[vcf-midatlantic] OT: Soldering Station, Your Opinion Please

[Corey Cohen]

> On Jan 21, 2016, at 11:52 AM, Chris Fala via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
> 
> Has anyone seen this model before?
> 
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/371505966012
> 
> Is it worth the price for a cheap spare or for soldering classes, or is it
> junk and not worth the trouble? (I already have a good Weller and Hakko, so
> this would just be a backup.)
> 
> Thanks,
> Chris

Personally I tried the knockoff soldering and desoldering stations.  I thought they were great until I tried the real thing.  So even for occasional use tools, I try to buy good ones if there is risk that the cheap tool can let me down or cause damage.  So I slowly replaced all my cheap knock off soldering tools with Hakko or Weller ones.  So now I have a Weller digital soldering station, Hakko desoldering gun and even got for a reasonable price a compact Hakko temperature controller soldering pencil for my portable tool case. 

Btw. This same attitude goes for regular tools.  Yes I will buy an air sander, grinding wheel or maybe a hammer from Harbor Freight, but my compressor and wrenches and sockets are just about all craftsman or snap-on.  Sometimes fixing the damage caused by a cheap tool is worse than the job itself.  

Cheers,
Corey