Ayoue desoldering stations

[Telstar]

http://www.aoyue.com/en/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=337
and
http://www.aoyue.com/en/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=447

Anybody has one of them?
I do only through-hole at the moment and sometimes there is need to replace a few parts several times to tweak/fix a circuit.
I'm thinking to get the cheaper one (not ESD safe), but model is "474A+" and looks the same as the first picture.

Opinions? They seem an Hakko clone (but not sure of which model).
Some alternatives under 150€?

[UPI]

I have one of these and I could not get any of the tips to tin so heat transfer sucked. In other words, the solder would just roll off of the tips without adhering.
So, I have a brand new paperweight.

[gxti]

It almost certainly takes Hakko genuine tips but I'm not familiar with desoldering tools so I don't know which tips those would be.

[UPI]

I haven't looked recently to see if a Hakko tip will fit but when I bought it 2 years ago they did not.
It has been sitting since without any use.

[Balaur]

I have one of these and I could not get any of the tips to tin so heat transfer sucked. In other words, the solder would just roll off of the tips without adhering.

Isn't how it is supposed to behave? I mean, you don't want solder to adhere if you just need to suck it.

[UPI]

The tip needs to be tinned to allow a good thermal connection with the joint being desoldered. W/o tinning, the joint does not melt well and you also lose vacuum because you have more open areas where the solder does not mesh with the tip.

See the attached picture of a good Hakko tip that is tinned.

[nctnico]

It almost certainly takes Hakko genuine tips but I'm not familiar with desoldering tools so I don't know which tips those would be.

That would be interesting. I have a Ayoue SMD tweezer station but the tips are unusable. The problem is that navigating the Hakko website is just as easy as trying to find a fallen contact lense in the dark.

[Telstar]

Thanks for the replies. Do you have some alternative suggestions?

[UPI]

We use 2 of the Hakko 703B units with the 807 hand piece. They are really hard to beat because parts are readily available, tips are excellent with a good selection, they are dependable and they are relatively easy to clean.

We tried a Pace unit and didn't like it. I can't remember exactly why but it was a clumsy design.

[Telstar]

I have found an used Ersa, and somewhere else got recommendation for Hakko 808 (but it's a bit out of budget).

[Telstar]

The model i found is an old VAC 6500, it seems not powerful enough for double-sides PCBs, for which I could get the help of my other iron, or I should go for a Hakko. Several models, which all seem good, but hard to find used in europe, and only the 808 I may afford new (with a little stretch to the budget).