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Cheap soldering iron reviews!


buttersoft

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UPDATE: Looks like the newer batches of these irons from BangGood are starting to decline in quality, buyer beware.

 

 

I know a $2k Weller would probably be nicer, but i just caught Voultar's review of the ~70AUD KSGER soldering station and wanted to share. He goes bananas over it, the design, the construction, the operation, the firmware, the handle, the tips, he just doesn't stop.

 

Apparently there are a few units that look the same, so best to check the internals before buying. You might need to get the Banggood ones he links to but with the coupon in the description you get it for like 60AUD, so that's cheaper than anything else i could see. I've seen it for sale with an EU power lead, so it would work on 240V, specs claim 70W with a 120W max, you can watch him sinking heat into a ground plane at 280deg and wetting some structural-size legs.

 

 

EDIT: actually looks like this can be acquired as a kit, but it's not much/any cheaper, and the banggood ones might use extra parts like the hardwired power connections. When i look deeper, there's some wack shit out there under the KSGER name, including an 80x40x35mm station that claims 70W - wtf!

 

I guess it's also wise to note that Voultar has some sort of arrangement with Banggood, even though that doesn't preclude him saying what he thinks.

Edited by buttersoft
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They're great little stations.

 

Once you experience instant heat up times you won't go back to your Wellar and Hakkos. :)

 

They also have 2 in 1 and 3 in 1 units, with a hot air gun and desoldering vacuum gun respectively.

 

Official seller is on Aliexpress, plenty of clones too of course.

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Once you experience instant heat up times you won't go back to your Wellar and Hakkos.

 

Big call. I've been thinking about trying something else, because other than single runs i've only ever really used my ancient Weller handed down from my father, and while it's nice there's not a lot of choice in tips, and i cook them pretty fast. Looking forward to trying this one for the auto-off and the temp control if nothing else .

 

I have a heat gun, and i've seen a sucker gun attachment for this, so might look into that later on :) Though i can't seem to find the sucker gun again, so maybe i imagined that.

Edited by buttersoft
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So I received one of the described soldering setups mid Jan. I wanted to get used to the feel of the KSGER unit before making any judgements, and to do that I needed some project parts to arrive. I’ve only ever used my dad’s hand-me-down Weller, and I’m used to the way it handles, the shape of the single tip type I have, the precise angle of attack to transfer heat into a dip header pin (for example) and how exactly to feed in rosin-cored solder for fast, perfect results with it. So at first I thought there was something wrong with the KSGER. But there really isn’t. The thermal mass of the iron and tip is slightly lower, the heat-source doesn’t feel like it’s in quite the same spot, but after getting used to that the performance is excellent. That’s with a near-identical 1.2mm chisel-tip, vs the Weller's old 1.6mm one at about 375 degrees. So not surprising, really.

 

The power-use doesn’t seem to be as stable as in Voultar’s video, but if you didn’t have the display to read you wouldn’t know it. And it takes perhaps 50% longer to heat up than he shows, which still leaves it amazingly fast. But that’s payola for you. And TBH the little features are very nice, like it beeping to tell me it’s going to sleep, and then waking up when I grab the iron and coming up to temp in three seconds. I could set a higher standby temp in the firmware, and be working still faster.

 

If I had to quibble I’d mention two things. One, the digital display is a little dim. The software is workable, but with sunlit windows behind, my ideal working scenario, you won’t see much. And two, the tip coatings feel a bit cheaper than the old Weller, solder doesn’t cling quite as well at first, and they build up impurities a touch faster, though that might be their lower surface area, and they do seem to be burning-in somewhat.

 

I have moved the Weller in to the garage as a backup, as I really don’t see anything wrong with this one. I have a wealth of other tips to get used to, and I’ve been having a crack at some TTSOP stuff quite happily with the very fine ones. So yeah, i guess i'd recommend this one if you need a new setup :)

 

 

 

EDIT: If anyone knows of a vacuum gun compatible with these, i'd like to grab one! I swear i saw one, but now i can't find it again.

Edited by buttersoft
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Recently I have been using a Mini TS100 Soldering Iron from BangGood which is also ~A$75. I have been very impressed with it and is great because you can power it with a LIPO battery.

 

Have a look at the video if interested....

 

 

 

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Recently I have been using a Mini TS100 Soldering Iron from BangGood which is also ~A$75. I have been very impressed with it and is great because you can power it with a LIPO battery.

 

 

Cool, I was just recommended these by some friends on IRC today because I'm looking for something slightly better than my $15 jaycar unit (which is awful). I reckon I'll pull the trigger on one.

