Aoyue soldering station & carry case

[Spook50]

Since finding out I got approved for $5K via the Pell grant I'm shopping around to upgrade the equipment I'll be using throughout my schooling (and very likely afterward). So one of the first things I'm looking at is replacing my old Radio Shack soldering station with a high quality one that I can use anywhere for anything I might be working on and without concern for fumes. I was looking at an Aoyue 968A+, and I'm pretty much settled on it unless someone can recommend a better one that's not several hundred dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Updated-Aoyue-Digital-Soldering-absorber/dp/B006FA481G/?tag=ihco-20

I'm also looking for a Pelican case I can carry it in, but was wondering if there's a better alternative to Pelican out there that's maybe more cost effective.

Thoughts?

 

[george_tlc]

For a soldering iron that you plan to keep and use for years, it would be very hard to go past a Metcal (now Oki) unit. It is a class act that just plain works. The key is that the tip is heated via an RF powersupply and that heat transfers to the tip surface VERY QUICKLY.

I've used a Metcal 500 station for the past 5+ years and every time I go somewhere that has a old fashion Weller or Hakko that uses a heater 'cartridge', I'm reminded just how brilliant the Metcal/Oki is.

Metcal/Oki makes a less expensive station (SP200) that's in the $200 range and it works quite well, I've used one a few times and it is similar to the Metcal 500 station - though obviously not quite as good.

For hot air rework I use a $90 handheld wand (heater & air compressor all inside) that does a fine job and I prefer it to the 'stations'. http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csihotgun-2.html

cheers,
george.

 

[Spook50]

For a soldering iron that you plan to keep and use for years, it would be very hard to go past a Metcal (now Oki) unit. It is a class act that just plain works. The key is that the tip is heated via an RF powersupply and that heat transfers to the tip surface VERY QUICKLY.

I've used a Metcal 500 station for the past 5+ years and every time I go somewhere that has a old fashion Weller or Hakko that uses a heater 'cartridge', I'm reminded just how brilliant the Metcal/Oki is.

Metcal/Oki makes a less expensive station (SP200) that's in the $200 range and it works quite well, I've used one a few times and it is similar to the Metcal 500 station - though obviously not quite as good.

For hot air rework I use a $90 handheld wand (heater & air compressor all inside) that does a fine job and I prefer it to the 'stations'. http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csihotgun-2.html

cheers,
george.

Is this the 500 you mention? http://www.amazon.com/Metcal-Soldering-Station-MX-5000-Series/dp/B001F7S5DG/?tag=ihco-20

That's one expensive mofo

 

[george_tlc]

Yes, the 500 is now the 5000 series. I bought mine 2nd hand on ebay and paid something around $350 with extra bits etc. You do get what you pay for and if my Metcal unit ever failed I'd be lining up to by another one.

I'll state again that the key benefit is that it uses RF heating right at the tip surface. What this means is that when you go to solder something that has some 'mass' and soaks up the heat, a regular iron takes considerably time to respond since the heating element is a cartridge at the back/end of the tip and that heat has to work through the tip.

With the Metcal the tip surface material is quite thin over a 'carbon' like material. As the tip cools the power supply can sense and respond very quickly to get heat to the surface of the tip. You never have to wait for the tip to heat back up after applying it to a larger surface. It is very impressive how quickly you can do a large joint with a relatively small tip since it can respond so quickly. This means you don't have to keep the tip in place as long and therefore less risk of damaging the component and/or PCB trace.

Once you've used a Metcal style soldering iron you'll never want to go back to old tech.

I just went and checked and my Ebay Metcal was bought just over TEN years ago (not 5+). So, at $350 and 10 years that's $35 per year even if it dies today. I use it every day (I'm an EE) and consider it a bargain at the price. Consider it was already a used unit when I bought it. That'll give you an idea of the quality $$ buys you.

