Soldering station, simple and resistant

[marck120]

Hello, unfortunately I have a limited budget, I am looking for a soldering iron or a solid and robust soldering station that will last me for years, better if it has the simplest possible electronic components, I was aiming for analog models with the traditional linear transformer, the fewer complex electronic components they have inside and the more the risk of failure is reduced, of course the transformer must also be of quality otherwise it will break anyway.

At first I was oriented towards the hakko fx-888d, but it costs € 120, I wanted to spend less, even the Weller WE1010NA costs about € 130 on amazon, I created a small list but they are all Chinese brands, so as an alternative I was thinking of buying a quality soldering iron, is it a problem if they do not have temperature control ?

Obviously it is important that the tips cost little and are easily available.

The use is purely hobbyist, I have to solder some electrical components every now and then, capacitors, resistors etc.. and some electrical cables if it happens, not too thick obviously, for example these days I made a thermometer with an Arduino nano and I need to solder the pins of a SHT45 sensor.

Which model do you recommend ?

Soldering irons :

CXG E60WT E90WT
CXG 936d
MULTICOMP PRO MP740061
RS PRO 202-4536
Atten ST-2065D
Atten SA50
TQ-95-CE
Antex ER30
Ersa 30s 30w
JBC 30ST


---------------------------------------------

Soldering stations :

TENMA 21-10115 EU
RS PRO 202-4512
Tilswall
ELE-ATS1
ZD-931
ZD-929B
Lafayette SDD-9
Lafayette turtle
Fixpoint 51098
LS-450 digi
Aoyue 937+
Aoyue 3210
Aoyue 9378
YIHUA 926
YIHUA 937D
YIHUA 939D+
YIHUA 982
Yihua 948DB
STATION LF-389D
AIFEN-A3
Quicko T12-942
KSGER T12 STM32 V3.1S
ATTEN AT-989
ATTEN AT938D
ATTEN AT937A
ATTEN ST60
ATTEN ST80
SUGON T21   
SUGON-A9

[marck120]

Hi, I wrote a little summary just to have a point of reference, maybe the main choices are three, I choose a soldering station compatible with T12 tips or a station with 900M tips which are quite widespread, or I also evaluated the soldering stations compatible with C245/T245 tips.

From what I know the T12 tips were developed by Hakko also called T15 as well as the 900M then replaced by the T18 always by Hakko, and the C245 instead were developed by JBC, since the Chinese have copied this technology consequently almost all the low-cost stations that use this kind of tips are in fact of Chinese production

The T15s are not interchangeable with the T12s, they are shorter and have steps that prevent them from being mounted in a T12 handle.



Obviously the T12 and C245/T245 cartridge tips have superior performance and quality compared to the old 900M, the only problem is that most of the Chinese clones have a low construction quality.

The soldering stations that I found at an affordable price compatible with T12 tips are:

Axun T3A, Quicko/Quecoo, KSGER, Yihua 948DB, AIFEN A8, Bakon BK969D

The Yihua 948DB is also available on Amazon, as for construction quality is it superior compared to Aixun, Quicko, KSGER ?

Regarding Quicko or KSGER there is the advantage that the mini versions are available with the 24v power supply separately, so I could buy a quality 24v power supply separately, in case of problems it would be very simple to replace the power supply, what do you think ?


https://it.aliexpress.com/item/32857152188.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allItems_or_groupList.0.0.1b744ff9Faj5JY&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%21%E2%82%AC%2040%2C41%21%E2%82%AC%2028 %2C29%21%21%2143.86%2130.71%21%40210385a817256920521122226e80c7%2165279967789%21sh %21IT%210%21X&gatewayAdapt=glo2ita

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/32843974498.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%21%E2%82%AC%2026%2C49%21%E2%82%AC%2026%2C49%21%21%2128.75 %2128.75%21%402103892f17257629964232661eef0a%2165143158715%21sh%21IT%210%21X&spm=a2g0o. store_pc_allItems_or_groupList.new_all_items_2007586013081.32843974498&gatewayAdapt=glo2ita

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/32839523934.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.11.7ebaVnxYVnxYuF&algo_pvid=4e4a7 e8e-ba54-4875-8afc-2aded311e1b0&algo_exp_id=4e4a7 e8e-ba54-4875-8afc-2aded311e1b0-5&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%2139.43%2131.14%21%21%2142.79%2133.79%21%40211b8c6217257631844993506e4a6c% 2110000002010599225%21sea%21IT%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=mTC1T8obfhTW&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

Stations soldering irons C245/T245 :

YIHUA 982, AIFEN-A3, Aifen A9, SUGON-A9, SUGON T21, AiXun T320

The Aixun T420D has a linear transformer but it is too expensive.

The stations compatible with 900M tips with the linear power supply in my opinion are more resistant:

Atten AT938D, YIHUA 937D, YIHUA 939D+, YIHUA 939D+ III, ATTEN ST80

Instead the various Ningbo Zhongdi and Lafayette do not have the 900M tips but the technology is always that of the ceramic heating element that enters inside the tip, the tips and handles are easily available and have the linear transformer:

ZD-931, Lafayette SDD-9

Cartridge soldering stations with the linear power supply:

ATETOOL AE970, Quick ts1100, Quick ts1200, mechanic c211, Aixun T420D

One of the few soldering stations with the linear transformer and cartridge tips that I have found is the ATETOOL AE970D, but it uses a T80 tip, it is a bit difficult to find.

