[damonpip]

As the title states, has anyone tried this iron? You can see it at http://www.web-tronics.com/lesostwdic.html. It's somewhat similar to the Hakko clone, but has an iron similar to Metcal irons, and is a higher wattage, at 70watts. Looks like it could be a great iron, however I'm not too sure of CSI's quality.

 

[Teerawit]

How is this a clone of Metcal? Does it use the auto-sensing tips system?

 

[damonpip]

Well, I'm not sure it's really a clone of a Metcal. The style of tips that they use look very similar though, so I assumed that CSI was trying for a Metcal clone of some sort.

 

[jl123]

For that price just go with a hakko 936. I wouldn't mess with clones of anything.

 

[Paragon]

Agreed. For $10 more, you can one hell of a true station and not just a look-a-like.

 

[bigcat39]

Once you use Metcal Smartheat, you won't go back.

 

[damonpip]

Well, I'm not really interested in getting a new station, since I have a Hakko 939 that works great for me. I just got a flier from CSI in the mail and thought that iron looked interested. I guess it's also similar to Hakko's new lead-free station, the FP-202.

Smartheat looks like a great technology, however I don't think it is exclusive to Metcal anymore. I believe it basically works by using a tip without much thermal mass, a thermocouple very close to the tip, and a fast control circuit. This allows the tip temp to remain very constant during use. It seems that Hakko's FP-202 works this way, and CSI's station might too.

 

[Sgtyapd]

The metcal uses Curie Point Temperature management. There is NO ceramic element in a Metcal. There is NO Thermocouple in a Metcal.
There is only Patented Technology in a Metcal that ensures temperature repeatability +/- 2degrees C.

Faster Safer Easier

 

[jl123]

Hehe...way to bring all the metcal threads back.