Looking for a decent desoldering gun

[Fleetwood mIkea]

Any recommendations for a decent desoldering gun? I seem to be doing more and more board/display work lately so I think it’s time to invest in a decent desoldering setup.
Obviously the Hakko 808 is the gold standard, but I don’t really want to spend that kind of money. I saw a post some time ago for a knockoff on Amazon or eBay but can’t seem to find it now...
Any and all info is appreciated!

 

[brad808]

I've used an Aoyue 474++ for the last 3ish years. It gets a lot of use doing monitor caps, hots, flybacks, etc. I've used it for various other ICs on arcade boards as well. So far it's been trouble free. If I have a few monitors to do at once and it's on for a couple of hours straight the handle will start to get a bit warm, that's my only real complaint. The odd time the nozzle will clog up but that's fairly common for any station. Most of the time just pulling the trigger and smacking the gun off my table will clear it. It was around $160 on Amazon but I can't find it there now.

A lot of times if I have a single transistor or small dip I need to change I'll just grab the desoldering braid and use that. Cheap, easy, and effective.

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

Awesome thanks- that’s what I’m looking for, something to do mainly caps, resistors etc., and a few ICs here and there. I have 4 NVRAM modules and sockets to install on WPC machines and not looking forward to using braid on those, although I’ve been getting by with braid for a while now. I figured a dedicated setup might be a bit quicker and neater. I’ll keep an eye out for that model/manufacturer.
Thanks again!

 

[mwong168]

Here are a few good options for desoldering gun/stations.

This one here is like a clone of the infamous Hakko 808 desoldering gun for $95.38usd

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi8900-portable-desoldering-system.html

Here is the one I picked up earlier this year and had my parents bring back for me when they spent a month in Florida which was on sale for $105usd at the time. It's probably got the exact same internals and built at same factory as the above mentioned Aoyue 474++.

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/Compact_Desoldering_System.html

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

Awesome! Thanks Mike!

 

[mwong168]

Here is another Hakko 808 knock off alternative if shipping from Circuit Specialists is too expensive going into Canada. I've had and used this de-soldering gun before and works great. I gave mine to Menace after he stopped by once to help me troubleshoot and fix an issue.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/S-993A-Practical-Electric-Vacuum-Desoldering-Pump-Solder-Sucker-Gun-110V-or-220V/273018832023?_trkparms=aid=555017&algo=PL.CASSINI&ao=1&asc=54464&meid=20d8c30938d04531b5d8138c84faf951&pid=101006&rk=1&rkt=1&&itm=273018832023&_trksid=p2045573.c101006.m3226

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

We have a winner - ordered the first option right from circuit specialists, although seriously tempted by the last option. $19 shipping. Hopefully it won’t take 6 weeks to get here.
Thanks gents!

 

[mwong168]

We have a winner - ordered the first option right from circuit specialists, although seriously tempted by the last option. $19 shipping. Hopefully it won’t take 6 weeks to get here.
Thanks gents!

If it ships via FedEx don't be surprised to get hit with taxes/duties/handling bill in the mail a few days or week later. I know that is what happened when SuperJackpot ordered his desoldering station from Circuit Specialists. I got hit like this too for something else via FedEx and on the statement it labelled as "finance fee" because they paid the HST on my behalf for me to clear the package. Funny thing is I even paid HST on this "finance fee" too

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

I recall getting nailed a few times like that too. Gotta love taxes on taxes. Bit of a crap shoot, depending on whether or not it gets flagged for inspection at the border I guess. Hopefully the new USMCA trade rules come into effect sooner rather than later, which gives Canadians $150 cross-border limit vs. $20 under NAFTA. With my luck, probably not.
Should still be worth it though- looks like a sweet machine.

 

[mwong168]

NAFTA/USMCA will have no effect on these "handling fees" charged by shipping companies. I think UPS is the worse for this and I've paid as much in their handling fees as what my item was worth! I think FedEx was being nice and gave me a reach around lol

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

Dang. Screwed again!

 

[luch]

I recall getting nailed a few times like that too. Gotta love taxes on taxes. Bit of a crap shoot, depending on whether or not it gets flagged for inspection at the border I guess. Hopefully the new USMCA trade rules come into effect sooner rather than later, which gives Canadians $150 cross-border limit vs. $20 under NAFTA. With my luck, probably not.
Should still be worth it though- looks like a sweet machine.

thought the limit was $100 and not 150 ?

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

Arrived!
My new desoldering station was waiting for me when I got home from work. Now I just gotta test it out in something....

 

[Fifty]

thought the limit was $100 and not 150 ?

I thought it was $100 as well.

 

[mwong168]

Arrived!
My new desoldering station was waiting for me when I got home from work. Now I just gotta test it out in something....

Make sure you clean the tip after each use and doesn't hurt to stock up on some extra filters too.

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

Good advice for sure- will do!

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

Thanks for the advice Mike- this thing is awesome. I used it to install some sockets for NVRAM in a WPC and it worked like a champ. 3 more machines to go.
BTW- were u at the Silverball swap meet a few weeks ago?

 

[mwong168]

I am glad the desoldering gun is working out for you and money well spent. I was at the swap meet at Hanley's Church two weekends ago.

 

[Fleetwood mIkea]

My apologies for not introducing myself. I was severely under the weather (couldn’t miss the swap meet though) and u were busy on the phone anyhow. Loved the PinRev T-shirt though. Gotta get me one.
Next time!