T962 reflow oven

[mc]

In a couple of weeks I'll be needing to assemble a few prototype boards, which are currently looking to be about 4x6"/100x150mm in size, so I'm looking for a reflow oven to make things easier.

I've seen the T962 mentioned in a few places, and it's within budget, and should work out the box, which is the main selling point at the moment, due to deadlines and lack of time to research/build other options.

I've done some searches, and the general concensus is it manages the job but has questionable build quality and some even more questionable translations. I've not found any majorly bad first hand reviews, other than the usual 'it's chinese it's ****' comments in a couple places.

So, has anybody got any first hand experience?
Cheapest I've found it for is £158 delivered in the UK via ebay.

[mikeselectricstuff]

IMO for prototypes and small runs you're much better with a bog-standard toaster oven, simple power control and a nice big viewing window, and eyeball process control.
 
Less expensive and less likely to incinerate your boards.

[mc]

Toaster Oven!
That's the term I was looking for the other night!
I did try googling for suitable ovens, but couldn't find anything in the UK that was reasonably priced, so gave up looking :-/
Certainly looks like a far cheaper option, and I can work on some kind of automatic controller when time permits.

Mike, out of curiousity, while googling for T962 reviews, I stumbled across your site and the stripdown of the bigger version. Was it yours, and how did you ever use it?

[mikeselectricstuff]

Toaster Oven!
That's the term I was looking for the other night!
I did try googling for suitable ovens, but couldn't find anything in the UK that was reasonably priced, so gave up looking :-/
Certainly looks like a far cheaper option, and I can work on some kind of automatic controller when time permits.

Mike, out of curiousity, while googling for T962 reviews, I stumbled across your site and the stripdown of the bigger version. Was it yours, and how did you ever use it?

I never really used it - I preferred the visibility of a toaster oven.
Toaster ovens aren't as common in the UK as elsewhere but not too hard to find. You want something with heaters top & bottom, a nice clear window and a shelf that doesn't jump when opening and closing the door. Small convection ovens may also be worth a look.
 Try searching "toaster oven -microwave" on ebay.

[mc]

Googling Toaster Oven brings up plenty options.
I can't remember what I tried searching for before, but it only turned up either stupidly expensive ovens, or ones from across the pond or down under.

Thanks for the help.