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QUESTION OF THE MONTH : What Soldering tool would you like next to add to your Workbench?

vijeth_ds

e14 Question of the Month

Soldering components is a necessary skill for any prototyping maker or engineer. But the right soldering tool you need depends on what you are going to do. A standard soldering station may work for soldering through-hole components to a PCB, but soldering surface mount devices needs a different tool. What are you thinking about purchasing next?

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  • I’m not missing anything specifically but perhaps it might be nice to have an integrated soldering/hot air/de-soldering system.  What would be very useful is a tip quick-change system if such a thing exists (or could be invented!)

  • in reply to Andrew J

     It already exists for all types of irons.

  • in reply to anniel747

    I presume you mean, unscrew the end of the iron, drop out tip, push in new tip, screw it tight?  I’m thinking iron in tip holder, tip is grabbed automatically and pulled out,  place over new tip which is automatically pulled in, done. 

  • in reply to Andrew J

     Looks like some kind of robot? Here is one exemple of what I'm talking about. About two seconds to swap tips, to temp in 3-7 seconds. 

  • in reply to anniel747

    Looks like it’s mostly been invented then!  All it needs is a rack that grabs the tip so when the iron is pulled it’s held in the rack, then the next tip, in another rack position, can be plugged in by pushing down on the iron.  Not a robot, but hands free (rather than, or as well as, tool free).  I like the idea though - my Hakko has nothing like that available.

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  • in reply to anniel747

    Looks like it’s mostly been invented then!  All it needs is a rack that grabs the tip so when the iron is pulled it’s held in the rack, then the next tip, in another rack position, can be plugged in by pushing down on the iron.  Not a robot, but hands free (rather than, or as well as, tool free).  I like the idea though - my Hakko has nothing like that available.

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  • in reply to Andrew J

     JBC has something of the sort. I also have some Weller 0051504899 that can be used in a similar way for hot air nozzles.

  • in reply to anniel747

    That's the one I went with in the end:  JBC CD (CDS/CDB) Soldering Station Quick Review 

     I really like it, pleasure to use (like most of the decent soldering station brands out there).

  • in reply to anniel747

    Yes, that’s what I mean.  When my Hakko bites the dust, Weller and JBC are the brands I would look at for a replacement.

  • in reply to Andrew J

     Hakko also has it, it appears you only need to replace the stand. 

    www.hakko.com/.../detail.php

  • in reply to anniel747

    I think you’d have to have the right soldering iron as well.  That wouldn’t work on mine but it’s still good to know that this thing exists.

  • in reply to Andrew J

     I was under the impression that all common Hakko stations used the same cartridges.

  • in reply to Andrew J

     I never really investigated Hakko, tried a few and never found them worthwhile.

  • in reply to shabaz

    The JBC is great, but the JBC tips are expensive.  I've seen replacement tips for 1/10 the price, but I'm a little afraid to use them.  Has anyone tried the aftermarket tips?