Soldering Station Recommendation

[Purity]

Hi guys,

I've been using one of the budget Duratools soldering stations for the past year, and it has been really good, but I think it is on its last legs. This not great considering I only bought it just over a year ago!

So I'm looking for some recommendations for an upgrade. Something that's going to last.

Cheers

 

[mathj]

if you got deep enough pockets I can highly recommend a metcal setup

I got mine from ebay 2nd hand for under 100 quid, they do come up cheap now and again

mathmathj2014-01-20 10:10:00

 

[Zabanitu]

this will last longer i think:

http://www.digivideo.biz/it/elettronica/attrezzatura/jbc-desold.htm

this is the updated version

http://www.ronex.ee/index.php?product_id=21496&page=79&action=show_product_details&&group_id=1611

spare parts are chep too !

 

[guddler]

I don't suggest that you buy this one as it's untested, but this is what you're looking for.

I've had one of these for about 8 years now and I can honestly say it's the best thing since sliced bread. Tips are getting a bit pricey now, up to £20 each, but they'll last years for hobby use.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/METCAL-SP200-MODEL-SP-PW1-20-SOLDERING-STATION-/151092822503?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item232dd581e7

Possibly might want to look at a newer model now as the 200 is getting a bit long in the tooth (PS-900 ?). It's still around second hand and even new some places for very good reason however.

 

[RGP]

I have 2 JBC soldering stations and a Metcal SP440 desoldering station - well worth it.

 

[Ordyne]

Metcal all the way......

 

[guddler]

Ordy: Do you know anything about those PS-900's ?? For an OKI / Metcal they seem incredibly good value for money!

 

[Ordyne]

Haven't a clue, all that range is very different to the mx / sp series.

 

[Anthony Graham]

I have a JBC CD2BC, Metcal PS-900, Ye old Antex station (I forget the model) and Somewhere in a draw a cousin of the duratool (the model appears under several brand names).

The JBC is awsome but has a price to match! If your making any money from it then it is worth it. For day to day work the Metcal PS-900 will be fine.

The PS-900 doesn't heat up anywhere near as fast as the top of the line Metcal or JBC (my JBC takes approx 2-3 seconds from cold) The 900 takes around 30 seconds.

The biggest difference the Metcal and JBCs have over the basic irons are firstly the tips. The selection of tip types for them is massive compared to the basic irons. My prefered is the knife bit as it gets into small spaces and great for my smt assembly, however if tilted slightly can cover large pads too. The tips can also be changed easily whilst hot on the Metcal and JBC to suit the job at hand (easier on JBC irons). The 900 has the heater built into the handpiece (this is changable for when it needs replacing) the JBC and I believe the higher end Metcal has it built into the tip which makes them more expensive but they heat up faster.

The Second difference is heat build up/retention. The cheaper irons say stuff like 120w or higher etc this is useless vs the PS-900's 60w rating. It is not what you have got it is how you use it. The Metcal and JBC keep there heat so much better and heat the components solder so much more easily. As they heat the solder quicker this allows you to get the solder/desolder job done quicker. Thus making it less likely you will thermally damage the component (cook it). The tough test for a soldering iron is to reflow solder on a large groundplane attached component. Most cheap irons will have massive heat sunk into the the component and groundplane, which lowers the iron temp making it difficult to melt the solder the iron then ramps up the power to heat itself up and generally overshoots the desired temp and cooking the component or damaging the traces.

A little video you find interesting regards above points
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2QMX98Li_E

Ant

 

[guddler]

Thanks Ant - some nice info there. Particularly enlightening on the 900. I was half aware that the element was in the hand piece not the tips, but I didn't realise that meant it wouldn't heat up in 10s like the SP200 (which obviously isn't top end but it's good).

I just like to keep half an eye out on whats about as my SP200 will hopefully last some years yet but it won't last forever. Presumably.

 

[Anthony Graham]

I would imagine your SP200 will outlast you! They were designed to be used day in and day out for 10hrs per day. So in the way we use them I imagine we are not even stretching them slightly. Plus the most likely part to break is the element/heater which is easy and cheap to replace. In the tips in your SP200 and in the handpiece on the PS-900 which is around a £30 part.

Plus when in the stand they sleep at a lower temp so saving the heater.

Another reason I like them over the cheaper ones!

Ant

 

[Purity]

Hopefully picking up an SP 200 tomorrow

 

[guddler]

Cool! I would need to check the tip numbers that I use but I've only ever used two, and after all this time have only just started a new one of the fine tip.

I use 700 series (which is the temperate) and I think the fine tip is 701. I use that for all my PCB work and I have a chisel tip that I use if I need a bit more grunt (ground planes, monitor work, maybe some adapters). I'd need to check the numbers really though.