The Quick ts1100 also uses cartridge tips, it should have the linear power supply inside but I am not sure, it is present instead on the Quick ts1200

Here's a complete summary:

Soldering Irons

    CXG E60WT E90WT
    Tips: 900M
   
    CXG 936d
    Tips: 900M

    CXG 900M soldering tip compatible with E60S/90S/110S/E60WT/E90WT
   -------------------------------------------------
    MULTICOMP PRO MP740061
    Tips: MULTICOMP PRO
    Tip: T900
    Manufacturer: ATTEN ST-2065D
   --------------------------------------------------
    RS PRO 202-4536
    Tip: RS PRO
    Manufacturer: ATTEN ST-2065D
    Tips: T900
   -----------------------------------------------------
    MINIWARE TS101
    Pinecil V2
    Tips: TS100 - Pine64
   -----------------------------------------------------
    Atten ST-2065D
    Atten SA50
    Tips: 900M
    ---------------------------------------------------
    TQ-95-CE
    Tips: GOOT TQ-77 RT series
    --------------------------------------------------
    Antex ER30
    Tips: ER30 series
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Ersa 30s 30w
    Tips: Ersa 832, 842, 852 series
   ---------------------------------------------------
    JBC 30ST
    Tips: JBC 30ST/40ST/SL2020/IN2100 series
    ---------------------------------------------------

Soldering Stations


Soldering Stations with Linear Transformer:

    TENMA 21-10115 EU
    RS PRO 202-4512
    Manufacturer: Atten AT938D
    Compatible Tips: 900M, RS PRO, TENMA
    ------------------------------------------------------
    ZD-931, ZD-929B, ZD-929B, Fixpoint 51098, Lafayette SDD-9, Fixpoint 51098, LS-450 digi, Transmedia ZLS2L, DURATOOL
    D00678, DURATOOL D00661
    Manufacturer: Ningbo Zhongdi-Lafayette
    Tips: ZD series (ZD-931, ZD-937, LS-450, LS-1000, SSD9, WS937, ZD929A, ZD929B, ZD929C, SSL-2, SSD-3)
    ------------------------------------------------------
    ELE-ATS1
    Manufacturer: ATETOOL AE970D
    Tips: T80
    Handle: AH809
   -----------------------------------------------------
    Aoyue 937+
    Handle: 907ESD

    Aoyue 9378
    Handle: B033-P
   
    Tips: 900M
   -----------------------------------------------------
    Yihua 936
    Handle: 907A

    YIHUA 937D
    Handle: 907A

    YIHUA 939D+
    Handle: YIHUA 907E

    YIHUA 939D+ III
    Handle: 816D
   
    Tips: 900M
   -----------------------------------------------------
    ATTEN AT80D
    Tips: 900M-T-I
    Handle: AP-80

    ATTEN AT938D
    Tips: 900M-T-B
    Handle: ATTEN AP-60

    ATTEN AT937A
    Tips: 900M-T-B
    Handle: ATTEN AP-50

    ATTEN ST80
    Tips: 900M
    Handle: ATTEN ST-80

    ATTEN AT-989D
    Tips: T900-B
    Handle: ATTEN AP-65A
   
    Tips: 900M/T900
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Atten ST-965
    Tips: T900
    Handle: ATTEN ST-965
    -----------------------------------------------------
    MULTICOMP PRO MP740261
    Manufacturer: Atten ST80
    Tips: MULTICOMP PRO
    Tips: 900M
    ------------------------------------------------------
    Tilswall
    Proprietary tip type
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Mechanic C211
    Handle: T210
    Tips: C211, C115
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Quick TS1100
    Handle: TSS30A
    Tips: 960 series, Quick 960
    -----------------------------------------------------
    AIXUN T420D
    Tips: C210, C115, C245
    Handle: T210, T115, T245
    -----------------------------------------------------


Soldering Stations with Switching Power Supply:


    Aoyue 3210
    Handle: 907A
    Tips: 900M
    ----------------------------------------------------
    YIHUA 926
    Tips: 900-B-900M
    Non-removable handle
    ----------------------------------------------------
    YIHUA 939D+ III
    Handle: YIHUA 816D
    Tips: 900M
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Xytronic LF-389D
    Proprietary tip type
    ----------------------------------------------------
    AIFEN-A3
    Handles: T210/T245/T115
    Tips: C210/C245/C115
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Aixun T3A
    Tips: T12, 936, and T245
    Handles: T245/T12
    ----------------------------------------------------
    AiXun T320
    Tips: C210/C245
    Handles: T210 T245
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Quicko T12-942
    Tips: T12
    Handles: T12-907-T12-9501
    -----------------------------------------------------
    KSGER T12 STM32 V3.1S
    Tips: T12
    Handles: FX9501-T12 907
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Yihua 948DB
    Preciva 948DB+
    Tips: T12
    Handle: YIHUA 506A
    -----------------------------------------------------
    SUGON T21
    Tips: C210/C245/C470/C115
    Handle: T245
    -----------------------------------------------------
    AIFEN A8
    Handle/Tips: T12
    -----------------------------------------------------
    SUGON-A9
    Tips: C210/C245/C115
    Handles: T115/T210/T245
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Aifen A9
    Tips: C210/C245/C115
    Handles: T245/T210/T115
    -----------------------------------------------------
    YIHUA 982
    Tips: C210 and C245
    Handles: 616A/716A
    -----------------------------------------------------
    JCD T210
    Tips: C210
    Handle: T210
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Bakon BK969D
    Tips: T12
    Handle: Bakon LF008


Which model do you think I should purchase ?