Last evening my faithful SP-23 Weller soldering iron died after 10+ years of service. I'm looking to buy an inexpensive (my first) soldering station.
Does anyone has this little guy on their workbench?
Yihua 939D+ Digital Soldering Station.
It is supposed to be equivalent to 75W with temperature control 392°F to 896°F. Looks well built. $43 shipped on Amazon.
Would appreciate your feedback.
Thanks
Mayank
Does anyone has this little guy on their workbench?
Yihua 939D+ Digital Soldering Station.
It is supposed to be equivalent to 75W with temperature control 392°F to 896°F. Looks well built. $43 shipped on Amazon.
Would appreciate your feedback.
Thanks
Mayank
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I read its a Hakko clone but just not as good , some parts interchangeable but got a surprise in the Philippines they are selling the same marked model but a whole range higher quality with a 3 button front setup chrome control-larger LCD display but with a Samsung quality CPU and "double the SMT process " and quality specs including a different panel material.
As I always say -China builds to a price you can buy the basic type cheap or you can buy the higher quality control one .
I found that out over a decade ago when I tested 3 Chinese soldering stations which were "badge engineered " one £28 -second £40 and the third £60 outwardly the looked similar but internally ---- the difference was vast .
I posted the results on a UK public help website and surprisingly got told to "shut up " even though I was a regular of many years standing , its then I found out about "vested interests " .
As I always say -China builds to a price you can buy the basic type cheap or you can buy the higher quality control one .
I found that out over a decade ago when I tested 3 Chinese soldering stations which were "badge engineered " one £28 -second £40 and the third £60 outwardly the looked similar but internally ---- the difference was vast .
I posted the results on a UK public help website and surprisingly got told to "shut up " even though I was a regular of many years standing , its then I found out about "vested interests " .
I got a T12 recently. Very nice and effective, especially with the inexpensive various tips that can be changed on the fly!
Also because one of my Weller irons died (due to a design oversight) and a replacement iron was more expensive than a T12 with three tips!
Recommended.
Jan
I purchased a "replacement" Weller magnatech pencil with a bunch of tips and cobbled a spare transformer into a nice case with switch and fuse to drive the pencil. Total cost very much less a new station from any brand at about AU$85.
The pencil itself is the critical bit. A similar solution may be possible for other brands if you do the research into the required secondary voltage.
The pencil itself is the critical bit. A similar solution may be possible for other brands if you do the research into the required secondary voltage.
Hi,
After my so far faithful Weller died recently, I bought me one of these T12 variants on ebay.
T12 variant
It came with an OLED display and the basic handle (with a securing nut) and costed only 35€.
I just wanted to test if it were any useable, before maybe buying a more expensive A brand station.
This little station is just a joy to work with so far.
To be honest, I wouldn't return to Weller or Ersa.
I'd rather buy a second T12 but with the quick change handle wo. the securing nut.
btw, the aluminum handle has been reported to heat up considerably .... the plastic handles seem ok though.
jauu
Calvin
After my so far faithful Weller died recently, I bought me one of these T12 variants on ebay.
T12 variant
It came with an OLED display and the basic handle (with a securing nut) and costed only 35€.
I just wanted to test if it were any useable, before maybe buying a more expensive A brand station.
This little station is just a joy to work with so far.
To be honest, I wouldn't return to Weller or Ersa.
I'd rather buy a second T12 but with the quick change handle wo. the securing nut.
btw, the aluminum handle has been reported to heat up considerably .... the plastic handles seem ok though.
jauu
Calvin
Hi Mayank, good to see you.
When I was looking around for a solder station I did a lot of research and wound up buying a used Metcal power supply and handpiece. They are unlike most as they use an induction heater built into the interchangeable elements. Very fast heatup time, about 10 to 15 seconds and the handpiece is about as big as a Sharpie fine point. Your holding the handpiece no more than 1.5 inches from the tip, that gives you much more control.
That purchase did more for my soldering skills that anything I have ever done.
If you keep an eye out on ebay and such they show up for around 100 bucks or so.
BillWojo
When I was looking around for a solder station I did a lot of research and wound up buying a used Metcal power supply and handpiece. They are unlike most as they use an induction heater built into the interchangeable elements. Very fast heatup time, about 10 to 15 seconds and the handpiece is about as big as a Sharpie fine point. Your holding the handpiece no more than 1.5 inches from the tip, that gives you much more control.
That purchase did more for my soldering skills that anything I have ever done.
