--- "Peter C. Wallace" <pcw_at_mesanet.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 22 May 2003, Bryan Blackburn wrote:
>
> > I have been using commercial hot gas soldering equipment professionally
> > for many years. One of my machines, which I recently sold, cost over
> > $8000 new!
No doubt!
> Of all my experience with hot gas soldering, my favorite tool
> > by far is a butane powered Weller soldering iron with a hot air tip; a
> > PyroPen mini hot air/soldering iron, WST2. (Google search found:
I had no idea such things existed. I've only seen electric-resistive
thermal blowers. The one I used for rework at Lucent was a little
heavy, but it was self-contained. They also hung them from retractable
overhead cables to reduce operator strain.
> http://www.lashen.com/vendors/CooperTools/Weller_cordless_solder.asp#wst2
> > looks like the PSI100K might even be better than the one I have, and
> > cheaper too.)
For <$100, I'm very interested.
> > Although you may not want to use it to replace a large BGA
> > chip (even though it can be done if you are careful), it is great for
> > the smaller components like resistors, caps, and small chips.
My target is SOTs, SOJs and passives. Sounds like several of those
will work fine.
> > It's main
> > advantages are that it is low cost, lightweight, has ample heat, and
> > adjustable output. I have used mine to do nearly everything I bought
> > the expensive Ungar machine for, which is one reason I sold it.
My only cost concern is fuel - if I can buy a tank for refilling
butane lighters, it's a win. If I have to buy vendor-filled
cartridges, that's less attractive.
> > Although it MIGHT work, what you have described sounds clumsy and under
> > powered, but then I'm used to my 2 oz. tool! For the small cost of the
> > cordless hot air/irons, to me, it wouldn't even be worth the time to
> > fiddle with a homemade kludge.
I must admit that the cost savings is less attractive with a <$100 hot
air tool compared with what I was expecting in an $800 hot air tool. I'll
have to give some serious thought to those Weller tools.
Thanks for the tip.
-ethan
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Received on Thu May 22 2003 - 14:13:00 BST