I'm a soldering junkie... Here's my stash & info

[tumbafox]

Holy Crap.

 

[Str8V8ping]

Nice station!

I have a Metcal MX-500. It's in the picture under that double spool (and key) holder. Metcal's technology is fantastic for some things. Compared to my Hakkos, it's marginally faster in use, and is noticeably more precise in heat application, which produces a marginally cleaner joint, and makes for a cleaner job in smaller uses. For SMD and any other light, precision work, it's a clear winner, if not an overwhelming one.

I agree fully. I love my metcal . My exact opinion on the comparison. I dont have a hakko but a auyoe 987 knock off station and it does work great but heat is more precise on the metcal. Its really noticeable when soldering larger pads.

Hot air rework has its occasion use but it is kinda annoying .I mainly use it for stripping boards.

 

[AttyPops]

Nice collection.

Where's the toaster oven?

 

[Str8V8ping]

My toaster oven is a IR T962 Reflow oven. I remember the days of reflowing in the toaster though.It does work but not great for the component.Then theres also the Skillet method. I eventually want to get a more expensive forced air reflow oven since they really do come in handy. Its the only way of working with some packages where the pins are under the chip like DFN's

 

[SiBurning]

I love the compactness of that Hakko kit, and the fact it weighs less than a third of what my Metcal does!
I loathe having to transport it anywhere, so I generally fall back on my trusty Weller pencil iron.
I only wish that Hakko would release the other 3 colors in the US; that red one just screams "buy me!" LOL

The 936/888 is far behind the other Hakkos and Metcals. The heating element isn't incorporated into the tip, and the tips themselves aren't machined as precisely. There's also fewer tips available, though it's mostly missing the really oddball tips. Iirc, one popular drag solder tip (hoof?) doesn't exist in that line, but overall the selection is still pretty good. In terms of soldering, there's a rather large margin. In my bed of nails test, the Metcal finished in 15 seconds vs 25 for the 936 (very similar to the 888) and the result wasn't as good. Other qualities, such as precision, are similarly behind. It does drop temperature faster while soldering, and is slower to recover, but it keeps a very stable recovery temperature. Also consider that the longer you apply heat, the more it dissipates (causing even less precision) and the higher the likelihood of breaking something. Still, it's perfectly adequate.

 

[Str8V8ping]

The 936/888 is far behind the other Hakkos and Metcals. The heating element isn't incorporated into the tip, and the tips themselves aren't machined as precisely. There's also fewer tips available, though it's mostly missing the really oddball tips. Iirc, one popular drag solder tip (hoof?) doesn't exist in that line, but overall the selection is still pretty good. In terms of soldering, there's a rather large margin. In my bed of nails test, the Metcal finished in 15 seconds vs 25 for the 936 (very similar to the 888) and the result wasn't as good. Other qualities, such as precision, are similarly behind. It does drop temperature faster while soldering, and is slower to recover, but it keeps a very stable recovery temperature. Also consider that the longer you apply heat, the more it dissipates (causing even less precision) and the higher the likelihood of breaking something. Still, it's perfectly adequate.

The aouye i have has the element built into the iron .I actually use a genuine Hakko iron on it with Hakko tips but Hakko tips will work on the Aouye as well.

oops nm i thought you were talking about something else.

 

[SiBurning]

The Metcals and more costly Hakkos have tips with a built-in heating element. Of course, they also cost more. In some cases, very much more. Because of the cost, I wouldn't recommend them to anyone except for hard core hobbyists and professionals.

 

[Str8V8ping]

Exactly .They are WELL worth the money but not unless your using it for business or a everyday hobby.

 

[SiBurning]

As I mention in the prologue of my thread on head-fi, the main consideration for me investing money in top quality equipment is repairing expensive audio equipment. One little mistake could make a piece of equipment unrepairable--a $1000 mistake.