Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

[jeffescortlx]

Does any one here actually have the Hakko FR-300?
I know every one says "Don't buy the china junk buy the Hakko". The 808 is discontinued, while the new FR-300 performs better it has a 25% one star rating on amazon. That's terrible considering the half price Digital Aoyue 474++ has a 0% one start rating. The FR-300 seems to have heating element failures all too common, with reports of pump failures to. Plus the stand looks useless.

I'm ok with spending $265 for a quality tool that will last for a few years, but it looks like the FR-300 is a pass. So now that has me considering the china stations that have been getting good reviews. For example:
ZD985
ZD915
Aoyue 474A++
Aoyue 8800
S-993A, S-995A, S-997P or S-998P.

I love my fx888d, but I'm just worried that there desoldering station has a design flaw.
If any one has any recommendations I would love to consider them before I hit the buy button! Thanks!

[lookimback]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

I have an Aoyue 8800 and they are absolute garbage. First one, motor started seizing within a week. Got it replaced by the vendor. Second one came with a cracked pump, which I didn't notice until I had to replace the heating element. This is all within a week of purchase. I now have replaced the heating element twice and haven't gotten a total of 12 hours of use out of it yet. When it worked, it was great though. Just no longevity.

[stj]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

the xytronics one is supposed to be very good.
it's not pocket money like the ZHONGDI stuff though.

[jeffescortlx]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

I have an Aoyue 8800 and they are absolute garbage. First one, motor started seizing within a week. Got it replaced by the vendor. Second one came with a cracked pump, which I didn't notice until I had to replace the heating element. This is all within a week of purchase. I now have replaced the heating element twice and haven't gotten a total of 12 hours of use out of it yet. When it worked, it was great though. Just no longevity.

I read your post, it's an emotional roller coaster lol. From being amazing to a piece of junk. But it was nice seeing the good support from the vendor.
I feel like I'm taking a risk no matter what I buy, but the hakko should have the best long term support, it's just too bad replacement heating elements are $60.

[jeffescortlx]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

the xytronics one is supposed to be very good.
it's not pocket money like the ZHONGDI stuff though.

I see the lf-8800 is $400, it's a combo and would take up a lot of bench space. If I didn't already have a nice solder station I would consider. How's the after sale support?

[stj]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

no idea.

btw the cheap zhongdi unit is reviewed at eevblog.
go watch the video.

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

I use a Duratool Zd915 and have been for 8 months almost a few hours a day and had no problems out of it, great tool
I did have to replace the fan though as it failed after 3 months.

[jeffescortlx]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

I did see the eevblog video on his China desolding station, and dave did get it to work good, but he needs to make a follow up video on long term durability. Mine will get regular usage, probably every other day for an hour a day.

[stj]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

all desoldering units are maintainance heavy,
i owned a weller ws80 and used it several hours a day, so i know this well.
unclogging the tip of dried / burned flux, changing filters etc.

[stj]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

I use a Duratool Zd915 and have been for 8 months almost a few hours a day and had no problems out of it, great tool
I did have to replace the fan though as it failed after 3 months.

that's a ZHONGDI - hence the ZD in the model number.
i have one of their soldering stations - they are good for the money.

[Stefan Payne]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

I see the lf-8800 is $400, it's a combo and would take up a lot of bench space. If I didn't already have a nice solder station I would consider. How's the after sale support?

I got it, not that satisfied though...
Got problems with blocked nozzle, need to go to 400°C with RoHS solder to avoid that most of the time...
The Iron seems to be OK though...

Inside the box you'll also find some SMD tweezers, a cutter, 3 iron stands (at least with my ELV labeled one) and some kind of fume extractor (well, mor or less a 230VAC fan with a switch and some metal around it)...

Though at that price point, I guess it's OK...

all desoldering units are maintainance heavy,
i owned a weller ws80 and used it several hours a day, so i know this well.
unclogging the tip of dried / burned flux, changing filters etc.

Ah, OK; so that's (more or less) normal for those kind of tools?

I think then I shoudn't complain as much, should I?

Especially since you also could get a hot air part (probably not worth it) and also a pair of soldering tweezers for the LF-8800...
that one

I'd highly recomend to buy some other tips for the Iron as well as some other nozzles for the desolder thing...

[jeffescortlx]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

I hope it's true what they say "you get what you pay for" because I just ordered the Hakko FR300 & 633 Hakko Holder. It was $290 total.
If it goes through heating elements I'm going to be pissed, and will sell it for a Aoyue 474A++ or ZD985 or even the cheaper S-993A. At least if those go bad it's only $20 for a replacement heater, heck the whole replacement gun for the ZD-985 is only $44.
...I'll just see how it goes.

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

that's a ZHONGDI - hence the ZD in the model number.
i have one of their soldering stations - they are good for the money.

Ahh right haha I might recap mine soon as I noticed sancon brand caps inside when I replaced the fan only compliant apart from that solid in my opinion

[stj]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

just remember after you finish using it, clear the nozzle with the spike tool while holding the button down.

if you dont keep it clear of old flux, it clogs real fast.
think about what your soldering iron tip gets like and how often you wipe it - then remember this is no different except it's on the INSIDE!!!

[stj]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

Ahh right haha I might recap mine soon as I noticed sancon brand caps inside when I replaced the fan only compliant apart from that solid in my opinion

all zhongdi products have one "problem",
they use a black power switch - i hate that!!!
i upgrade them with these:
http://www.rapidonline.com/Electroni...Switches-30262

[Agent24]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

if you dont keep it clear of old flux, it clogs real fast.
think about what your soldering iron tip gets like and how often you wipe it - then remember this is no different except it's on the INSIDE!!!

That's a good way of explaining it.

[montemcguire]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

That makes sense! I have an FR-300 and the tip clogged, but it wasn't solder that clogged it - must have been cooked flux. Other than clogging, which I guess I could prevent by running the cleaning wire through it regularly, it's a really nice tool! Much nicer than the 808 - better balanced, more suction, easily controllable heat, on-off switch.

Thanks for the hint, and I recommend the FR-300 highly. I do mostly SMD, and it's still very useful - a great tool for cleaning and leveling pads after a part has been removed from a PCB.

[jeffescortlx]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

So what do you guys think is a better China unit, the 474++ or the ZD985?

[stj]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

got a link for the 474++ ?

[jeffescortlx]

Re: Desoldering station vacuum pump. Looking for recommendations.

got a link for the 474++ ?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ABJ4AEC?vs=1

Reviews are very positive