When used correctly, it works very well.
I have read many negative reviews, that seem to indicate user error: If your iron tips get pitted or chip from heat, it most often indicates that it's been left plugged in and heated for long periods of time. If you want them to last for many years, then I suggest use it for no more than about 10 minutes at a time before unplugging it to go do something else. Don't leave it heated in-between uses or when you go do another task.
If you use one of these and you get a lot of solder splatter on your pc boards, then you are likely not squeezing and holding the bulb BEFORE heating the solder that is to be removed.
If yours gets clogged, then you are not expelling the solder from it after each removal.
I have had none of those issues. It works perfectly, still looks new and not discolored after using to salvage over 6 rotary encoders, 8 stepper motors and 9 small transistors. The last time I had one of these, was when I purchased from a Radio Shack store while in college in 1991, and it lasted over 15 years with the original tip, before being lost in a move. I hope this one lasts as long or longer, and with proper usage and care, I have no reason to believe that it wouldn't.
As for convenience and comparison to other desoldering tools: While I was in college, I could salvage or remove nearly twice as many components as the majority of my classes who used the more common removal tools that required using a second hand to hold a soldering iron, and even the instructor switch to using this type of desoldering tool when he saw how quick and easily it worked.
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Overall a Good-to-Great Iron, Broke @ 14 Months of Use.
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2017
I have been using this iron heavily over the past year and 2 months. It finally broke today after hundreds of hours of use. Basically what happened is over time the shaft that pulls out for extension bent from repeat use. That was fine until the bend was too much for the main housing when trying to extend said bent shaft I ended up with the desoldering iron in 2 pieces with the white insulation and 2 wires showing that all pulled out when I tried to extend the shaft (both screws removed).Overall, this has been one of the better desoldering irons I have owned, but due to the dramatic fashion in which it broke I can't recommend this with confidence. I'd say for the price and the number of hours using the tool, it is still a worthy contender in this limited market (desoldering tools). You'd think by now we'd have more options that a soldering iron + suction bulb or a soldering iron + vacuum module. Even SuperWick + MG Flux Paste won't take off some components due to the type of solder used and/or age. I had to use ChipQuik just to save a DIY project where I put a 10 pin header connection incorrectly and needed to remove my own solder job.... This is what eventually broke this desoldering iron.Luckily, when it did break I had it off and cooled, so there was no injury or damage to other items.Dear ECG: Maybe put a tension relief catch in the next revision or make the main shaft that has the removable tip on it a stronger metal that won't bend over time.You can see where I have used this iron many times for many projects that are no and/or coming to my website, site address is just: HallmanLabs.com Check it out if you are bored and want to see someone building a home in the DIY community.
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2017
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 22, 2021
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2018
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 27, 2017
Overall, this has been one of the better desoldering irons I have owned, but due to the dramatic fashion in which it broke I can't recommend this with confidence. I'd say for the price and the number of hours using the tool, it is still a worthy contender in this limited market (desoldering tools). You'd think by now we'd have more options that a soldering iron + suction bulb or a soldering iron + vacuum module. Even SuperWick + MG Flux Paste won't take off some components due to the type of solder used and/or age. I had to use ChipQuik just to save a DIY project where I put a 10 pin header connection incorrectly and needed to remove my own solder job.... This is what eventually broke this desoldering iron.
Luckily, when it did break I had it off and cooled, so there was no injury or damage to other items.
Dear ECG: Maybe put a tension relief catch in the next revision or make the main shaft that has the removable tip on it a stronger metal that won't bend over time.
You can see where I have used this iron many times for many projects that are no and/or coming to my website, site address is just: HallmanLabs.com Check it out if you are bored and want to see someone building a home in the DIY community.
Overall a Good-to-Great Iron, Broke @ 14 Months of Use.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 27, 2017
I have been using this iron heavily over the past year and 2 months. It finally broke today after hundreds of hours of use. Basically what happened is over time the shaft that pulls out for extension bent from repeat use. That was fine until the bend was too much for the main housing when trying to extend said bent shaft I ended up with the desoldering iron in 2 pieces with the white insulation and 2 wires showing that all pulled out when I tried to extend the shaft (both screws removed).Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 27, 2017
Overall, this has been one of the better desoldering irons I have owned, but due to the dramatic fashion in which it broke I can't recommend this with confidence. I'd say for the price and the number of hours using the tool, it is still a worthy contender in this limited market (desoldering tools). You'd think by now we'd have more options that a soldering iron + suction bulb or a soldering iron + vacuum module. Even SuperWick + MG Flux Paste won't take off some components due to the type of solder used and/or age. I had to use ChipQuik just to save a DIY project where I put a 10 pin header connection incorrectly and needed to remove my own solder job.... This is what eventually broke this desoldering iron.
Luckily, when it did break I had it off and cooled, so there was no injury or damage to other items.
Dear ECG: Maybe put a tension relief catch in the next revision or make the main shaft that has the removable tip on it a stronger metal that won't bend over time.
You can see where I have used this iron many times for many projects that are no and/or coming to my website, site address is just: HallmanLabs.com Check it out if you are bored and want to see someone building a home in the DIY community.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 27, 2022
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 16, 2022
