Sorry, but another soldering station thread

dahnz

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Hello all

I've read through a bunch of soldering station threads but because a lot of the stations discussed are hard to come by here in New Zealand or just cost heaps, I hope you'll indulge me by posting a few opinions.

I have three Williams games (Robotron, Defender, Stargate), and need to do some basic work on them (recapping monitors and maybe power supply, battery fix, replacing 4116s with 4164s, fixing any cold solder joints, etc), so I figure I need a better soldering iron than my old simple no-temp-control Hakko 504. I looked at Dick Smith (sort of an Australian-NZ version of Radio Shack) and they have these two:

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a837cb2016de2362740c0a87f3b071e/Product/View/T1976

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a837cb2016de2362740c0a87f3b071e/Product/View/T2250

The first seems to be the same as the Xytronic 379 (word for word product description) and the second may be the same as the Xytronic 137:

http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/379.html

http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/137ESD.html

I've been told the Dick Smith T2250 digital station at 55W/60W is too hot for game work, but I've seen a lot of people here recommend the Hakko 936, which is 50W. Does that 10W make a lot of difference? I can also get the Hakko 936 for twice the cost of the above (ie, about US$135). Of the three and given my limited needs, what do people recommend?

Thanks in advance, Dominic
 
I suspect that any adjustable temperature control station will be better than your current non-adjustable stick iron. I personally think the Hakko stuff is excellent, but I am not familiar with the "504" and if its just a stick iron, than its going to have limited flexibility regardless of who makes it.

There are a few well known brands in the soldering business and tons of cheap import knock-offs. Personally I use a Hakko 936 which I really like (just the basic analog version) and a Hakko 808 desoldering gun (which rocks). Before my 936, I had a cheap Weller WLC100 which got me by, but the Hakko kicks its butt big time.

For an adjustable iron, maximum wattage is just that-- the maximum the unit can put out. You can always dial down the temperature. Matching the wattage to the application really only matters with a non-adjustable stick iron where wattage effectively equals heat. I don't understand how an adjustable temperature 60W iron could be "too hot for game work". Either you can adjust the temperature or you cannot. (If the iron has too little wattage, then it will not maintain temperature in some situations, but that is a different issue.)

One thing I do recommend is getting a unit with interchangeable tips (and where the tips are easily available). I have multiple tips for my 836-- everything from a tiny guy I use for SMD parts at 0.8mm pitch to larger for general game board work to fairly large when I am soldering heavy connectors (and need extra heat).

I suspect that almost any adjustable you get will be a huge improvement over your non-adjustable stick iron. Personally, I would spend the extra for the Hakko 936 given my own experience, but if dollars are tight, both units you listed look usable to me. They are likely cheap Chinese knock-offs, but should do the job. Just don't expect them to last a lifetime or to have the same level of precise temperature control you might get with a Hakko or other leading brand.
 
They are likely cheap Chinese knock-offs, but should do the job.

Thanks for your comments. I think Dick Smith and Xytronic probably both just buy the same unit from the Chinese manufacturers and then put their house brand on them. I posted the link to the Xytronics because I'd seen the brand name discussed here before and thought people might be familiar with the models. But I am tending towards the Hakko.
 
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Thanks for your comments. I think Dick Smith and Xytronic probably both just buy the same unit from the Chinese manufacturers and then put their house brand on them. I posted the link to the Xytronics because I'd seen the brand name discussed here before and thought people might be familiar with the models. But I am tending towards the Hakko.


Ask them about replacement parts, if they point you to Hakko parts for replacements then it is most likely just a rebadged Hakko.


I use a Hakko at home as well. It has served me well through all arcade and automotive repairs I have made in recent years.
 
I now use Weller for everything... best irons I've been able to afford, by far... :D
 
I don't think the Xytronic and Dick Smith are rebadged Hakko's (at least they don't look like it), and Dick Smith do have their own brand replacement tips, but probably not as many as Hakko. While it would be nice to be able to extend my choices to a Pace, Metcal, or Weller, the two Dick Smith models are really the only ones in my price range, with the Hakko an option if it's worth the extra cost. I usually go for the best quality I can afford (which would be the Hakko), but in this case I just wonder how much use I'd get out of it.

So, the 60W of the DS or the 50W of the Hakko doesn't matter because the temperature is adjustable?
 
I don't think the Xytronic and Dick Smith are rebadged Hakko's (at least they don't look like it), and Dick Smith do have their own brand replacement tips, but probably not as many as Hakko. While it would be nice to be able to extend my choices to a Pace, Metcal, or Weller, the two Dick Smith models are really the only ones in my price range, with the Hakko an option if it's worth the extra cost. I usually go for the best quality I can afford (which would be the Hakko), but in this case I just wonder how much use I'd get out of it.

So, the 60W of the DS or the 50W of the Hakko doesn't matter because the temperature is adjustable?

I'm pretty sure Dick Smith's tips are all OEM'ed just like any other electronics retailer would do. Hell most manufacturers do it now too for some part of their portfolio. Anyway, between the two I would get the digital display station. It has a wider temperature range, and I really like the separate stand although the sponge would have to go in favor of the copper mesh they sell in their heavy duty stand.
 
Thanks, VectorJunkie. Given that the wattage doesn't see to be an issue, out of the two Dick Smith models I would go for the digital too. But would you go for the DS digital station or the analogue Hakko 936?
 
Thanks, VectorJunkie. Given that the wattage doesn't see to be an issue, out of the two Dick Smith models I would go for the digital too. But would you go for the DS digital station or the analogue Hakko 936?

I would go with the DSE digital iron. Mainly because it looks to be an OEM'ed Hakko or even OEM'ed from where Hakko does their OEM? Anyway, I like have the digital readout to make it easier to get to the same temperature.

Look at the Hakko 908 iron compared to the DSE. It is identical except for what colors are where. Atypical OEM rebadging.

1145_kote.jpg
T2250~LGE.JPG


Check out the hakko iron holder compared to the DSE... same right down to the sponge with the circular hole in it. :)

hakko_936.jpg


You look to be getting a better deal on that digital DSE one on clearance. It probably is a Hakko and would take all the Hakko tips as that 908 I listed.

Obviously your call since your the one that needs to be happy with it. With the control of the temp you get with any of those, you will be able to do some good soldering on wider range of gear. If you hit some stubborn solder, you just crank it up a bit and it makes a difference. Plus you can leave it low when needed so you don't damage traces, etc.

Good luck on making a decision.

Edit: Oh look... This XYtronic looks to be from the same manufacturer... Of course the little tray is on the other side...

circuitspecialists%20-%20xytronics%20379ul.jpg
 
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I now use dse t2000 for everything... best irons I've ever used, by far... :D

aww heck i still use my trusty dse t2000 adjustable temp controlled iron, and about to get a desolder station from http://www.ludatronics.com.au/ specifically to work on repairing my defender-joust pcbs.

if dse nz is goin the way of dse aus, id get your iron somewhere else cause u should be able to get long term support and spares/tips heaters etc from a supplier of your soldering gear...

ludatronics have a good aoyue combo low volt solder/desolder station coming into stock soon...
 
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