Soldering gear thread

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
14

Well
some background at first.
I did not use my soldering staff often so had only cheap Chinese iron with solid cooper tip for a long.
Then I was presented with Yihua 939d

The price was about 30USD.
It was much better that previous. But still not as good as I expected. And after some research I desided to go for T12 soldering irons

After maybe 6 months I caught flash sale for Bakon BK950D

For about 14USD it was must have.
There were still some issues with usability (buttons was definitely not the best solution there) and performance (less powerfull that stated 75W). But still it was better than 939d.

The only thing I did not owe was hor airgun. And as far as i was about to build several custom drivers for SRK I started looking for it.

While searching I’ve found few very inspiring reviews on STM32 based soldering stations from taobao.

At first it was story about bying DIY set with 0.96 inch OLED scren
https://mysku.ru/blog/taobao/45851.html
Then story about upgrade to 1.3 inch screen
https://mysku.ru/blog/taobao/48640.html
And finally STM32 based airgun controller

The latest one is 2in1 iron/airgun controller but all agreed that it is not the best choice now, way too expensive. And it is better to have 2 separate stations.

You can follow the links and check photos and/or use google translator to read some ysefull info.

I’ll try to put main info in a nutshell:


Soldering Iron:

- price is about 45USD + shipping for complete set (controller board, psu, box, soldering iron…)

- AL box ~150х88х38mm

- stm32 based controller board

- 72W+ PSU

- T12 handle

- OLED screen
A lot of features:

- temperatures 150÷480 ℃

- Cold junction compensation 9÷99 ℃

- PID temp control

- standby, sleep, boost mode

- temp 3 point calibration for your tips

- tips databases with presets

- clock

- buzzer

  • screensaver lol

Hot airgun:

- price is about 50USD + shipping for complete set (controller+psu board, box, airgun handle…)

- AL box ~150х88х38mm

- stm32 based controller board with integrated PSU

- airgun handle + stand with magnet sensors

- OLED screen
The list of features is more short:

- temperatures 100÷550 ℃

- airflow 20-100%

- Cold junction compensation

- temp control

- 5 presets + manual controls

- standby mode

- timer

- buzzer

  • screensaver

Overall impression is very good for both.

Some links for iron tip:
controller board + screen DIY STM32 白光 T12 OLED 鮑魚 牛肉 數顯 恆溫 焊臺 控制 主控板 - Taobao
power socket https://world.taobao.com/item/536927327500.htm
box with front and rear panels CANRU oled1.3焊臺 電烙鐵可調恆溫防靜電焊臺電烙鐵焊臺配套外殼 - Taobao
finished t12 handle https://world.taobao.com/item/543586547794.htm
dont have link for psu but there are a lot that would fit.

Can be also ordered on aliexpress but price is much higher there.

Fel free to ask any as I do not know what migh be interesting for you about that staff.

15

/\\\\

Wow!!! Thank you strango, that is some good info ….
…… with plenty of detail too! :slight_smile: … I appreciate that. :+1:

16

Here is some of my soldering/desoldering gear

17

Looking good abtglenn…… :+1:

18

Thanks my friend. Pictured is:

Hakko FX-888D soldering station
Hakko FX-901 battery powered soldering iron
Hakko 808 desoldering tool
Weller WESD51 soldering station
Weller WM 120 12 watt soldering iron
Weller 100P 100 watt temperature controlled soldering iron
Sparkfun 808D hot air SMD rework station.

19

Sure thing Glenn.

From the looks of that I’d guess you are either addicted to soldering equipment or do a lot of soldering. :open_mouth:

My pick would be the latter… a lot of soldering. :+1: … :slight_smile:

20

I’ve been building audio kits since the late 60’s. Most of it professionally working as a technician in a stereo store, and then working in the printing industry fixing DC motor controllers and control circuits. I’ve been retired since 2013. Since then, I’m not as active a I used to be. I still fix tubed audio equipment on occassion. Mostly for myself and a few freinds.

21

/\\\\\

That would explain it then……. :wink: … Thanks again for sharing, you have some nice equipment.

22

Thanks again my friend. I’m still active and love the latest equipment. One thing I need to do is get a scope. It’s the one thing I haven’t had in my personal arsenal in all these years.

23

I’ve been building audio kits since the late 60’s. Most of it professionally working as a technician in a stereo store, and then working in the printing industry fixing DC motor controllers and control circuits. I’ve been retired since 2013. Since then, I’m not as active a I used to be. I still fix tubed audio equipment on occassion. Mostly for myself and a few freinds.
[/quote]

Now your talking—Tube Audio Gear—I use to be heavy into Vacuum Tubes —Still have a Dynaco 70—Citation V and a pair of 845 SET amps—Bottlehead preamp——nothing better

24

Now your talking—Tube Audio Gear—I use to be heavy into Vacuum Tubes —Still have a Dynaco 70—Citation V and a pair of 845 SET amps—Bottlehead preamp——nothing better
[/quote]

My first kit was Dynaco MKIII 60 watt mono power amp and a PAM 1 Pre-amp I built to use as a bass guitar amp around 1969. I later built 2 Dynaco Stereo 70’s and a PAS 3X preamp. Then I went on to build several Heathkit’s. The list goes on and on. I still use tubed audio equipment these days. Solid state doesn’t come close sonically.

25

Albeit I've had an early heater failure (don't really know if no tight fitting low quality aftermarket tips may have played a role there), these work nicely if you invest in some genuine T18 or new old stock 900M tips:

26

What is that clear device on the right of the picture sitting in front of the hobby charger?

27

Indeed it looks like a battery holder.

28

It’s an adjustable battery cradle I got from fasttech a while back.

29

http://www.ebay.ca/usr/playtle

This is the user/shop I bought the portable hot air from, the model I purchased is no longer in the shop (or not available in the market I searched a moment ago, you could search through ebay Germany, UK, US etc - it might show up). AFAIK the price was 36.00 EUR purchased through the Canadian ebay checkout process. The power module does 110V/220V, however the handle does either 110V or 220V (need to select handle when purchasing).

If you want only one station I would confirm what was said above - either go for a single soldering iron or a combo unit (hot air and soldering iron). I needed a second station for travel or moving around and as a backup.

The temperate setting is very accurate and there is less risk of burning parts. Last LED reflow took literally seconds, I have never done it that quickly.

Only the “chirp” (confirmation tone when you press a key) is not great, the tone changes whenever I press something. Otherwise great unit. Perfect for reflowing emitters, driver boards, PCBs, other projects, heat shrink, working on my car or anything else.

30

Thank you MILSPEC, I appreciate the effort & info. . :+1: … :slight_smile:

31

The Bakon BK950D looks interesting strango, I’d like to have one of those for the portability of it. But so far all I have been able to find is the 220V version.
I am gonna keep looking though. :wink:

32

found comparable units, please note that these are not sellers I have bought from so I can’t say anything about customer service or delivery times! But the product appears to be the same or very similar.

33

Really like your setup!

Found a few like yours:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/The-Latest-version-OLED-Digital-T12-soldering-station-automatic-sleep-buzzer-DIY-soldering-station-iron-With/918038_32732961928.html

And some other sellers:
https://www.aliexpress.com/premium/STM32-soldering.html?initiative_id=SB_20170609114336&site=glo&g=y&SearchText=STM32+soldering&tc=ppc&CatId=144003&isrefine=y

Are these the same as yours?