and Pace products at work and they where all very good.At home I use older Metcal products and am very happy with them.

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 03:31:19 pm
content: ERSA, Hakko and Metcal for durability.ERSA have the best handle i ever used (i-tool), very light and short. Easy to hot swap tips, i do that without any tool or protection, but you need some care.Both ERSA and HAKKO have cheap tips, if you look at ersa tip price don't forget to add a colar per tip.Avoid JCB if you can, as said the tips wear fast and you will spend a fortune on tips, but the station performance is one of the best, still not worth imo.There's also the new Pace ADS200 but i have mixed feelings on that.A good rule is pick one of the best that are most avaliable to you, where you can buy replacements without a problem.If you have the money look at ERSA i-con 2V or ERSA Vario 2 or ERSA Vario 4 if you want them all. Note: 2 x ERSA Vario 2 better than 1 x ERSA vario 4. So you can go like: ERSA i-con 2V [i-tool + chip tool vario] + ERSA Vario 2 [Desolder pump gun + Hot air] The hot air from ERSA is just for small things, not large BGAs

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 03:33:17 pm
content: Metcal for durability. The STSS units still go strong and they're ancient.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 07:28:28 pm
content: So Ersa or Metcal are best? Metcal have some new intermetalic formation detecting model,Ersa have some infra red heating thing,does that shoot IR light or it just uses Infra light to heat air?

author: KaneTW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 07:33:54 pm
content: I'm really happy with my ERSA i-Con 2V. Can't compare it to anything, but it's a very good tool.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 08:06:22 pm
content: Quote from: sn4k3 on July 27, 2018, 03:31:19 pmReally? Thats a bummer,it seemed like Esra is the way to go since so many people recommend it.I watched Luis Rossman review of some Hakko station and he criticized how long it takes to desolder something,he was blowing hot air at 100% setting like two minutes on some connector before he could take it off,thats horrible! I dont want some impotent weak hairdryer for gnomes.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 08:17:25 pm
content: So the JBC is very good except its expensive and tips dont last long? What do you think about this rework station? 3200 euro seems like alot money,but if its the ducks guts and it have everything I will need,then its good choice,or not?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 08:23:23 pm
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 27, 2018, 08:06:22 pmFrankly all those multiplayer boards need preheating, especially if you remove connectors to avoid damaging them by blowing excessively hot air on top of them. As of large BGA, none such of hot air stations are really suited for this.

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 08:55:45 pm
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 27, 2018, 08:06:22 pmFor hot air you have Quick DW861 OR JBC are best.Don't go hakko for air.Weller also have a good air unit but very expensive, just don't justify against the Quick!Quick VS JBC i will go Quick DW861. Excelent Performance and a fantastic price!The air-s from ERSA is only for small passives or small BGA, it don't have alot of airflow or big nozzles, but Quick can also do that without a problem.Is better to pick the best unit from each brand than go everything from same brand.Quote from: wraper on July 27, 2018, 08:23:23 pmI rarely use a preheater.For connectors i find easy to use 300ºc without damage them

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 09:24:11 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on July 27, 2018, 12:33:36 pmI completely agree with this. If the JBC cartridges didn't degrade so quickly I might consider trading the Ersa in. Still the SMT tweezers (chip tool) from Ersa is waaay better compared to the one from JBC.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 09:54:33 pm
content: So what should I buy? JBC with Esra SMD tweezers? Esra with Weller heat gun?My plan is to build like a complete kit with every kind of tool that is usefull and only best model in in each category.Truth be told I dont even know what will I need or what exists.So far I know about soldering iron,the hot air blower and some tweezer/vacuum suction SMD tool,what other things are good to have?If you could build your dream kit,what would it have?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 10:07:54 pm
content: For hot air just buy the Atten 858D+. Hot air is what it is: hot air. Not much which can go wrong with that.

