Best Desoldering Station Reviews

If you run an electronics repair workshop, work in an electronic laboratory, or are just keen on soldering, you’re probably looking for the best desoldering station. These devices are great assistants when you carry repairs of electrical appliances as they allow disjointing two mounted components or removing burnt ones without damage.

Indeed, once you get a desoldering station, board repairs would become more accurate and less painful. But how do you pick one if there is a sea of options on the market? Stick with me, and I will guide you through the selection process. I will review some of the top items and point out what features to consider when getting a desoldering station. Ready? Then let’s dive in!

What type of desoldering station to choose?

Before you embark on surfing the Internet for the desoldering machine that would meet your needs, consider that there are three types of these units:

• Desoldering stations
• Hot air rework stations
• Hot air rework stations with desoldering suction.

Even though they do the same job – carefully remove solder from the circuit board – their work principle is slightly different.

Desoldering station

The principle of work of a desoldering station is simple. At first, you turn on the unit and set the temperature you think is optimal for removing solder. Once the heating element heats up, it should directly contact the component on the circuit board. The solder melts under the impact of the heated tip. Then, if you are using a vacuum desoldering station, just push the button, and the device will suck the molten solder away.

The lightweight, comparatively reasonable price, and precision of actions are the most fantastic perks of desoldering stations. Because of that, you can use them for types of desoldering works that require utmost accuracy.

However, due to the direct contact with the components and the fact that all the heat is focused in one spot, there is a risk of damaging the board or other elements with the high-temperature impact. Besides, since a desoldering station’s heating element is small, you will have difficulty working with large areas.

Hot air rework station

Unlike desoldering stations, hot air rework machines are non-contact tools that could cover an area on the board. The device produces a stream of hot air, which you apply to the solder with circular motions by holding the nozzle above the object. The heat melts the solder, and you can easily remove it to disassemble the component from the board.

Because of this work principle, hot air rework stations might not be the best choice for surgically precise manipulations. However, they would save you a lot of time when you’ve got to desolder large areas.

Since hot air rework stations are non-contact devices, they minimize the risk of damaging other components when you work with a circuit board. Besides, you can work on several components simultaneously to quickly troubleshoot the issue with circuitry.

But mind that these stations are much more expensive compared to desoldering ones. You should also prepare more space on a shelf if you are going to get this machine type as it’s bulkier.

Hot air rework station with desoldering suction

Are you on the horns of a dilemma and can’t decide whether a desoldering or hot air rework station will work better for you? Stop putting yourself through doubts as there is an option of getting one device that has it all.

Hot air rework stations with desoldering suction integrate the perks of both devices. They come with various guns, so you could easily interchange them when working on complicated circuit boards that require the application of multiple desoldering strategies.

The most significant advantage of the kit is that you get all the instruments at once. This allows you to save money and shelf space.

What to look for when choosing a desoldering station

Temperature range adjustment

Consider how hot the heating element of the desoldering unit can get before making the purchase if you do not want the device to gather dust on a shelf. The optimal operating temperature range is between 392 to 842°F, but the maximum temperature capacity can be higher. The hotter the tool can get, the more versatile it is.

Pay attention to the temperature adjustment mechanism as well. Affordable stations have a dial to enable manual temperature regulation. The most advanced units feature a sensor that automatically sets the optimal temperature based on the surface parameters.

Included accessories

Not all soldering removal stations come with accessories, but it would be a great advantage if you find additional tools in the box.

For example, hot air rework stations might include different nozzles to enable more precise desoldering. Extra tips might be a fantastic enhancement for classic desoldering machines since they would allow carrying surgically accurate manipulations.

Manufacturers frequently add cleaning kits to the package. They include filters, cleaning rods, sponges to help get rid of molten solder that might get stuck in the tube. You can also find a functional stand in the box which would allow for more convenient use of the machine when you work.

Best Desoldering Stations Reviews

Aoyue 474A++ – best desoldering station

Aoyue 474A++ is a practical and powerful desoldering station applicable for a variety of uses.

With a temperature range of 392-896°F and a 50W motor, this device will help you remove any type of solder. It’s easy to set the desired working temperature as there are dials right on the unit for added convenience. There is a large digital display that depicts the set temperature parameter. Thus, you will always know if there is enough heat to perform desoldering.

This model features a ceramic Atmega8A Microprocessor heating element, which heats up in around 30 seconds. A 12 Volt high-flow vacuum pump picks up molten solder effortlessly. Set an auto-sleep function to prevent overheating and save on electricity bills.

In contrast to YIHUA 948, which has a limited number of accessories, the Aoyue 474A++ device comes with cleaning accessories, nozzles, and filters.

My experience of using this desoldering station proved that it heats up quickly, and the recovery time after switching to a vacuum mode is really good. However, I have some complaints about the accessories. Firstly, I wish they would add skinnier and longer tips that would enable getting into tight circuits. Besides, I didn’t like the holder, which goes without a base for mounting a hot gun.

