1. I did not buy the Tenma digital station: it was in my employer's shop when I started there. I don't work there any longer and don't remember the model number. It must be an older one as my employment there started about 20 years ago. It was a model with a combination of soldering iron on one side and de-soldering iron on the other. I remember looking it up and finding the cost was over $500 (about 15 years ago). And it really was a royal pain to try to keep the de-soldering iron's passage ways clean. Perhaps the newer ones are better, but personally I like a separate, hand held solder sucker: the big ones, not the little wimpy ones. One click and the solder is gone. And they are a LOT easier to clean and will go for longer intervals between cleanings. As far as I am concerned, they beat any de-soldering iron or solder wick, HANDS DOWN.
Now, don't get me wrong, solder wick is good for things like cleaning up excess solder and solder bridges on SMDs. I keep some on the bench and use it for that; but not for de-soldering things like through hole components.
2. Yes, just a desk top warmer for a single cup. I got it in a local store for $10 to $15. Mr. Coffee brand, no controls except On/Off, and I made no mods. I just lay the PCB on top of it and turn it on. I think the pre-heat really does help, especially when you are dealing with a ground plane or other large mass that will soak up the heat.
3. Commercial hot air irons are more powerful. I was afraid they would blow the parts around. Probably not, but that was my thought. And I am cheap. I will probably get one when I have more experience under my belt. You can control the heat by the distance and the small tip allows precise application. But not good for removing SMD parts with leads on several sides.
4. Yes, several.
5. I like the visor and I have at least four of them. I use them both at my electronic bench and in my garage (metal and wood) shop. It is nice to have them there, on my head instead of mounted on the bench. And I can easily look under the lenses when I don't need the magnification. But, to each his/her own.
And solder vs. solder paste. Each has it's own uses and I have both on the bench. Like you, I also use both through hole and SMD style components. Many times you can't escape it.
---In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, <qz9090@...> wrote :
Paul,
>1.....
May I ask what model of Tenma digital station you purchased?
>2. I purchased a cup warmer and use it to preheat circuit boards to
>make working on SMDs easier.
May I ask, what kind of cup warmer? Is it the kind to keep your coffee hot at your desk?
This is a new one on me...If it works, that's great!
>3. I found this article...
I saw this article too but thought I might like to have a little more control over the heat.
>4. Tweezers
Okay
>5. Visor
I haven't figured out how I am going to do the magnification yet, I wear glasses today and can't see much without them. I thought I might try a desk lamp with a built in magnifying glass, and see how it goes.
Regardless of my purchases, I still have a lot of thru hole components that I would like to use up, so as I look at the various items, I try to see if they are applicable to both thru hole and SMD.
What about solder vs solder paste? Is this a personal preference?
Thanks for your input.