deskthority

I would like to get a high quality desoldering tool within the UK/EU (because of the plug). I'm willing to pay around £100-150 if not a little more.

I was eyeing up a Hakko FR-300 for 235EUR from batterfly.com, but I'm not convinced it's the best tool for the money. Does anyone have any suggestions for tools that may be better?

I would have loved to get a used Pace unit or something along those lines, but while those are very readily available in the US they're not so readily available in the UK/EU.

I'd look at getting an Aoyue station, I just bought one today with gun and iron for around $160.

There's a lot more choice over here in America. And cheaper too. Expect to pay well over the odds for it in Britain.

I tried my brother's new Hakko FX888D for a Soarer Converter installation in an NMB space invader board the other day, and it's a super iron. I'm unused to a gauge of any sort, let alone something so quick to heat up and steady once it's there. Classy wee station overall, with a built in place for cleaning wire as well as reservoir wetted sponge. Let me get the job done lickety split.

I want one for myself, now. But it's not just the plug that's wrong: the Hakko is 110 volts only. You really need a 240 volt model in Britain.

Yeah, that's my issue Mu. As I said, if I were in the US I would be swimming in used Pace desoldering stations.

I've got the 888D myself, but it cost me an absolute tonne from Dancap (the only UK Hakko reseller). I didn't know about batterfly.com when I bought it..

Aoyue.. I don't know.. I can't say I've heard anything bad about them, but I'm always a bit careful of those Chinese clone-looking stations after my cheap-o 936 clone packed in on me.

Aoyue has a pretty good reputation from what I've seen. They are Hakko clones so Hakko parts work with them. I suppose I'll see in a couple of days if it lives up to my expectations.