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 10:17:25 pm
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 27, 2018, 09:54:33 pmERSA i-con 2V + Quick DW861Invest in some tips for the i-tool and some passive tools. Also dont forget tin and flux

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 10:28:45 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on July 27, 2018, 10:07:54 pmYet somehow difference in actual performance is huge.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 11:46:48 pm
content: Quote from: Fsck on July 27, 2018, 03:33:17 pmSame goes for the MX-500 series. I love mine.EDIT: also heavy enough to be a blunt force trauma weapon, you can cave a skull in with it.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 01:12:06 am
content: What about JBC? Arent they the Rolls Royce of manual soldering? Apart from high price and short lasting tips,arent they best?

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 01:26:07 am
content: QuoteSince we are dreaming...I'd order one of everything from the PACE catalog although I wouldn't need to use most of it.Just like 911s, it's nice to have one of each color for any given year.I dream good !and my dreams are as biased as everyone else's !

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 02:55:55 am
content: Quote from: DimitriP on July 28, 2018, 01:26:07 amPace makes good stuff? Is it JBC good?

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 04:52:30 am
content: Nitrogen.... opinions? Is it worth it or is it bull schmitt? And what about those auto feeding solder things?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 07:38:56 am
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 28, 2018, 04:52:30 amSoldering in a nitrogen atmosphere is common practice for industrial production lines. Its a lot less common for hand soldering, but it certainly improves the quality of joints.I've never seen auto feeding solder for hand soldering work very well.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 08:25:54 am
content: Quote from: coppice on July 28, 2018, 07:38:56 amWhat brand unit you saw with auto feed? Did you saw the JBC one?Also,whats the benefit of having more than one iron unit? Why 2 or 4?

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 08:44:06 am
content: I think with most top of the line products you will get a great station.Got my self a Metcal MX-5210, and i really like it. Have no other top tier stations to compare with though.Forgot to say, i've never missed temp control. Power it up, and get the job done. Works every time

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 09:23:25 am
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 28, 2018, 08:25:54 amFirst of all you can have several irons with different tips. Grab one that is right for the job and solder right away. Secondly you can solder with 2 irons. SMD tweezers not always are up to the task, especially when you need 2 large tips. I don't use SMD tweezers at all, just 2 irons.

author: fonograph
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 11:04:45 am
content: Quote from: wraper on July 28, 2018, 09:23:25 amThat is a commonly used technique? I never heard about that... I was just about set on getting single "channel" JBC Heavy Duty station becose it has 200W instead of the double one that is only 150W per iron.Funny thing is that heavy duty one is much more expensive,more watts = more SWAG am I right?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2018, 11:52:04 am
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 28, 2018, 11:04:45 amRegular handpiece/cartridges are not 200W. FYI Ersa has 250W i-tool high power. 2 irons are used mostly for removing components. Dunno how widespread it is but I've seen it in educational video form Nokia.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2018, 06:15:58 pm
content: Best? Probably Metcal or Pace, but that assumes money is no object. Best value is highly subjective, but I'm generally a fan of Hakko. Their current product line is butt ugly with that gaudy yellow and purple scheme but as it's a tool I'm not overly bothered by that.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 19, 2018, 01:48:57 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on August 18, 2018, 06:15:58 pmMaybe you might know people that have different high end stations that you can test drive? Otherwise, any purchase could be a leap of faith that falls short of the mark. What works for one, won't work for another. I went for my Metcal MX-500 based on a good friends' recommendation, he was ISO certified and did rework for a military contractor. He also managed to get his for nothing when the company cycled them out per contract before they wised up and started to offer the equipment to the employees by auction. When I told him what the cost was, he said I'd be an idiot to pass it up. I chose not to be an idiot.I bought my Hakko FX-951 based on having the 936 for years and wanting an upgrade. I switch between both. The Hakko has a lighter wand but the Metcal has a better feel, IMHO. Yes, the Hakko looks like a toy but I am not looking at it when soldering so no big deal. For me and what I do, it is not far off the Metcal.Edit: my hot air station is a Quick 957DW. I like it. I used it in anger Friday to do the Aneng mods on 2 meters. I was surprised how little airflow was needed. The flow ended up set between 1 and 2. Very happy with it also. I will probably get rid of my Yihua 858D.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2018, 02:07:21 pm
content: Quote from: fonograph on July 27, 2018, 12:46:34 pmWeller doesn't make anything in China.Most of their stations are made in Germany, though the entry level professional stations are made in Mexico (they have had QC issues with products from that facility).FWIW, my current setup consists of a Weller WD1, WSP80 and WMP irons, and a setback stand (connects to the station). Tips made in the US, Germany, and Japan have all been great. Tips from Bosnia have had QC issues (~30% back of the envelope calc.). I wanted non-cartridge tips to keep a lower TCO.If you don't want cartridge tips that will last a long time, I'd suggest taking a very hard look at Ersa. Especially given your location (spares would be very easy to come by).My hot air station is a Quick 861DW, and it does very well.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2018, 12:35:55 pm
content: It's more the best "for your purposes". But some brands/models have reasons to stay away.As I'm more old school, personally I'm not a fan of touch screen displays and over complicated gadgetry and design. I prefer being able to repair the station itself easily once it's out of warranty as well. I've just replaced most of my essential gear with Pace. Primarily the aluminum TD-200 irons on the ADS 200 stations, I also wanted a new desoldering iron so eventually decided on a SX-100 but with the MBT 350 rework station so I can add more handpieces later and one of them will be precision hot air for reflow.Pace are the opposite to some other designs, they tend to focus heavily for durability as industry/military is their target market and have a long product life cycle and parts selection. More hours of use means more consumables (tips etc) so subsequently both their cost of upkeep and consumables price is lower.

