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    #1

    Woo! Rework!

    Hey folks, haven't been here for a while. Dead computers and crappy snow kept me off the keyboard. So I finally got to buy myself a rework station. I think its a rebadged Gordak, but it's supposedly called X-Tronics. Got some buyer's remorse because I was planning to get a hot air wand like the Aoyue 8032++. This one I managed to get for $130 comes with 9 extra solder tips for the iron, 4 nozzles, has a spare element for both iron and hot air, and a small fluorescent lamp. I already gutted some defective ram with it and it sure as hell works. Hopefully it will last as I've heard these cheap-o stations have short lives.

    Here's the porn...err pictures:
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    #2
    Re: Woo! Rework!

    That looks nice. I just got one off ebay,it's a kendall 852d. I bought it to reflow 2 ms-7207 emachine boards. The good thing is it is the same solder iron as my csi-701 desolder station, so I have a new iron also. I still prefer the weller 60W when I'm soldering. I got mine yesterday and had bought the solder paste and an organic flux that disappears. I practiced on an old video card to watch the solder melt. Pretty cool to do it with hot air. The solder paste has a lower melting point, so you don't have to get it as hot. The flux is for the chips that are balled on. I did one of the 7207 boards tonight. I did the video chip first and it didn't fix my problem. Boots perfect every other time. So I took it back apart and did the north bridge and it has booted right 10 times in a row. So now I will see how it works for a while before I do the other one. Exact same problem, so hopefrully it's the north bridge also. Yours has alot more tips than mine. I got the 3 round hot air, but only the one tip that was on the iron. Enjoy it. For $86, mine just fixed a $119 board, for how long , I'll have to wait and see. There are plenty of sites to give the temps and time to reflow. I have a digital temp gauge so I heated it till it was 230c all over the chip.

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Woo! Rework!

      Good to hear you put a hot air tool to good use. Once I get the hang of it, I'll be fixing peoples consoles and phones. Hopefully this thing doesn't die on me. I have a feeling I will be voiding it's warranty very soon. I still have that damn buyer's remorse. It's probably because the hot air wand is just about a hundred bucks, and finding hoof and flathead tips for my velleman iron is a PITA.

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Woo! Rework!

        The kendall wand and iron is the same as several of the aoyue and csi brands. This looks like the exact box as the csi/aoyue with knobs moved around. I just went to ebay and put in 852d and at least 3 different brands came up, but they are all the same.
        Last edited by steve2; 02-05-2011, 09:29 AM.

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Woo! Rework!

          Hi all,
          Been playing with something evil along the above line.

          Picked up a little tiny torch made by Bernz O Matic.

          Been using it to un solder various parts.

          Seems if Im real careful I can remove SMT chips and chip caps from dead boards from old two way radios.

          Today I was able to remove big heavy RF power transistors w/o screwing them or the boards up.

          If you want, I can take some photos in the next few days and show how it's done.

          Just remember using this torch, is like doing dental work with a meat cleaver, you have to be very good and luckey.

          The torch works, but it's easy to scorch things.

          Im going to look up the tools you guys have called out.
          If the cheap ones work well enough, then I might be able to earn enough to buy a top line item later.

          It's clear I need a hot air tool for rework. I spend way too much time with wicks, solder suckers and the rest.

          Thanks for the tips and the education.

          Mike aka Jack Crow
          Herndon VA
          "You are, what you do, when it counts"
          The Masso

          "Gravity, the quickest way down"
          Mayor John Almafi

          "You ever drop an egg, and on the floor you see it break?
          You go and get a mop so you can clean up your mistake.
          But did you ever stop to ponder why we know it's true?
          If you drop a broken egg you will not get an egg that's new?"

          MC Hawking

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Woo! Rework!

            This stuff is waaay to powerful for any unsoldering.

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Woo! Rework!

              PB,
              Yes your right.
              Way too much heat.

              But it's what I had on hand, plus it's cheap.

              Been un employed for a while and money for anything is hard to come by.

              The micro torch was about $11.00 at the local Home Depot.

              It did work very well on big power transistors, IF cans, SIP package IC's, SMT caps, and IC's.

              It's what convinced me to get a proper re work station with a more controlled heat source.

              Keep it safe
              Radio Mike aka Jack Crow
              Herndon VA
              "You are, what you do, when it counts"
              The Masso

              "Gravity, the quickest way down"
              Mayor John Almafi

              "You ever drop an egg, and on the floor you see it break?
              You go and get a mop so you can clean up your mistake.
              But did you ever stop to ponder why we know it's true?
              If you drop a broken egg you will not get an egg that's new?"

              MC Hawking

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Woo! Rework!

                I did reflow some things with it, but it isn't very good. Its flame is very narrow and if you move it too far away it losses all of its heat. A nice thing to do would be to make a nozzle to mix in some cool air and remove the hot center.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Woo! Rework!

                  MC,
                  Was looking on Ebay and the X Tronic units don't seem to be all that expensive.

                  What kind of results have you had so far?

                  Let me know
                  Thanks in advance.
                  Jack Crow aka Radio Mike
                  Herndon VA
                  .............................................

                  Originally posted by Madcat View Post
                  Hey folks, haven't been here for a while. Dead computers and crappy snow kept me off the keyboard. So I finally got to buy myself a rework station. I think its a rebadged Gordak, but it's supposedly called X-Tronics. Got some buyer's remorse because I was planning to get a hot air wand like the Aoyue 8032++. This one I managed to get for $130 comes with 9 extra solder tips for the iron, 4 nozzles, has a spare element for both iron and hot air, and a small fluorescent lamp. I already gutted some defective ram with it and it sure as hell works. Hopefully it will last as I've heard these cheap-o stations have short lives.

                  Here's the porn...err pictures:
                  "You are, what you do, when it counts"
                  The Masso

                  "Gravity, the quickest way down"
                  Mayor John Almafi

                  "You ever drop an egg, and on the floor you see it break?
                  You go and get a mop so you can clean up your mistake.
                  But did you ever stop to ponder why we know it's true?
                  If you drop a broken egg you will not get an egg that's new?"

                  MC Hawking

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Woo! Rework!

                    I 'use' Aouye 968, X Tronic seems to be same chinese garbage under a different name.

                    A bit better on the bonus stuff as tips and a heater. There was a spare heater with aouye, but there isn't anymore.

                    Comment

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