Speaking of desoldering, I have bench-news regarding soldering.
A while ago I acquired a JBC HD-2B soldering station with T470A handle, some tips and original JBC stand for a half-decent price (270€) -given the corona-driven somewhat higher price level.
The station was delivered last week and today I had the time to modify it to accept C470 cartridges (JBC-tips, 48V) as well as C245 cartridges (24V). Nice thing is that the T470 handle accepts both types of cartridges.
After a little bodging and adding a 2pole DPDT switch I now have a manually switchable HD-2B soldering station I can use all types of C470 and C245 cartridges for soldering jobs demanding high and higher power/heat*.
New topic: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/modification-of-the-jbc-hd-2b-soldering-station-to-work-with-24v-and-48v-tips/
HD-2B heating a C245 cartridge:
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HD-2B heating a C470 cartridge:
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I put the switch on the back right above the power inlet:
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The modification I made:
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edit: There's a third connection involved with the 12V supply, that i didn't show: It might be a NTC sharing one connection with the 12V supply. Didn't modify.
edit²: *-compared to my T12 KSGER OLED-soldering stations with self-assembled alternative power supply.
The T12s have become my daily driver and have pushed out my Wellers completely.
I'm using a Weller WS81 and have been thinking about a TS12 or JBC CD-2BQF.
Is it just a reflex of an TAE addict, or are there substancial differences in performance?
Let's say, a Weller Magnastat kind of very old shool soldering system is 20 points on a scale and the WS81 is 100. What would a TS12 score, what a JBC?
In my case it's clear that there's a strong reflex of a TE Addict involved.
I don't have a Weller WS 81, I used WECP-20 with LR21 handpiece before.
Both have a classic approach of solder tips and heater being separate and thus not thermally connected ideally.
This limits thermal efficiency being inferior to Hakko T12 (or clone T12) tips or JBC tips (eg. C210, C245, C470..) that incorporate the heater into the tip ("cartridge") near to the soldering tip itself.
If you replace a Weller WS 81 with a JBC CD-2BQF I'd expect the JBC superior in thermal performance, because of
1. the sheer electrical power ratings:
Weller WS 81: 80W iron/95W station
JBC CD-2BQF: ??W iron/120W station
2. the better thermal performance of the JBC tip as I mentioned before.
I wouldn't expect the T12 soldering stations being clearly superior to the WS 81 - the T12 clones deliver 70W max. into the tip. One could assume that the integrated heater compensates some thermal performance in comparison to the 80W with lower thermal efficiency of the WS 81.
What I can clearly state is the better thermal performance of my T12 clones over the Weller WECP-20 with 50W max soldering iron power.
I like the T12 and my JBC HD-2B for enabling me soldering at lower temperatures in general. That's the benefit I like most.
To sum it up: With the better thermal performance I am able solder lead-free at the same or even slightly lower temperatures than I was used to using leaded solder with the WECP-20/LR21.
The WS 81 is a nice station. Personally I wouldn't have replaced it with a T12 station if I have had one.
Just my 2 cents.