[johnanderson]

So I've decided not to buy from amazon since there are places with better prices. I was looking through circuit specialists site and noticed this station for only $10 more than the xytronic.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/8395

I was wondering if its worth it to get that one instead of the xytronic I had initially planned on getting.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7501

I've heard xytronic uses the same ceramic heating element as hakko irons but generally everything else inside is probably made up of cheaper components. Anyways, theyre both budget stations and both can use hakko tips and the only difference I can tell is that the CSI one is lead free and uses 70W. So which one should I get?

 

[freethegeek]

throwing out this thought... since no one has mentioned it..

Make sure that various differnt tips are available for whatever you buy. I have a radioshack soldering station taht my extended family bought me for christmas a while back. When i actually started using it, i found the standard tip to be too large. Then i couldn't find any tips at all for it. Finally i found a set of brand x tips .. but still nothing small enough for delicate work. The Hakkos and Wellers seem to have that extensive assortment available.. dunno about the other brands you have investigated.

 

[johnanderson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freethegeek /img/forum/go_quote.gif throwing out this thought... since no one has mentioned it.. Make sure that various differnt tips are available for whatever you buy. I have a radioshack soldering station taht my extended family bought me for christmas a while back. When i actually started using it, i found the standard tip to be too large. Then i couldn't find any tips at all for it. Finally i found a set of brand x tips .. but still nothing small enough for delicate work. The Hakkos and Wellers seem to have that extensive assortment available.. dunno about the other brands you have investigated.

I had the same problem with my ratshack iron, which was suppose to be replaceable when it was new but they stopped selling the right tips. I'm pretty sure that most of the hakko clones out there can use the same tips. Now how long theyre going to keep using those tips IDK.