Homebrew PCBs

On Wed, 21 May 2008, Steve wrote:

> Desoldering stations seem to start in the $200 range and go up from
> there. What features and functionality should I look for in a
> desoldering station?

This may seem like heresy, but it works for me: a B&Q hot air gun. (B&Q is
a home improvement store chain, if you're not somewhere in Britain or
Ireland). I have had great success using this inexpensive hot air gun on
SMD and through hole boards, both for recovering components off redundant
kit that I want to use later, and for reworking and repair, and even
soldering new components on with solder paste. Its low setting is 260
celcius.