If you keep an eye out on ebay and such they show up for around 100 bucks or so.
BillWojo
The nut-less handle (I have this one KSGER V2.1S T12 Digital Temperature Controller Soldering Station Electric | eBay ) is indeed convenient as one can change a hot tip with pliers, without waiting for complete cooldown.
Fully agree. I have exactly the same unit. I have several Weller stations, have been a Weller guy all my life. But they have morphed into high priced mediocre stuff. Their latest iron comes apart if you put some pressure on it.
The T12 is great, I especially like the quick change of tip without having to wait for it to cool down or needing any tools or hex keys. I had a minor issue with mine; the rotary knob can be pressed to access the setup menu. Mine had a knob that was a bit too long and it had shifted against the front panel so couldn't be pressed to switch. A shorter knob from my parts bin fixed that. My distributor is aware and works with the manufacturer to fix it.
Jan
As I am old school I like large mains transformers and linear power supplies but times change although reading the website I put a link on would stop me from buying one ,especially if what Thumb (post#13) says is true --pulsing/switching spikes etc on tip.-
KSGER STM32 T12 soldering stations - Badcaps Forums
read both webpages.
KSGER STM32 T12 soldering stations - Badcaps Forums
read both webpages.
T12 appears the clear winner!
I just placed an order on Banggood for the KSGER T12 station as that was the only vendor I found with software ver 3.1 ... at a great price too!
KSGER T12 STM32 V3.1S Welding Soldering Iron Station OLED DIY Plastic Handle Ele - US$53.88
I will post my impressions when I receive this.
Thank you all once again for taking the time to give me your recommendations.
Best Rgds
Mayank
I just placed an order on Banggood for the KSGER T12 station as that was the only vendor I found with software ver 3.1 ... at a great price too!
KSGER T12 STM32 V3.1S Welding Soldering Iron Station OLED DIY Plastic Handle Ele - US$53.88
I will post my impressions when I receive this.
Thank you all once again for taking the time to give me your recommendations.
Best Rgds
Mayank
100% agree
Yes it is. When choosing soldering station first of all look at the soldering tips variety and tips quality. I have two cheap Chinese made stations stations with 900 (hakko) tips. Both are currently retired after I got T12. Which happen to be Ksger (STM32) station with tip pull-push handle. And about two years ago I also got induction soldering station, which is standard Chinese industrial version Bakon BK-1000. Both of the latter ones are in use. T12 allowing to calibrate and save in memory a various tips (99 memory slots) I using 9 differtnt tips/. Also T12 have micro-wave soldering tips (BC1, BC2, BC3) which is quite handy.
Today I definitely would not buy soldering station with 900 style tips even if it is original Hakko with original Hako tips or the like.
I have the Shinenow version of the KSGER...
Soldering Iron Station Kit,Digital Portable Soldering Iron Station Temperature Controller 72W with T12 Handle and T12 Tip: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
There is ~40V between the tip and ground - beware. Excellent machine, but either lift it's ground, or do as I do and run it from a 12V battery and inverter otherwise you WILL kill JFETs etc when you solder them. Ask me how I know...
FYI: Using it with an inverter only requires 1.6A of steady current so even a small SLA (or a battery charger) will work nicely.
Soldering Iron Station Kit,Digital Portable Soldering Iron Station Temperature Controller 72W with T12 Handle and T12 Tip: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
There is ~40V between the tip and ground - beware. Excellent machine, but either lift it's ground, or do as I do and run it from a 12V battery and inverter otherwise you WILL kill JFETs etc when you solder them. Ask me how I know...
FYI: Using it with an inverter only requires 1.6A of steady current so even a small SLA (or a battery charger) will work nicely.
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Us old techs have preferred the reliability of the Weller station.
It's been on every serious tech's bench, and production line since dirt was discovered.
You can have your fancy digital-controlled and flatscreen displays with those new irons, I'll stick to my good ole WTCPT.
It's been on every serious tech's bench, and production line since dirt was discovered.
You can have your fancy digital-controlled and flatscreen displays with those new irons, I'll stick to my good ole WTCPT.
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Weller makes an excellent product, but the value for the money just isn't there IMHO.
The new ones are far less money, the tips are far more versatile and you can change them while they are hot without burning your hands. It also reaches operating temperature in ~8 seconds and uses SMPS instead of linear making it more efficient
The new ones are far less money, the tips are far more versatile and you can change them while they are hot without burning your hands. It also reaches operating temperature in ~8 seconds and uses SMPS instead of linear making it more efficient