Recommended board preheater

[ezalys]

Does anyone have a favorite board preheater less than $600 bucks? If I'm doing boards with components on one side, is buying something besides a hotplate worth it? What do people think of the Hakko hot air preheater (FR-830), or just hot air preheaters in general? Are the IR preheaters worth it?

[thm_w]

Can't see the FR-830 being that good but never used it.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ir-preheater-and-hot-air-yihua-853/
You can get a decent IR preheater for <$200. The hotplate style is ok only if you are using single sided load PCBs.

[mazurov]

I use this (no aff.) -> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GSCTSMA for about 6 months. Works all right, no complains about the preheater part.

[costas]

Hi ,
I use Hakko FR 820 I am very satisfied, it is quiet, I made my own hot air work stand with what I found in the warehouse

[wraper]

What do people think of the Hakko hot air preheater (FR-830),

That it's overpriced like 3-5 times for what it is.