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YIHUA 948

My next pick, YIHUA 948, is a two-in-one machine that combines the functions of soldering and desoldering tools in one compact body.

Having a capacity to heat up between 392-896°F, this is a fantastic tool for many applications, including repairing cell phones, laptops, and circuit boards with sensitive components. Thanks to the dual-core microcomputer processor, the unit heats up rapidly and maintains a stable temperature throughout the whole use time. A tin suction nozzle powered by the pump vacuum pressure of 0.05MPa easily grabs solder in a molten state.

In comparison to Aoyue 474A++, this YIHUA 948 unit is more powerful as it features an 80-watt high-power desoldering pump.

It’s a stunning device for reworking jobs as it heats up comparatively fast (though not as rapidly as I expected – 1.5 minutes is no joke) but maintains the temperature at the same level for a long time. The filter compartment is made of plastic, and I am afraid it might get cracked when used frequently.

Best Hot Air Rework Stations Reviews

Aoyue 852A++ – best hot air rework station

Meet the next entry on my list – Aoyue 852A++, a powerful hot air rework station with a multi-tool capability. It allows you to repair or replace components of different circuits, including CHIP, BGA, SOIC, QFP, and others.

With 500 watts of heating power, this machine will melt solder of any complexity. The temperature range varies between 212-896°F, which is sufficient to deal with the various repair jobs. Thanks to the air pump with a large capacity of 6 gal/min (23 l/min), you will spend less time holding the nozzle over the component. By the way, you can adjust the airflow with a push button powered by a reliable Atmega8A microcontroller.

Compared to the YIHUA 8786D model on my list, this one includes four nozzles to ensure you can work without additional costs.

As I was testing this device, I noticed several advanced perks that you won’t find in a typical station. For example, the nozzle cools down automatically when you are done with reworking. The gun also switches to a sleep mode when you place it in a holder. When you need it on, just touch the handle. The temperature scale is available both in Celsius and Fahrenheit, which I found extremely convenient. But the build quality seems to be a little clunky – plastic details are not as reliable as glass or metal, and the digital display acts out once in a while.

YIHUA 8786D

If you would like to kill two birds with one stone and get a hot air rework station and a soldering tool, this YIHUA 8786D is a perfect match.

This versatile device comes with a hot air gun and soldering iron to ensure you can perform a wide range of actions, from removing the bad solder or disjoining the component and putting it back, all with one tool. The unit features a PID programmable temperature control system, which tracks real-time temperature and maintains it at the desired point. The temperature can be configured between 212-896°F. You can always check the LED screen to make certain you’ve selected the optimal temp. By the way, the temp scale is available both in Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Unlike Aoyue 852A++, this station has a considerable number of accessories, including 10 soldering tips, 4 nozzles for a hot air gun, a roll of solder wick, a banana-alligator clip, and some more.

I decided to verify the station model’s temperature, so I grabbed a temp controller and started the test. There was some great deviation in the soldering iron (almost 200°F), but the hot air gun heated up accurately, so I won’t mess up with it.

Best Hot Air Rework Station With Desoldering Suction Review

YIHUA 948-II

The ergonomic YIHUA 948-II replaces four tools in one station as it has a hot air gun, vacuum soldering iron, electric soldering iron, and smoke absorbing pen.

The working temperature of this unit can be configured between 212 – 896°F, which allows you to use it for a great variety of occasions. Thanks to an in-built PID controller, the temp will be checked in real-time to maintain the desired level. There is an air gun protection function, which will stop the airflow in case of any malfunction for safety purposes.

In contrast to YIHUA 948, this upgraded model has a smart 3-segment storage function that would save the settings of each mode. Thus, you can switch from one function to another without the loss of the desired parameters.

As I tested all the guns and a suction pen, I especially enjoyed the desoldering station with a powerful vacuum system. As I was desoldering solder from the board, the molten parts got instantly sucked into the filter housing. Hot air rework and soldering stations did great jobs, but I was not completely satisfied with a suction pen. It seemed slightly weak. Another flaw of the unit based on desoldering station reviews is that it’s almost impossible to replace one of the accessories if it gets broken.

Safety tips for desoldering

Remember: safety always comes first. Stick with basic safety precautions while you are desoldering. If you fail to do that, you might end up getting injured.

First of all, protect yourself in all respects. You should desolder in the areas with good ventilation to avoid inhaling vapors that appear in the process. It is better to wear a mask, glasses, and gloves to get the utmost protection. Do not forget to keep a first-aid kit at hand, just in case.

As you proceed with desoldering, it is better to control the time you expose components to heat. If you keep them under too much heat, you can break them. Also, mind the temperature you set as an extremely high temp can damage the component or board as well.

Always put the heated gun in the stand when you are not using it. If the station has an auto-sleep mode, make sure you’ve configured it. This would allow you to escape accidental injuries or items overheating.