A Poorly Made Soldering Station

[Ryan]

A few months back, I mentioned that I got a USB-C powered TS100 soldering iron and was tickled with it. During lockdown, however, I dropped the damned thing and broke it. With no stores open at the time, I was stuck without a temp adjustable solderin...


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[PureLeaf]

A temperature adjusting quality made Hakko can be had for a mere 45 bucks. Why would anyone buy something that is dangerous and poorly made in its place? Just like the Uni-T 61C the video creator is using. It is widely reviewed as a 'better build quality' chinese meter but its no Fluke, Bremen, Greenlee etc. when it comes to risking my life and safety, it's really not a hard decision to buy quality equipment, or have someone else do it, and if neither of those are options, maybe you shouldn't be doing it.

Hakko link example:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MQD7M4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[MarvinBerry]

Agreed. Couple years back I grabbed a Weller wlc100 station at Depot was $40 and have no complaints. It's not top shelf but it's also not junk.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AS28UC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I do miss radio shack for dirt cheap soldering supplies. Burned up a handful of those $10 irons over the years. Seemed nearly indestructible aside from the tips.

 

[duneslider]

I will second the Hakko. I got mine and it was mind blowing how enjoyable soldering can be once you have a quality iron. I have the Hakko FX-888 and it is worth every penny, even if you just solder occasionally. I will never use a cheap solder station again. I have also really found Kester 44 solder to be great for all things electronic.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Weller WDSD51 for me. Otherwise, I usually check the reviews online and I hope such a dangerous defect would be discovered by purchasers before me. Now if I could just be protected from that dangerous hot part at the end, I would have something.

 

[Denwood]

Weller WDSD51 for me. Otherwise, I usually check the reviews online and I hope such a dangerous defect would be discovered by purchasers before me. Now if I could just be protected from that dangerous hot part at the end, I would have something.

X2, we bought a few of these for the shop (WDSD51). Bullet proof.

 

[mv213]

Yeah Hakko FX-888 is the bomb. I got mine at Fry’s Electronics on sale for $79 a couple of years ago. What a steal. Heats up fast, precise control of tip temp, and a really nice iron holder as well.

Support: I ordered some tips direct from Hakko USA’s website. About a half hour later, I got a call from a nice lady there making sure I had found everything I needed and asking if there was anything else she could help with. I don’t think I’d ever had something like that happen before.

 

[M6erfan]

Yeah Hakko FX-888 is the bomb. I got mine at Fry’s Electronics on sale for $79 a couple of years ago. What a steal. Heats up fast, precise control of tip temp, and a really nice iron holder as well.

Support: I ordered some tips direct from Hakko USA’s website. About a half hour later, I got a call from a nice lady there making sure I had found everything I needed and asking if there was anything else she could help with. I don’t think I’d ever had something like that happen before.

That's pretty awesome cust. serv.

I've had the Weller WES51 for over 5 years and its never missed a beat. Great station.

 

[rlitman]

A temperature adjusting quality made Hakko can be had for a mere 45 bucks...

And it's probably worth it. I recently purchased a combination soldering pencil / reheat air gun station for $53. Separate digital temperature controls on each. Both can be had individually for $30-ish, but I don't know where you can buy the pair for this price, plus being a combination saves some bench space. I find that both are indispensable to me in their own ways.

I have to admit not having used the rework gun for SMD work (yet). Instead, I've used it for heat shrinking, precision heating of small things, and even seating clarinet pads (it blows away any previous technology for this small field).

 

[Ryan]

Oh fellas... I'm not saying go out and buy this thing. I wouldn't buy it anyway...

Interestingly, it uses many of the same components as a brand soldering station... or so I've been told... but the design of the ground, the construction, and the terrible solder (ironically) job make this thing an absolute mess.

I will say though - it was kind of fun taking this thing apart, desoldering, soldering, etc... and making it work without shocking the **** out of you.

 

[PureLeaf]

I'm just trying to understand the point of the post.

"chinese factory produces garbage" isn't exactly new. Neither is being able to take something apart, re-engineer it (remove the time saving/money saving economy aspects of it) and creating a better product because you've spent man hours that an assembly line would not.

Seems better to just encourage people to stay away from dangerous products that could kill or injure and undercut quality manufacturers that make a good product at a reasonable price. Always saw that as kind of the ethos of forums in the tool discussion like this? However I do think its perfectly reasonable to investigate the build quality into these types of products (and all things) to understand what is out there and why you should or should not buy a particular one.

