Hot-air re-work station review?

Question

Hi, Just wondering if any of your manufacturers have considered putting up a hot-air re-work station for review? It doesn't appear any have been reviewed yet. Cheers, Dean

rscasny · Accepted Answer

I don't believe we have roadtested a hot air rework station. It's a great suggestion. I put it on my schedule to ask a supplier. I am getting ready to launch a Weller soldering station roadtest. Randall Scasny RoadTest Program Manager

Gough Lui · Answer

Thanks xeonaj and clem57 - funny how sometimes someone likes something somewhere on the forum and bumps some older content back up the list and then things get re-discovered. That review was ... 2014 ... a whole five years ago. Rather surprisingly, I still have that unit on my desk right now - the original tip is slightly less pointy but the unit is still serving me well, having repaired many items and "earned" its keep in saving me from buying new things. I'd have to say that this was one of my better purchasing decisions - at my hobbyist usage level, it's good enough and durable enough while being affordable. I'd still recommend it despite its small "deceptions" in ratings. In the distant past, I wrote some small contributions to a computing magazine, then I decided to have my own blog. While I do RoadTests here, I do a lot more "random" things on my own blog - some things as large as RoadTests, others are a bit of "off-the-cuff" opinion. I don't tend to promote it very much - there's always a risk to being famous (i.e. too many visitors, too many questions, etc), but I'm glad you both enjoyed the content. Unfortunately, sometimes time is lacking and weeks can go by between posts ... but I try my best . Glad to have had a "second home" here at element14 though ... although I tend to use my personal blog here strictly for element14-related postings only. - Gough

Jan Cumps · Answer

I have a Weller WXR3. Never reviewed it online because the moderator of the forum I got it from banned me . It's about time to to a deep review. I'm using it for 3 years now.

Gough Lui · Answer

Well, this wasn't a RoadTest - in fact, I bought the Tenma combination hot air soldering station back in 2014 and I'm still using it to this day. I blogged about it a while back - it's basically a rebadged Atten.

https://goughlui.com/2014/09/29/quick-review-tenma-smd-rework-station-bundle/

- Gough

Gough Lui · Answer

I actually purchased some more challenging SMD kits - but I haven't found the time or bravery to try my hand at them just yet. Maybe later. But at least the wider pitch SMD ICs can be done with a fine tip and a steady hand. I do have a Metcal PS-900 PS-900 but I've decided to save that for later ... since the Tenma does the job for now. Replacement iron assemblies with new tips can be found on sale in the element14 Connect magazine from time to time as well - making it quite affordable to maintain. - Gough

clem57 · Answer

Gough Lui wrote:

Well, this wasn't a RoadTest - in fact, I bought the Tenma combination hot air soldering station back in 2014 and I'm still using it to this day. I blogged about it a while back - it's basically a rebadged Atten.
https://goughlui.com/2014/09/29/quick-review-tenma-smd-rework-station-bundle/

- Gough

Your reviews whether road test or not are quiet a good read. Thanks.

ntewinkel · Answer

Great blog, Gough!

Fun to see that you also tried some of those inexpensive little smd practice kits.

I did the "flowing water LEDs" smd one using a regular soldering iron... my results are rather ugly but surprisingly still works

I might have to buy a few of the others you have listed

>at my hobbyist usage level, it's good enough and durable enough while being affordable.

I like that you said that. So many reviewers out there tend to push for people to buy the most expensive fanciest industrial tools - for everything, not just limited to tech tools.

Cheers,

-Nico

clem57 · Answer

A good question: Has an air rework station been offered as a road test either now or in the past? cstanton or phoenixcomm any comments?

phoenixcomm · Answer

dgashby and clem57 I have a YiHUA-853D I have it lying around it's not even on my desk as the hot desoldering tool is broken, and the soldering iron leaves a lot to be desired. Normally I just use my METCAL for all of the soldering. I started to build a vacuum system for my lab with a vacuum and 2 Home Depot buckets. This was originally to suck the crap off my desk, but it morphed into a vacuum pick-up tool. I never got to install a footswitch to open the solenoid valve. I need to find a desoldering tool and modify it for a vacuum. So the short answer is hell yes!

phoenixcomm · Answer

Jan Cumps hey the problem is that somebody doesn't like what you say or how you say it. and then well FUBAR!! The problem is the some of the folks here take themselves tooo seriously!! dah rules. 1. Can you laugh at yourself, your religion, politics, or your ethnicity??? NO? See Rule #2 YES? See Rule #3 2. That means that you live in a glasshouse. and you have no broken windows. And for damn sure you better not throw stones. 3. That means that you have a few windows knocked out, therefore you can throw stones. ME: ALL MY WINDOWS HAVE BEEN BROKEN YEARS AGO, THEREFORE I DON"T CARE>>>>>