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Which desoldering or rework station should I buy for a middle budgets $200 to $800?

VERAULT

VERAULT

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So in some situations a solder pump and solder braid just dont cut it for me. I need a good desoldering vacuum system. Back in DEC I bought this one off Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KQ6PR6K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I read alot of reviews including some videos on the eevblog. The unit broke in several days (in the middle of me replacing a power switch on a C128). Turns out the units element is only connected to the gun via some cheap plastic tabs that somehow were shorn off. Very disappointing.

I've been doing alot of reading and I think Id like to buy a hakko fr-410 but the $1000.00 US price tag is a bit high for me.

Is there a middle ground for a solid de-solder station? Anyone have some advice?solder.jpg
 
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Too bad you got ripped on your last buy. FWIW, I like Pace products. Not the cheapest or most expensive, but good professional quality. A nice used Hakko would be okay if you can trust the source.
 
Well thankfully I was able to get a refund. They send me a prepaid shipping label and I returned it. Unfortunately amazon tried to sham me by granting me a $149.99 giftcard rather than put the money back on my credit card. I called them and they said they will transfer to the card, hope that will happen soon.

On another note, I have lots of things to work on, so whatever I buy will see alot of use.. I need something built better than the novice/hobbyist grade. ITs strange to me how many good reviews the Zd-985 received. The gun feels so cheap I thought more people would have issues with it.
 
VERAULT said:
I did read up on that one as well. So my question is, how does the suctions work? Is there a base that they dont show in the advert?
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There is no base as everything is encapsulated in the gun.
 
I love my Hakko FR300. Its very portable so you can bring it to friends houses to fix some of their stuff. Just buy assorted size tips, you really want to use the right size. Don’t buy the Chinese Hakko knockoff desoldering stations or parts, I didn’t know how bad it was till I tried the real thing.

I haven’t yet needed a hot air rework station, so I can’t comment on that if you are looking for one.
 
Corey986 said:
I love my Hakko FR300. Its very portable so you can bring it to friends houses to fix some of their stuff. Just buy assorted size tips, you really want to use the right size. Don’t buy the Chinese Hakko knockoff desoldering stations or parts, I didn’t know how bad it was till I tried the real thing.

I haven’t yet needed a hot air rework station, so I can’t comment on that if you are looking for one.
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Corey986, thanks Ill look more into the unit. unless someone has something otherwise I am definitely leaning towards hakko. I dont think I have a need for a hot air rework station at this point.
 
I think mine is the S-993A handheld desoldering gun with vacuum. Had it a few years and reworked a bunch of stuff with it, works ok and its cheap.
 
alpher said:
I use Hakko 808, https://www.hakkousa.com/products/desoldering/hakko-808-desoldering-tool-6064.html
While a great tool for 2 sided boards (i can cleanly remove a 40 pin dip in less than a minute) .
Not so great for more layers, 4 is doable but anything more it's a struggle.
If anybody knows a good tool to do multilayers appreciate a suggestion.
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Thanks Alpher, looks like the fr-300 series that is being recommended as well. Discontinued, maybe there is a used one on the cheap...
 
Unknown_K said:
I think mine is the S-993A handheld desoldering gun with vacuum. Had it a few years and reworked a bunch of stuff with it, works ok and its cheap.
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you guys really like these all included handhelds huh? Maybe im just looking at the wrong models. What exactly are your reasons for the hand held vs the station models. Someone already mentioned portability.
 
I agree with Al, get a used Hakko off of eBay and rebuild it. I picked up my Hakko 472D base (that's the vac pump and iron controller) without an iron handle for around $150, picked up the iron handle for around $50, and spent maybe $30-40 on repair parts and consumables (new filters, o-rings, had to buy a bracket for the iron).

I'd recommend getting one of the pencil style iron handles, and avoiding the right angle "gun" handle. I've used both, the pencil style is way better IMO.

