Hot Air Rework Station

[BuffaloEngineer]

Anyone have any recommendations for hot air rework stations? Thinking of buying this one that my friend recommended to me:

2 IN1 SMD SMT Solder Rework Station Hot Air Iron KADA 852D+ AC110V
**broken link removed**

Mostly getting it for desoldering fine pitch chips and parts with thermal pads. Thanks!

 

[circuitspecialists]

I would recommend the CSI825A++ station.

 

[BuffaloEngineer]

I would recommend the CSI825A++ station.

That looks like a pretty good station since it has the suction attachment for the same price...

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

I would like to point out this company. http://www.zeph.com/ No experience, but their stuff looks really nice and well thought out. It got high recommendations in a TekScopes group.

 

[cachehiker]

I'd be inclined to get the reflow station from Circuit Specialists as well. I've only dealt with them once for a DAQ board, had one coworker order a reflow station, seen one other positive forum posting for the 825A, and noticed their BBB rating is A+ though. They're also only one state away from me so a station would get here quick.

BTW, have you perchance read Sparkfun's little article on soldering SMT? Reflow Skillet
Let's just say I'll be trying my hot plate for the next (my second ) SMT project.

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

I did buy the BK6000. I don't have enough experience to comment.

 

[DirtyLude]

I have an Aoyue 968 I got a couple years ago from https://sra-solder.com/ It's worked out well. These Chinese hot air reflow guns are all pretty basic. They put out hot air, though, you don't need much more than that doing hobby work.

Mine has worked well and I've done a lot of SMD work with it. The only thing I would change is I would not have gotten a soldering iron/hot air in one unit if could do it again.

 

[BuffaloEngineer]

I have a decent Weller soldering iron, I wasn't sure if the hot air+soldering iron combo would be as accurate for temperature control of the iron.

Also, I've heard you can make prototype boards with a syringe of solder paste and a hot air gun, not sure how time effective that is...

 

[Zerotolerance]

Aoyue 852A++

 

[twbranch]

I haven't used CSIs rework station mentioned above but I do have their solder/desolder station and it is grade A. Priced just right too!