Used Solder stations on Ebay... Whats the best?

[Slobrain]

Well I wanted to ask you alls opinion since I know some of you here are test equipment aficionados, anyway, I've had a Weller WTCPS station that lasted about 5 years and now my WES50 station is dead after 3 years because of the cord to the iron is intermittent. I tried to see where the intermittent was and its in the solder head, I couldn't get it apart without breaking the darn thing

I just looked at the cost of replacing the solder iron with cord for the WES50 and its about $50.00 so I was thinking why not look for something different on Ebay and wanted to ask you all what a really good solder station that lasts as these wellers are ok but seem to finally break down after a few years. I'm looking for something with heat control as the WES50 was controlable.

Thanks
SLO

[tonezoneonline]

I like the Hako's and one can be had for under $100.I use one daily and have had the same one for years.Tips hold up very well too.

[steve]

I like the Hako's and one can be had for under $100.I use one daily and have had the same one for years.Tips hold up very well too.

+1 on the Hakko. I've had the same tip in mine for about 8 years now.

In fact, that is my only complaint against Hakko, the tips are only available mail order. With a Weller, the tips can be found at local electronics parts suppliers. However, it is not that big of a deal as the tips last a long time.

steve

[Amp Kat]

I have two Hakko 936 and one of my engineer buddies has 4 of them and they are solid and last a long time. They heat up extremely fast and put my Weber WTP series to shame. Weber has some good irons don't get me wrong as their higher end stuff is nice but then again even that doesn't compare to my Edsyn 1036 dual iron/SMT station which rocks like a big dog. For the price I don't think you can beat the 936 Hakko but I'm sure you'll get some different opinions. Just giving you mine.

[Amp Kat]

+1 on the Hakko. I've had the same tip in mine for about 8 years now.

In fact, that is my only complaint against Hakko, the tips are only available mail order. steve

Let me tell you about that deal. You see there are 3 irons that they make for that unit. A small,medium, and large. They are coded 906,907, & 908 and the part # suffix is 111,112, & 113. MCM carries the medium tip which the part # is 900M (medium)-T.?(size) The small tips are labled S and the large labeled L. Well you most likely got either a small or a large and the medium tip won't fit that iron. I got a large iron and my station # was 111 which was supposed to be a small and my medium tips wouldn't fit that iron. I called MCM and complained and had to go thru Customer Service but they sent me a medium replacement and I shipped the large iron back to them. It was out of warranty and MCM didnt' have to do it but they did so I have to give them props for it. Other then that it is the only negative of that station and it wasn't their fault. So if you do get a 936 model off of ebay Slobrain make sure it's a medium (907) iron so you can order tips for it easily.

[Slobrain]

KB, Fellas, Thanks for that info and darn that was fast posting

Yeah, The hakko 936 may be the next one I'll get as the weller stuff works ok but I hate when you need to do a repair, pick up the iron and the iron isn't hot due to a intermittent cord. I kept having to twist the cord yesterday to get the iron hot and even then sometimes it worked, sometimes it did't

I'll keep an eye out on the Hakko on Ebay.

KB, that was good tha MCM fixed you up on that iron problem. That was who I was gonna call to get the replacement iron for my WES50.
MCM has some pretty good prices on parts too. I used to order transistors from them alot years back when I was fixing car stereo power amps and junk like that...


SLO

[Amp Kat]

Yeah, The hakko 936 may be the next one I'll get as the weller stuff works ok but I hate when you need to do a repair, pick up the iron and the iron isn't hot due to a intermittent cord. I kept having to twist the cord yesterday to get the iron hot and even then sometimes it worked, sometimes it did't SLO

I don't think it's the cord SLO it's that sorry ass sensor that keeps your iron from burning up but when you need it to heat back up it doesn't and really pisses you off. I use the temp control on the Hakko because it heats back up so fast that it's really no hassle to do. Those Wellers suck!

I used to order transistors from them alot years back when I was fixing car stereo power amps and junk like that...

SLO

Still get transistors and they have probably the best selection of Japanes Semi's around.

[Slobrain]

Hey KB,
I found a seller on ebay selling the Hakko 936 station new with the med-907 iron total with shipping at $86.50

That should hopefully last me for a good few years.

BTW, I peeled back the wiring inside the weller iron and found a broken wire inside.
I Kinda thought it was the heat sensor possibly too, then found the broken wire,
I tried to get the wiring to pull thru the handle so I could try and resolder the broken wire but had no luck. The other thin wires break easily too...... doh...

What makes matters worse is my eyesight has gotten real bad the past few years and I can't see worth a darn. luckily I have my headset magnifier to save the day.
Its hell getting old

SLO

[tedweber]

I have two Hakko 936 and one of my engineer buddies has 4 of them and they are solid and last a long time. They heat up extremely fast and put my Weber WTP series to shame. Weber has some good irons don't get me wrong as their higher end stuff is nice but then again even that doesn't compare to my Edsyn 1036 dual iron/SMT station.

Yowzah..... that's WELLER... NOT WEBER......



Ted

[Enzo]

THAT was what it took to sign you up?

[tedweber]

THAT was what it took to sign you up?

Been signed up since the beginning of time... Ampage time that is...
I'm just a lurker most of the time.


Ted

[Enzo]

Well, it was post #1 for you on the new board...

[tedweber]

Well, it was post #1 for you on the new board...

The sign of a professional lurker.



Ted

[Amp Kat]

The sign of a professional lurker.



Ted

Oops sorry about that TA I must have been thinking about that speaker I just bought from you. Doh !

[Slobrain]

Hey KB, Fellas,
I took all your advice and ordered the new Hakko 936 with the 907 medium iron and 900M tip.

KB, Thanks for the 907 iron info so I was able to get the med iron instead of a large one. Heck, Since I'm not familar with the Hakko's I would have never known about the different iron sizing.

Man, It will be nice to solder without having to twist the cord to get the iron to work, that was a pain. And I'm not buying any more Webers, oh, I mean Wellers. LOL......

Glad to see Ted W. lurks here, hey Ted, how'd that channel switching come out on the SLO type amp kit your selling? Does it switch quietly? I think its called the Heather amp?

Slobrain