![Saike 852D+ Hot Air Gun & Digital Soldering Iron 2 in 1 System 110V]({"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QeJyvebfL._AC_SY355_.jpg":[355,355],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QeJyvebfL._AC_SY450_.jpg":[450,450],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QeJyvebfL._AC_.jpg":[500,500],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QeJyvebfL._AC_SX466_.jpg":[466,466],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QeJyvebfL._AC_SX425_.jpg":[425,425]})
Pros: Both the iron and the hot air gun in one; digital temperature control for both, and analog airflow control; comes with various air gun tips and a fine-sized conical iron tip for detailed work; cools the air gun when put in the holder.
Cons: Only displays Celsius; should replace the iron tip with a chisel tip for anything bigger than SMD; iron tip came bent; faint buzzing sound when plugged in, even when switched off; limited number of positions for the air gun holder; badly-translated manual.
This station is my second soldering iron station (first was the Sparkfun 50W soldering station, $40) and my second hot air gun (first was the Sparkfun Heaterizer XL-3000, $10). I mostly got it because I wanted a better hot air gun with temperature control (which the Heaterizer lacked). The extra soldering iron was nice, though, and I used it once together with my SF soldering iron to desolder an SMD capacitor - MUCH faster than using the heat gun, and also much faster than using one iron alone. I am using it with lead-free solder at 360-400°C (middle-high section of dial; it goes to 500°C) with no problems. The dual 7-segement LED temperature displays are very nice, and there are also LEDs that blink when the target temperature is reached. The power to the air gun and to the iron are controlled by separate rocker switches, and the enclosure is rugged metal. I think that there are reed switches in the handle of the air gun, so that the heat coils will turn off and the fan will cool it for safety when placed in its holder; even if the power switch for the air gun is off, the station will run the fan to cool it. I didn't notice any excessive heat through the rubber grip on the iron, or through the hard plastic handle of the air gun.
However, the Saike is bulkier than the Sparkfun soldering station, demanding roughly twice the depth, height and width. In addition, it makes a soft 60Hz buzzing noise when plugged in, so I leave it unplugged until I need it. Also, unlike the Sparkfun soldering station, which comes with a holder with a brass sponge, the iron holder included with the Saike only has a VERY thin sponge to clean the tip. And while we're talking about the tip, since the tip was bent in shipping, I used the fine tip that came with the Sparkfun iron on it (I was using a medium chisel tip on the Sparkfun iron anyway).
It looks like there are only two positions for the air gun holder; at an angle, as in the picture, or horizontal. In both of these positions, the handle extends in front of the control panel by a few inches.
Overall, though, this station is an excellent upgrade for a hobbyist, given the price and the digital temperature control. It seems that Hakko-compatible tips will also work with this iron, so you needn't worry about finding replacements. If you are using this as your primary iron, you will probably want a chisel tip (like the Hakko T18-D16) to go with it, which will transfer heat better to larger pads, but the fine tip is great for more detailed work.
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