 

[danski0224]

^^^^ Blasphemy.

 

[Ryan]

I'm just trying to understand the point of the post.

"chinese factory produces garbage" isn't exactly new. Neither is being able to take something apart, re-engineer it (remove the time saving/money saving economy aspects of it) and creating a better product because you've spent man hours that an assembly line would not.

Seems better to just encourage people to stay away from dangerous products that could kill or injure and undercut quality manufacturers that make a good product at a reasonable price. Always saw that as kind of the ethos of forums in the tool discussion like this? However I do think its perfectly reasonable to investigate the build quality into these types of products (and all things) to understand what is out there and why you should or should not buy a particular one.

I’ve never seen my job as one of an “influencer.” I just post **** that interests me... People can take or leave it... and honestly, I don’t care which they chose.

I put my stuff out there more for me (it’s a journal) than anything.

 

[Cgw1984]

I'm just trying to understand the point of the post.

"chinese factory produces garbage" isn't exactly new. Neither is being able to take something apart, re-engineer it (remove the time saving/money saving economy aspects of it) and creating a better product because you've spent man hours that an assembly line would not.

Seems better to just encourage people to stay away from dangerous products that could kill or injure and undercut quality manufacturers that make a good product at a reasonable price. Always saw that as kind of the ethos of forums in the tool discussion like this? However I do think its perfectly reasonable to investigate the build quality into these types of products (and all things) to understand what is out there and why you should or should not buy a particular one.

Maybe you should choose to not read it if its not to your liking, instead of arguing with the site administrator. Or even better- write a better article. Im very sure Ryan would love to have a nice writeup to feature. Instead of nitpicking something *you* dont like. Also, as pointed out.. i dont think the site owner is an influencer of any type. I basically see him post stuff hes either done, or topics hes enjoyed.

Admin- thank you for the article. It was an enjoyable read.

 

[PureLeaf]

Maybe you should choose to not read it if its not to your liking, instead of arguing with the site administrator. Or even better- write a better article. Im very sure Ryan would love to have a nice writeup to feature. Instead of nitpicking something *you* dont like. Also, as pointed out.. i dont think the site owner is an influencer of any type. I basically see him post stuff hes either done, or topics hes enjoyed.

Admin- thank you for the article. It was an enjoyable read.

It's a discussion forum, I'm trying to flesh out the subject matter in order to obtain more knowledge and information on the topic. Ryan has reasons for posting the material he posts; like this is really interesting to me, or this is a unique take on a technology that others may be interested in. Or with his festool stuff, he showed what it was capable of and executed a plan in building cabinets.

It's not an argument. Being site administrator doesn't close him off to discussion of topics anymore than any other topic starting poster here. I'm sorry you find discussion to be antagonizing instead of a platform to add to.

 

[mr.lemons]

This is part of the fun of buying from AliExpress and Banggood etc. Just have to know that going in.

 

[rlitman]

I'm just trying to understand the point of the post...

My take was "Ryan saves dangerous tool from the trash", which is so quintessentially GJ, that I feel it trumps all of the other possible takeaways, yet we take it so for granted that we tend to overlook that simplest explanation, and read into the story far too much.

 

[Ryan]

Yeah. I’m totally cool with discussion and people disagreeing with my logic. I think that’s both fair and interesting discussion. This thread, for instance, is perfectly questioned.

I drop out when people start arguing. I have no interest in proving anything or changing someone’s mind... online... I’m cool and comfortable with I got going on out in my shop and don’t really care if someone I don’t know out there is not for reasons that don’t matter.

Edit: spelled fair wrong...

 

[Rinspeed]

I’ve never seen my job as one of an “influencer.” I just post **** that interests me... People can take or leave it... and honestly, I don’t care which they chose.

That’s the way it should be Ryan.

 

[stillnostrebor]

This is part of the fun of buying from AliExpress and Banggood etc. Just have to know that going in.

The truth right here. Half of the fun of knowingly buying something ultra-cheap like this, is the process of removing a few layers of shittiness. In my eyes it is no different than buying an old, dirty, broken tool at a garage sale and fixing it up, except I get to skip the dirty part (usually). Of course you have to go in eyes wide open.

I am also one of those heathens that will buy tools at HF and work on them a bit to make them extra serviceable, while keeping cash in my pocket... so judge my value accordingly.