Another nice feature is that if you leave it on and not use it for a while it will power the tip down to a low temperature to preserve it. As soon as you apply the tip to a surface the power supply will detect the temp change and power back up again. From cold it will have the tip hot and ready to solder in 10 seconds or less.

As you can tell from my enthusiasm, I'm really impressed and happy with it. Again, if you are buying a soldering iron for the long term and will use it a lot, investing in a Metcal is a worthwhile option. Keep an eye on Ebay.

cheers,
george.

 

[george_tlc]

Yes, the 500 is now the 5000 series. I bought mine 2nd hand on ebay and paid something around $350 with extra bits etc. You do get what you pay for and if my Metcal unit ever failed I'd be lining up to by another one.

I'll state again that the key benefit is that it uses RF heating right at the tip surface. What this means is that when you go to solder something that has some 'mass' and soaks up the heat, a regular iron takes considerably time to respond since the heating element is a cartridge at the back/end of the tip and that heat has to work through the tip.

With the Metcal the tip surface material is quite thin over a 'carbon' like material. As the tip cools the power supply can sense and respond very quickly to get heat to the surface of the tip. You never have to wait for the tip to heat back up after applying it to a larger surface. It is very impressive how quickly you can do a large joint with a relatively small tip since it can respond so quickly. This means you don't have to keep the tip in place as long and therefore less risk of damaging the component and/or PCB trace.

Once you've used a Metcal style soldering iron you'll never want to go back to old tech.

I just went and checked and my Ebay Metcal was bought just over TEN years ago (not 5+). So, at $350 and 10 years that's $35 per year even if it dies today. I use it every day (I'm an EE) and consider it a bargain at the price. Consider it was already a used unit when I bought it. That'll give you an idea of the quality $$ buys you.

Another nice feature is that if you leave it on and not use it for a while it will power the tip down to a low temperature to preserve it. As soon as you apply the tip to a surface the power supply will detect the temp change and power back up again. From cold it will have the tip hot and ready to solder in 10 seconds or less.

As you can tell from my enthusiasm, I'm really impressed and happy with it. Again, if you are buying a soldering iron for the long term and will use it a lot, investing in a Metcal is a worthwhile option. Keep an eye on Ebay.

cheers,
george.

 

[Spook50]

Yes, the 500 is now the 5000 series. I bought mine 2nd hand on ebay and paid something around $350 with extra bits etc. You do get what you pay for and if my Metcal unit ever failed I'd be lining up to by another one.

I'll state again that the key benefit is that it uses RF heating right at the tip surface. What this means is that when you go to solder something that has some 'mass' and soaks up the heat, a regular iron takes considerably time to respond since the heating element is a cartridge at the back/end of the tip and that heat has to work through the tip.

With the Metcal the tip surface material is quite thin over a 'carbon' like material. As the tip cools the power supply can sense and respond very quickly to get heat to the surface of the tip. You never have to wait for the tip to heat back up after applying it to a larger surface. It is very impressive how quickly you can do a large joint with a relatively small tip since it can respond so quickly. This means you don't have to keep the tip in place as long and therefore less risk of damaging the component and/or PCB trace.

Once you've used a Metcal style soldering iron you'll never want to go back to old tech.

I just went and checked and my Ebay Metcal was bought just over TEN years ago (not 5+). So, at $350 and 10 years that's $35 per year even if it dies today. I use it every day (I'm an EE) and consider it a bargain at the price. Consider it was already a used unit when I bought it. That'll give you an idea of the quality $$ buys you.

Another nice feature is that if you leave it on and not use it for a while it will power the tip down to a low temperature to preserve it. As soon as you apply the tip to a surface the power supply will detect the temp change and power back up again. From cold it will have the tip hot and ready to solder in 10 seconds or less.

As you can tell from my enthusiasm, I'm really impressed and happy with it. Again, if you are buying a soldering iron for the long term and will use it a lot, investing in a Metcal is a worthwhile option. Keep an eye on Ebay.

cheers,
george.

