Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

[Toasty]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

30 years ago Ungar was NOT Weller. Separate and distinct brands.

>>and weller is a division of cooper-tools<<

Along with at least 2 dozen other well known brands such as Xcelite, Crescent, Bussman, Wiss, Lufkin, Nicholson, Apex, Campbell, H.K. Porter, Airetool, Gardner-Denver, etcetera and ad nauseum.

Plus their up $0.22 today so that's bucks for me.

[WarZ]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

If this post is in the wrong spot let me know - but question regarding irons and removing caps on MB's :

From point of iron contact with solder / lead on the board - how long should it take to melt ? Is there a time frame you should wait and if theres no melting remove the heat for fear of damage ?

I understand it needs to be quick - but how quick, etc ?

Thanks.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

[Ball park mind you... Different boards react differently..]
If you can count slowly to ten and nothing happens then your iron is probably too cold.
If you only get to five and it's melting you are at least doing okay.

[WarZ]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

Okay cool. I just did a MB removal earlier with some 45 and 50w irons. It seemed to go fairly smooth. Everything looks good, the holes are clear enough place new leads into. The only thing of note is just a slight marring of the clear coating around the leads. Just slightly yellow brownish and only a little / barely noticeable unless I look closely.

Would this be considered normal or did I apply too much heat ? One picture I saw showed the board where leads were removed appeared as if there was no discoloration at all ?

I didnt use any flux. Just 60/40 to pre-tin. Then heat, a sucker to remove some of the excess, then a needle to wiggle the solder from the hole on the bottom.

Thanks.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

Okay cool. I just did a MB removal earlier with some 45 and 50w irons. It seemed to go fairly smooth. Everything looks good, the holes are clear enough place new leads into. The only thing of note is just a slight marring of the clear coating around the leads. Just slightly yellow brownish and only a little / barely noticeable unless I look closely.

Would this be considered normal or did I apply too much heat ? One picture I saw showed the board where leads were removed appeared as if there was no discoloration at all ?

I didnt use any flux. Just 60/40 to pre-tin. Then heat, a sucker to remove some of the excess, then a needle to wiggle the solder from the hole on the bottom.

Thanks.

That 'stain' is probably the coating that was on the solder joint that burned and left some residue.
Sometimes it is just old flux that floated up.
It's normal.
Just clean it with Isopropyl Alcohol and a Q-tip or similar.
[Preferably before installing the new caps.]
Even if you missed that step the 'junk' usually floats to the top of the solder and the flux carries it off so it doesn't crap up the joint.
Still better to clean it off first just to be sure.
.
Photo you saw was probably after cleaning.
.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

When I can find it I like Rosin Core 63/37 Solder around .020-.022".
Melts at a slightly lower temp [faster] than 60/40 but it's not like a huge difference.
.

[godonr]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

Anyone have any thoughts about the BK6000? Is it better to get separate units as opposed to the all-in-one like the 6000?

[steve2]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

I have had the circuit specialist 701smd, now it's 701a, for about 3 years. I use it several times a month. It works okay. I used Pace rework sations before I retired and they were sweet (around $2000). I couldn't justify that cost to work tv,s and other stuff as a hobby, so I bought the CSI 701smd. It is not close to Pace quality, but it does what I want. The solder iron handle gets very hot after it has been on a while. It does suck good, but the design of the spring filter requires often cleaning and the solder sucker needs the rod (comes with it) ran through it often enough. For the price, it is alright. If I am just soldering , i just plug in my weller iron as it is a better iron.

[yz7myg]

Re: Recomend a Solder/Desolder Station around $200?

My suggestion is you Denon SC 7000Z and solder stations JBC BD2BA.
Previously, as a beginner I used Weller magnastat