Could use a bit of advice about desoldering. Budget stations?

#1

I feel I’m decent at desoldering with wick, plungers and bulb style desoldering irons, but fixing a few gaffs on my Shruthi-1 reminded me how time consuming this can be. I have a replacement kit for my Realistic (Moog) MG-1 that includes every switch, slider and pot. Given sheer number of connections I’ll have to desolder, how much I love this synth and that it’s effectively irreplaceable, I’m thinking it’s time to get a desoldering station. I already have a Hakko clone soldering station I’m quite happy with, so I don’t need a combo rework station. What are some decent, budget desoldering stations to look for? I’m based in the USA.

Thanks

#2

The Hakko 808 Desoldering kit is wicked awesome! I highly recommend it. It kicks the shit outa using Desoldering braid. You will never go back. Totally worth the $200 investment.

#3

+1 on the Hakko 808. :slight_smile:

#4
  • you can tell people you have an 808…
    :wink:

a|x

#5

Something like the Aoyue 474 could be a reasonably priced alternative to the fairly expensive hakko 808…
As a matter of fact, aoyue make clones of almost anything hakko makes, that more often than not accept original hakko replacements if needed ^^

#6

I have a Duratool one that does the job.

#7

A friend of mine has Aoyue 474 and although it does the job, it does not come close to Hakko 808 I’m using.

#8

How heavy are self contained units like the 808? I’d prefer a pencil style station, but the cost is probably too high.

Thanks

#9

According to their website, 420g.

#10

808 is not to heavy at all

#11

808 feels much lighter than it looks, in reality its weight is just right.

#12

I spent some time researching the Hakko 808, Aoyue 474+ and various stations commonly found used. Since the 474 is usually reviewed as “not a Hakko, but good” and I found a good deal on one, I have it on the way as we speak. I’ll report how it holds up.