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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 07/02/2015 03:09 PM, Sofie Permana
via TriEmbed wrote:<br>
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<blockquote
cite="mid:CAF05RFWLHj6o58WTm3hQr29tGiiMSJDqVRD1HkXgP60DfDsn8w@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">I am also in the market of soldering iron/station.
I heard good things about xtronic brand (eyeing this <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.amazon.com/X-TRONIC-MODEL-4040-Soldering-MAGNIFYING/dp/B003TC8EQS"
target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/X-TRONIC-MODEL-4040-Soldering-MAGNIFYING/dp/B003TC8EQS</a>)
and OKI-Metcal induction soldering iron (<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.okinternational.com/metcal/english/globalnavigation/products/hand-soldering-systems">http://www.okinternational.com/metcal/english/globalnavigation/products/hand-soldering-systems</a>). Have
anyone heard/have any thoughts about this? I have used induction
solder in one of NCSU lab and it was a breeze to use for
soldering small SMD components. </div>
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I've owned the<a
href="http://www.amazon.com/ALL-ONE-X-TRONIC-SOLDERING-PREHEATING/dp/B00DRHRZ3S/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1435865211&sr=1-4&keywords=x-tronic+soldering+station&pebp=1435865219179&perid=1FA0MZH83DDGVZ1KBHQT">
combo version</a> for a couple of years. I'm very satisfied with
the iron. It comes up to temperature very quickly and holds
temperature very well (i.e. I've never gotten the idea the panel
indicator was lying and never looked up to find the temp had
dipped). The collection of tips that came with it is excellent
except the next to the smallest tip (a chisel) doesn't transfer
enough heat to be useful with small parts where you'd think it would
be just right. The one thing about this station is that it's complex
and I worry about all the pieces and parts lasting over the long
haul. But it's designed and sold by a US company that had a good
reputation when I was shopping for it. The preheat is absolutely
fabulous for hot air rework. (Warning: if you work with hot air,
know that it can nail you much worse than a regular soldering iron.
Air around 300C demands absolute respect and mental focus!)<br>
<br>
-Pete<br>
<br>
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