Anyone have one? Any thoughts? I'm thinking about buying this one for $99. It looks well built, and it's an American company (I'm sure it's still made in China, but at least there should be decent customer service if something should go wrong.
Out of curiosity, what do you plan on using it for?
Replacing IC's and SMD's
…but I use one of the Metcal MX-5000 stations at work and it is the doggies danglies for soldering and rework.
How do you control the hot air to not melt solder on nearby components? Is this good also for soldering leds?
I have absolutely no experience with hot air soldering machines, is the technique about the same as with the regular iron tip machines?
I have no experience with Rework Stations (yet) The tip is small, and I'm assuming the airflow is as well so you have control over what you're heating. Both the heat and the airflow are adjustable. I watched a few videos. BTW, I have over 40 years experience at normal soldering. I'm sure I'd have no problem getting used to it.
It better be good for the price. $617.50 at Amazon
I ordered it. Wish me luck!
Sparkfun generally sells good stuff.
For hot air work, you may need to mask off other components with kapton tape or foil to keep from desoldering existing components.
Metcal does awesome stuff. I have an MX-500 I rescued from eBay. If you are willing to keep watching, you can find units in the $100 range. The temperature response is soooo good.
Thanks for the tip my friend :) I have several dead boards I can practice on. I'll let you know how I make out. I may end up ordering some Kapton Tape...
As far as the Metcal, I'm sure it's a great unit. I make a point of never buying used electronic repair equipment. A new one is too expensive. I already have a decent Soldering Station. It's a Weller WESD51. I've been using Weller Soldering Stations since 1980, and their Irons since the late 60's. They've been reliable from my experience..
That’s it Glenn, spend that money already for 2013. :bigsmile:
For the money, this one can’t be beat. I have one at home, and it’s nearly as good as the really expensive ones we use at work.
The one you picked out looks very similar, it just has analog controls rather than digital. Assuming it’s similar to my digital unit - for general rework, use 320C temperature and 38-40% airflow. Any hotter and you damage things. Any more airflow and you just ‘blow’ the parts off the board once the solder melts.
In regard to taping/masking off other components - don’t bother. Just let them reflow. As long as you don’t touch them, they’ll stay in place just fine.
PPtk
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-leds-are-made/all
“… The entire LED industry is built upon specialty cottage suppliers. This means there are suppliers that only do one thing: silicon manufacturing, lead manufacturing, mold manufacturing, etc. Almost no one owns the entire tool-chain, so YunSun has to pick from the available suppliers’ options….”
Nice video Hank. I'm sure that a few mwmbers here would be interested in this one as well.
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-lithium-polymer-batteries-are-made/battery-creation
I brought similar rework station with temperature controlled soldering Iron. brought it locally and cost around 55$. brand is KAWAH. Chinese made.
mine has same hot air handle, cover, knobs, switches & screws.
there are lot of brands available but internal same design.
cons:
wrong temperature display.
Nozzles corrode very fast due to heat
you may need extra heating element if you’re heavy user
If you do ANY surface mount stuff this is the ONLY way to solder!
Seriously…I used to solder alot in the Marines…all thru hole, tried soldering surface mount even with a teeny tip, was HELL…once I got my cheapy cheap solder station and some solder paste…I can whip out drivers and strip competent in the blink of an eye!
Do yourself a HUGE favor and get one if you do any SMD work
I got this one
Cheap…but works
Nah…get the fine tip, turn down the air flow, just be careful aiming it…even if the other components reflow, the surface tension keeps them in place (in fact watch reflow videos, when the solder melts it sucks the components onto the pads)
Mostly you only need a hot air station for reworking dual sided boards (components on top & bottom). Don’t need it for populating / building boards.
• Building and reworking single side component boards, easily done with hot plate reflow.
• Building dual sided, oven reflow.
You don’t even need a toaster oven.
I have a nice soldering station, but I also purchased one of the hot air rework gun clones for about $60 with multiple nozzles, and it has worked flawlessly. I mainly reflow/repair/rebuild GPS units. You cannot beat this for reseating lifted Garmin USB ports or broken ZIF connectors. I purchased two extra heating elements and it came with a spare, so I have three and that should last for a spell.
I have built almost all my OSHPark drivers using a reflow station…well minus the 32*7135 SRK board that I did in a stainless steel frying pan on the kitchen stove (single sided components) [trick is to not blow the components around 
)
Would I like to have a DIY Arduino controlled reflow oven…for hells yeah…but in the mean time the hot air rework station does me pretty good and is heads and shoulders above trying to do it with a soldering iron