Make sure to get cleaning pins for the tip sizes you plan to use. One of the tip reamers is also useful when a tip is reaching end of life, but if you've got a carbide circuit board "number drill" set, that works fine too. I keep a small stainless steel toothbrush-sized brush (gun cleaning brush, you can get them at auto parts places too, and probably the hardware store). It'll break up scale that the wet sponge won't remove. If you buy used tips, plan on having to go at them with a polishing bar.
 
Since you gave a price range, and didn't ask for the cheapest option, then I'll give you what I think is the best option for a new desoldering tool in your range.

Take a look at the Metcal MFR-1350:

https://www.tequipment.net/Metcal/M...MI4pyo6KHd2AIVjbrACh202wA6EAAYASAAEgJuoPD_BwE

I have one of these, as well as the DS-1 (requires shop air) and have used the SP-440 (no longer made, replaced by the MFR-1350). Although I'm linking to a new unit, I generally will try to buy used on Ebay before new. However, unlike the metcal soldering tools, the RF heater is built into the handpiece, not the tips, and has a long but finite lifespan, so there is some potential benefit to buying new.

The MFR-1350 has stronger suction than the SP-440; nearly comparable to the DS-1. The pump is quieter than the SP-440, and the handpiece can convert between "gun" and "pencil" configurations, but the pencil can get a bit hot to hold after a while. I wrap a thin silicone sheet around the handle as a grip.

The SP440, if you find a used one, has only the "pencil" configuration, but the pencil is a bit larger diameter and feels more solid. The problem with the SP440 is that you cannot buy the filter paper or felt filter pad, but those are easy to improvise. The SP440 can be had for a bargain on Ebay. For example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/162852970498

The local makerspace has a Hakko gun-style desoldering tool (I think the FR-300?), as well as a Metcal SP-440, and the Metcal is noticeably more effective. I have not had the chance to try the 472D with the pencil grip.

I agree with glitch, I generally prefer the pencil style over the gun style, but it's nice to be able to go back and forth between both configurations with the MFR-1350.

Unless you have shop air and a bigger budget, the MFS-1350 is my suggestion as your best bet. As an added benefit, it has two ports, so you can add a soldering handpiece and have a superb soldering / desoldering station. Or, buy the MFR-1351, which is the 1350 with the soldering handpiece and tip included.

If you have shop air and already have a metcal soldering station, then it's a no-brainer to just get a DS-1.

If you haven't tried using a metcal, you owe it to yourself to try one out. You will not want to go back.

Dave
 
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VERAULT said:
you guys really like these all included handhelds huh? Maybe im just looking at the wrong models. What exactly are your reasons for the hand held vs the station models. Someone already mentioned portability.
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I don't have a dedicated workbench for reworks so space is a premium and I don't like dragging hoses around. Price is another factor since I don't do reworks for a living or even every day. If you are going to be using the tool a lot and time is valuable to you then I would get an industrial quality tool. But for hobbyist use once in a while a cheaper unit is probably best. There are so many inexpensive tools out now for hobbyists. In the last few years I got that desoldering iron and a hot air workstation with temp controlled soldering iron and they were new and inexpensive. They also seem to have spare parts to repair them if/when needed which is nice.

I have to say if you are working with newer lead free solder higher temperature modern equipment makes life much easier.
 
There are a lot of cheap professional *looking* options popping up for hobbyists, many are knockoffs of older Hakko and other name brand designs. If you haven't used the equivalent non-knockoff version, you likely don't realize just how poor the knockoffs are. I've used a few of the Ayoue (or however it's spelled) desoldering and hot air rework stuff, they might be fine if you're using them once or twice to fix a thing, but they really lack the build quality of an actual Hakko. I guess it's a toss-up: if you don't care about the build quality or you can get it so cheap that you don't care if you go through three or four, then that's fine. All about personal goals and expectations at the end of the day.

W.R.T. the all-in-one vs. separate vac pump/controller, I find the all-on-one variety to be cumbersome. There's a lot of weight up there and it requires more effort for delicate work.
 
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