Dayamn, well I'm sold. Found one on eBay too for $280. Hopefully once I actually get the grant money I'll be able to find another good one for a similar price. I'll have alot more luck getting the wife to approve $300 than I would $650

Good to hear you really like the work. I'm stoked to finally be going back to school and working towards an industry that I've got a big interest in. Really hoping I can get lucky and find a paid apprenticeship that I can use to pay the bills while I build up experience. I have basic knowledge (enough to match up components on a thru-mount setup and replace them) at this point. Can't wait to build up more and actually use it.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Metcal is the standard we used for years on our production line. I love this iron for SMT re-work. I have two at my soldering station here at work, I use them together to lift parts off boards. They are really incomparable for light soldering and most SMT and printed through hole (PTH) re-work. We recently replaced them with the Pace HW100, which I don't like as well.


For a [strike]little[/strike] lot less money you can get into the Hako 936. It has the advantage of being very robust, the consumables (tips) are also much, much less expensive. The tips are also easier to find since it is the same tip used in many brands of soldering irons. It can be used for a wider range of applications, with the correct tips you can do some pretty heavy soldering as well as fine pitch SMT rework. I personally have two of these on my home workbench because I think they are a better choice for general soldering. I keep one set up with a heavy tip for removing big PTH parts like transformers and big caps, the other has a fine tip for SMT and smaller PTH work. For field work I would choose this iron because you can beat the crap out of it, the tips are cheap, and it can handle a wider range of soldering applications.

Edit: Just checked prices on the interwebs. The Hako's can be found used very cheap on line because they were a staple of many production lines so the surplus market has a ton of them. This also means replacement parts are easy to find.

 

[JCruse]

Yep I was just coming here to say Metcal but I'm too late.

 

[hankinid]

Yep I was just coming here to say Metcal but I'm too late.

Me too...

I worked with a couple of folks who started Metcal. It's superb equipment.

Steve

 

[Spook50]

I'd much rather buy right and buy once. Metcal it is.

Just got to keep my eyes on eBay for a good deal

 

[rusty_tlc]

If there are any electronics manufacturing companies near you look for liquidation sales. You can pick up hand tools, soldering irons and all sort of soldering equipment and supplies for cheap.

Some of the stuff you will need to go with your iron;

• cleaning solvent bottle ( Techni-Tool also sells aerosol solvent cleaner)
• extra tips
• tip cleaner (looks like a gorillia pad)
• tip tinner
• short bristle acid brushes
• flux bottle
• a couple of different diameters of flux core wire solder
• silicon pad for changing tips (if you buy used make sure you get this, they come from the factory with one)
• Orange sticks
• Q-tips

When selecting a solder make sure the liquid flux and cleaning solvent you select are compatible with the solder flux. The Techni-Tool site has a bunch of stuff for electronics assembly and re-work.

 

[Spook50]

Hey that's a good idea. There are actually a couple places here that I'll be checking out as far as job prospects so it'd be worth investigating that too.

Good to see the list I already had done up is pretty close to what you recommended. What are orange sticks though?

 

[rusty_tlc]

Orange sticks are sold at beauty supply places, most electronic supply places also sell them. They are usually pointy on one end and flattened on the other. They are made out of hard wood. Very handy for a number of things in electronics; scrubbing off stubborn bits of old flux, holding down component leads while soldering, poking around chassis wiring, prying parts up while de-soldering and on and on. They make a great soldering aid because they don't act as a heat sink.

Orange Sticks

 

[Spook50]

Orange sticks are sold at beauty supply places, most electronic supply places also sell them. They are usually pointy on one end and flattened on the other. They are made out of hard wood. Very handy for a number of things in electronics; scrubbing off stubborn bits of old flux, holding down component leads while soldering, poking around chassis wiring, prying parts up while de-soldering and on and on. They make a great soldering aid because they don't act as a heat sink.

Orange Sticks

LOL my wife has a ton of those. I just learned something new.