Pete H Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Looking to purchase a solid station for my personal use only. Looking for suggestions on what's the most versitle for the money, 100-200, is hot air (never worked with) a good feature to have, and what's going to last. Primary use will be building and rebuilding crossovers and basic board work on my own stuff. While I'm asking, what's the easiest method or tool to use for desoldering on a board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 While I'm asking, what's the easiest method or tool to use for desoldering on a board? I'm more ov a novice than expert but I've had good luck by heating the solder up with a standard pencil iron and using a desoldering bulb to suck the molten solder off the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I've been using a Hakko 936 soldering station and so far so good. I'm a beginner but it has been great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 +1 for the 936. I recently traded for a nice 926 (older generation) and am in love with it. A 936 will run you around $100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete H Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 I'll check out the Hakko, I was reading through an old thread that Dean G posted in 04 on crossover updates and mods where he mentioned a rope method of desoldering that he preferred to the bulb method and then found dual stations with the air and stick in the same station, this is just one of those purchases that I want to make once and have the same rig for the next 10 years, as there doesn't seem to be a ton of difference in price to get more gadgets with the station ($80-300), but if they don't serve a good purpose, then I won't blow the extra coin on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 http://www.gotopac.com/category_s/3184.htm 75.00 with free shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Check out the soldering stations on partsexpress also. They have some good ones with variable settings, etc. for less than $100. They also have the different solders, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I use a Hacko too. About $100 and has worked well building about a dozen pair sof crossovers and some opther stuff over 5 years. But if you get into this big time, there are some really nice statiosn that can heat the solder very quickly which shoudl reduce heat transfer to other parts if you do it right. I would get a pro model if I did this more, but the $100 Hacko works great for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Richard Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I have been using a Weller WTCPTN soldering station for 25 years, conservative estimate 300,000 solder joints done with it. You can get a wide variety of tip shapes, lengths, and temperatures for nearly any soldering task. $150 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 The best desoldering tool I have used had a tip that was hollow, with an electric vacuum pump on it. It had a small pushbutton swith for the pump when you had the solder melted, and it sicked it into a small container on the handle. Alas, it went with the business when it folded. I do have a small temp controlled GC electronics iron, which I have been using since the early '90s. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete H Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 Do you remember what make and model it was? Getting into the midlife (44), I need a great magnifying glass too![8-|] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invidiosulus Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 The best desoldering tool I have used had a tip that was hollow, with an electric vacuum pump on it. It had a small pushbutton swith for the pump when you had the solder melted, and it sicked it into a small container on the handle. Alas, it went with the business when it folded. I do have a small temp controlled GC electronics iron, which I have been using since the early '90s. Bruce I like that soldering iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blvdre Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I've used Pace, Hakko and Weller (all good irons), and like my 936 just fine (and the 926 just as well - glad it's getting lots of use TS!). I use an older Pace MBT desoldering station that works great. We ordered them years ago at my work, but later had to replace them as they weren't on the "tested and approved" list, so we all got to bring home a free desoldering station. I don't like the approved stations (also pace), because they use a cardboard collection tube which does not seem to work as well as the glass collection tube with the baffle and filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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