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 20, 2018, 02:05:34 pm
content: Don't listen to me, I am a Metcal addicted.To me nothing can beat Metcal, in ebay there are always good deal.Anyway once you tried a 1K$ iron, regerdless which one, you will understand how crappy all the cheap others are.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 20, 2018, 03:42:39 pm
content: Quote from: zucca on August 20, 2018, 02:05:34 pm

author: Maximus Panin
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 11:47:22 pm
content: https://youtu.be/TGaTJmuy21U?si=JEnXsXX4GbxpqcfB&t=1087

author: krish2487
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 05:45:44 pm
content: I m happy with my Thermaltronics..Its a metcal compatible station and I have had it for about 12 years now.. and still going strong..I tried a variety of weller clones before and even jbc... but Metcal / Thermaltronics hands down..Hell, The original tips are still going strong.. a little bit of tlc and maintenance go a long way with these units..No fiddling with temperature... just swap tips and you are golden.. almost instant heat up time... loads of thermal dumping ability.Their build quality is like a tank.. I m told Metcal is slightly better in this aspect.. but I have no complaints..Get a variety of tips for different uses.. and I dont even use the 13.56Mhz version.. I have the TMT2000S which is the 470Khz version if memory serves right..

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 06:07:23 pm
content: Hakko japan, old non digital style....926, 936Genuine Metcal SP-200 (my design)Jon

author: marck120
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2024, 10:35:43 am
content: Among these soldering stations, which one is the best in terms of quality/price ratio ?- Xytronic lf 3200€129.96(incl. tip XY HF 1.6 mm 44-413069)- HAKKO FX-888DX€165.31(incl. tip T18-B Shape-B)- ERSA i-CON Nano MK2€274.22(incl. tip 1.6 mm, 0142CDLF16)- JBC BT-2BQA€298,90(with C245-160E tip€29.89) (discount coupon-€25) Total€310.37- Thermaltronics TMT-2000S- -K (UPG)€249.06( K75CH016€13.54) Total€262.60- METCAL PS-900€307.44(incl. tip SFV-CH15A)- Out of budget :Pace ADS200 €355.75(1130-0019-P1€19.31) Total€379.31The JBC BT-2BQA does not provide tips so you have to add €29.89, even on the Thermaltronics TMT-2000S -K there are no tips provided.