 

I had originally found this mob who purport to be an Aussie manufacturer, but for $68 I had my doubts and I can't find a review anywhere: https://www.wavecom.com.au/product_view.php?id_product=762

 

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Cool, I was just recommended these by some friends on IRC today because I'm looking for something slightly better than my $15 jaycar unit (which is awful). I reckon I'll pull the trigger on one.

 

I had originally found this mob who purport to be an Aussie manufacturer, but for $68 I had my doubts and I can't find a review anywhere: https://www.wavecom.com.au/product_v...id_product=762

 

I have invested in a Hakko FX888D which I think I paid ~A$170 for (be careful of too good to be true deals on eBay as there are fakes about... buy from a reputable vendor) and happy with it when at my work bench but have loved the small form and super mobile TS100 with the battery for under the playfield work or if I am not at my bench. The other inexpensive Chinese soldering irons in this thread are the same form FX888D so for me best used at a bench.

 

 

How to spot a fake Hakko FX888D:

  • The base of the fake power unit has a sticker instead go an embossed logo and doesn't have a moulding code or earth markings.
  • The iron holder doesn't have a metal insert to catch excess solder drips.
  • The yellow insert that holds the iron is badly made so does not fit in the unit and has rough edges.
  • The label on the iron had rough lettering with scratches through the logo instead of quality silk screening.
  • The grip on the iron is spongy compared with the original.

Edited by LAP
Added How to spot a fake Hakko FX888D....
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I just got a Pinecil V2 very happy with it.  Very good quality.  Fast postage.  Heaps of options in the settings but works out of the box,  It uses IronOS.  Can run off DC barrel connection or USB.  I mainly got it to use in a portable situation away from the mains.  I have used it on a QC USB PSU and old Xiaomi Mi PLM02ZM 10000mAh power bank.   Didn't know at the time but the Pine Store sell a power bank too.  I have ordered one and will try it out.

Iron

https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/

Silicone lead

https://pine64.com/product/usb-type-c-to-usb-type-c-silicone-power-charging-cable-1-meter-length/

Power

https://pine64.com/product/pinepower-65w-gan-2c1a-charger-with-international-plugs/

IronOS

https://ralim.github.io/IronOS/Menu/

 

 

PinecilV2.jpg

PinecilV2 2.jpg

Edited by Ryan555
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On 08/03/2023 at 6:31 PM, Ryan555 said:

I just got a Pinecil V2 very happy with it.  Very good quality.  Fast postage.  Heaps of options in the settings but works out of the box,  It uses IronOS.  Can run off DC barrel connection or USB.  I mainly got it to use in a portable situation away from the mains.  I have used it on a QC USB PSU and old Xiaomi Mi PLM02ZM 10000mAh power bank.   Didn't know at the time but the Pine Store sell a power bank too.  I have ordered one and will try it out.

Iron

https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/

Silicone lead

https://pine64.com/product/usb-type-c-to-usb-type-c-silicone-power-charging-cable-1-meter-length/

Power

https://pine64.com/product/pinepower-65w-gan-2c1a-charger-with-international-plugs/

IronOS

https://ralim.github.io/IronOS/Menu/

 

 

PinecilV2.jpg

PinecilV2 2.jpg

Thanks Ryan. Just ordered one for myself. 

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On 08/03/2023 at 7:31 PM, Ryan555 said:

I just got a Pinecil V2 very happy with it.  Very good quality.  Fast postage.  Heaps of options in the settings but works out of the box,  It uses IronOS.  Can run off DC barrel connection or USB.  I mainly got it to use in a portable situation away from the mains.  I have used it on a QC USB PSU and old Xiaomi Mi PLM02ZM 10000mAh power bank.   Didn't know at the time but the Pine Store sell a power bank too.  I have ordered one and will try it out.

Iron

https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smart-mini-portable-soldering-iron/

Silicone lead

https://pine64.com/product/usb-type-c-to-usb-type-c-silicone-power-charging-cable-1-meter-length/

Power

https://pine64.com/product/pinepower-65w-gan-2c1a-charger-with-international-plugs/

IronOS

https://ralim.github.io/IronOS/Menu/

 

 

PinecilV2.jpg

PinecilV2 2.jpg

I also have a Pinecil, works a treat on fine work, and also large tags and such.

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I got my Pinepower during the week and it works well, heats the iron up very quickly but only good for 240V use.  Also during the week I got a Makita battery adapter.  That works really well the iron heated up really fast.

Pinecil 18V.jpg

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On 12/03/2023 at 5:32 PM, Ryan555 said:

I got my Pinepower during the week and it works well, heats the iron up very quickly but only good for 240V use.  Also during the week I got a Makita battery adapter.  That works really well the iron heated up really fast.

Pinecil 18V.jpg

They do heat fast on a good supply!

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