Thanks Ryan, for sharing your journey to not getting the **** shocked out of you while simply trying to solder something.

 

[Ryan]

The truth right here. Half of the fun of knowingly buying something ultra-cheap like this, is the process of removing a few layers of shittiness. In my eyes it is no different than buying an old, dirty, broken tool at a garage sale and fixing it up, except I get to skip the dirty part (usually). Of course you have to go in eyes wide open.

I am also one of those heathens that will buy tools at HF and work on them a bit to make them extra serviceable, while keeping cash in my pocket... so judge my value accordingly.

Thanks Ryan, for sharing your journey to not getting the **** shocked out of you while simply trying to solder something.

Ironically, I’m not the type to buy cheap tools from sketchy websites or even HF... but this was a fun little project.

 

[n8n]

I agree with above comments, I use a WES51 as well, I would also consider a Hakko, not sure I would go down any other road even given that I only use it once every couple months. The WES51 has been replaced with a newer model but I'm hoping with my useage mine will last me a good many years - I expect it will as it replaced a WTCP that I salvaged from the trash at a previous employer, and that is still likely working for my old roommate to whom I passed it on (I realized that the WES51 cost less than an assortment of tips for the WTCP in different temps so it was time to step into the modern age.)

 

[Bert_]

I used to think I wanted a soldering station with temp control and all that.

Bought a good weller iron, wp35, and have been happy since. Way better than the cheap irons.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Before I had temp controlled setups I'd plug my $10 rat shack iron into a variac.

There's a certain charm in that... 10 buck iron with a 400 buck dimmer.

When I wasn't actively using the iron, prepping the next batch of parts or whatever it ramp it down to 40 or 50 volts. Then crank it up again when I needed the heat. Worked great!

But in context of the thread I'm just not sure why anyone would buy generic junk from a sketchy site when a legit brand name is easy enough to order for the same cost?

 

[Ryan]

But in context of the thread I'm just not sure why anyone would buy generic junk from a sketchy site when a legit brand name is easy enough to order for the same cost?

Because this all went down during the lockdown. I had no other options at the time and figured I would give it a shot. This post was just a report on what I did...

 

[stillnostrebor]

Ironically, I’m not the type to buy cheap tools from sketchy websites or even HF... but this was a fun little project.

I get that... I was replying to what Mr Lemons said.

Your exercise was specific to your need, which is perfectly fine . I picked up my habits by watching my grandfather make something out of nothing in the name of penury. It has become a bit of a sentimental hobby for me, as it is not a necessity. I have plenty of really nice tools as well. Sometimes I just like to do things like he did for the challenge of it.

 

[Cgw1984]

It's a discussion forum, I'm trying to flesh out the subject matter in order to obtain more knowledge and information on the topic. Ryan has reasons for posting the material he posts; like this is really interesting to me, or this is a unique take on a technology that others may be interested in. Or with his festool stuff, he showed what it was capable of and executed a plan in building cabinets.

It's not an argument. Being site administrator doesn't close him off to discussion of topics anymore than any other topic starting poster here. I'm sorry you find discussion to be antagonizing instead of a platform to add to.

So, telling him his post was garbage and unnecessary (with the whole chinese factory produces garbage nonsense) was your attempt to "flesh out" the discussion, and gain knowledge? You sure bout that one, champ?

 

[anndel]

Agreed. Couple years back I grabbed a Weller wlc100 station at Depot was $40 and have no complaints. It's not top shelf but it's also not junk.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AS28UC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I do miss radio shack for dirt cheap soldering supplies. Burned up a handful of those $10 irons over the years. Seemed nearly indestructible aside from the tips.

Same here, I sorely miss Radio Shack (Rat Shack) though I had the either it was Archer or Realistic aka Unger soldering iron which still works to this day.

 

[gte718p]

Same here, I sorely miss Radio Shack (Rat Shack) though I had the either it was Archer or Realistic aka Unger soldering iron which still works to this day.

I miss the old radio shack.

I’m about to close out the era. My radio shack soldering iron died a few years ago and my roll of radio shack solder is down to the last two inches. The current generation will never know.

 

[Dustball]

A temperature adjusting quality made Hakko can be had for a mere 45 bucks. Why would anyone buy something that is dangerous and poorly made in its place?

I have the TS100 and the reason why I have it is because of it's compact size and portability. I have a battery adapter so I can use the soldering iron with my Makita and Bosch 18V batteries, no AC power needed.