Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

[Stefan Payne]

Im thinking about buying a decent hot air station.
The Xytronics LF-852D(II) are pretty cheap and don't look too bad.

The difference between the two seems to be 50€ and 400W.
Is it worth getting the II instead of the older 852??

[Stefan Payne]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

Hm, what do I want to do with that?
I'm not really sure...

I plan to use it for PSU disassembly but maybe some other stuff as well (desoldering BGA stuff from old broken boards to make key chains) or something like that.

And I'm not sure if the II is worth the extra money or not.

[stj]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

just get a cheap chinese 30Euro job from ebay.

[Stefan Payne]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

Well, I don't (want to) buy cheap.
I want to buy some quality that lasts a lifetime.

That's why I have a Makita HR2450 drillthing lying around here

[LP_tekh]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

I'm using Atten at858d+ for four years now. I replaced the heater last month, working like new again.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-...rchweb201560_5

[Stefan Payne]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

I'm from Germany, there isn't that big a choice...

The only thing that makes sense (price wise) is a ZD-939 for 84,95€. (Reichelt)
A TOOLCRAFT AT850D for 179,90 (Conrad) doesn't make any sense over the LF-852D for 189,95€.
The 852DII would be 239,95€
(both Xytronics are also Reichelt.de).
ELV.de also just seem to have rebadged Xytronics things.

But I'd like to order @ Reichelt because they are way cheaper with the Panasonic caps than Conrad...

That leaves Amazon.

But still, I'd like to get something remotely decent and don't want to save that much money on this toy
Though I could buy other things, but I don't want to ^_^

[Stefan Payne]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

I ordered the 852D today.

I think the 852DII would be a waste of money.
I ordered a couple of capacitors and other things instead of the 50€ for the 852DII

[Stefan Payne]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

Was delivered today before noon.
It comes with 5 pairs of tweezers.
An adittional heating element. And some other stuff.

And I already tested it

First:
The clunky power switch seems like it disconnects the power. But it does not
Its more like a 'soft power switch'. If you power it of, the thing isn't off!
Well, the heating element is but the pump is not, don't know if it is on a timer or not, but there is some kind of delayed turnoff implemented.

It also comes with 4 nozzles:
one small round one.
one bigger round one.
and two for smaller QFN package chips...

The Heatingelement is (of course) in the handpiece.
The air comes out of the main unit...

And here is what I don't particularly like:
'only' one tube goes from the main unit to the handpiece.
Inside this tube is a cable for the heating element...
Why don't just make a double cable like they did with the DIA100 desoldering tool?
Then you don't have something inside the tube blocking the airflow...

On the other hand, you can not burn the cable that easily...

[stj]

Re: Xytronics LF-852DII or just the LF-852?

the delayed shutdown is like a nuclear power plant, you need to keep the cooling for a while to prevent a meltdown!

as for the pipe with wires in it and the pump in the base - that's why i tell people to buy the newer chinese units with a fan in the handle!