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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Ahlitah on Wed, 21 August 2013, 17:33:27

Title: Cheap Soldering Station $45.70 (Kada-936d)
Post by: Ahlitah on Wed, 21 August 2013, 17:33:27
http://dx.com/p/kada-936d-digital-soldering-station-with-english-manual-60w-24v-ac-1874?utm_source=dx&utm_medium=edm&utm_campaign=20130821sheerdiypleasure

don't know how good it is, but its a cheap way to get some soldering done!

Title: Re: Cheap Soldering Station $45.70 (Kada-936d)
Post by: MTManiac on Wed, 21 August 2013, 17:45:10
looks like a cheap setup, but I'm wary about DX
it sounds like the thermocouple is deep inside the unit and not at the end of the wand near the tip, so you won' see accurate temperature readouts when you get thermal loss
probably a very good setup if you don't need super accurate temperature  :thumb:
Title: Re: Cheap Soldering Station $45.70 (Kada-936d)
Post by: Justblair on Wed, 21 August 2013, 18:01:13
I use a Kada soldering station.  I have had it for around 5 years now. 

I reviewed it on my website when I first got it...

http://www.justblair.co.uk/the-kada-852-smt-solderstation.html (http://www.justblair.co.uk/the-kada-852-smt-solderstation.html)

I am guessing that you will find similar quality levels on the one you are looking at. It is definitely not a machine you would want to use in a busy production environment, but as a hobby tool it is certainly useful.  In 5 years I have had to replace a couple of elements which if I remember are solder in jobs.  I of course have been through a couple of tips in that time as well.
Title: Re: Cheap Soldering Station $45.70 (Kada-936d)
Post by: VesperSAINT on Wed, 21 August 2013, 22:45:44
This looks like the Tekpower 936D that I had borrowed from my which died the 3rd time I turned it on :)) It worked perfectly when it was working but like I said before... it died :P

http://www.amazon.com/Tekpower-Digital-Soldering-Station-TP936D/dp/B000QFN1DC
Title: Re: Cheap Soldering Station $45.70 (Kada-936d)
Post by: cassist on Thu, 22 August 2013, 13:54:48
For the same price, I'd recommend the Aoyue 936. A Hakko clone, but solidly built, takes Hakko tips, and the cable to the pencil is nice and flexible.
Title: Re: Cheap Soldering Station $45.70 (Kada-936d)
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 22 August 2013, 15:57:20
I just got an edsyn loner for $60. The internals are very impressive and appear to be quite modular and very much designed for repairability. I'd highly recommend it for the price.