[Elecraft] Possible REALLY GOOD BUY on T/C Soldering Stn

[G. Beat]

I have a couple of additional comments on the Circuit Specialists Haako-clone offering.

1.  This offering has been noticed by US authorized Haako dealers.  I can't repeat what they side here.  This dealer believes that the Far East mfg. is second sourcing this product to CSI.

2.  The iron connector to the base apparently is a bit different.  I would be interested in hearing from Bill Tippett, Tom Hammond or an Elecraft list member.

3. Dollar versus foreign currencies.  I have noticed over the last 6 weeks price changes for the Haako.  At Fry's / Outpost.com -- the Haako 936-9 (non-ESD/white unit) and 936-12 (ESD/black unit) use to be the "best buy" -- but I have noticed price changes -- up and down.  The Haako desoldering gun is $ 159 (price decrease), but the replacement Haako 907 irons OR replacement heaters are now both $ 45 (this is a price increase).  
Shop carefully as it appears the US Dollar's fall is causing changes in foreign mfg. (US import) pricing.  Of course "end-of-year holidays" is usually the best time to pick-up 

4.  As Tom, N0SS has mentioned before -- soldering iron tip availability and prices can be difficult at times.  I have noticed this problem with all mfg. over past 5 months.  Make a list of the tips that you will need for you kit building -- their are sales on tips that occur (such as Wassco's half-price tip sale -- 11 months ago).

Have fun kit building during holidays and winter months !

Greg
w9gb

> Hi Folks:
> 
> Bill Tippett, W4ZV writes regarding the Circuit Specialists soldering 
> station I recently wrote about:
>
> >Hi Tom,
> >
> >N0SS wrote:
> >>T/C soldering station (analog)...
>
> ><http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307>http://www.circui 
> tspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307
>
>
> >  at $34.95, this looks virtually identical to the Hakko 936-12 T/C
> >  soldering station. The one thing I have noted is that this device
> >  draws only 40W of power, implying that it probably offers a 40W
> >  heater, rather than the 60W heater available on the Hakko 936-x
> >  <http://www.kiesub.com/hakko936.htm>http://www.kiesub.com/hakko936.htm 
> for >$82.
>
>I bought this unit in February this year to build my K2 and a
>roofing filter kit (using SMD caps) for my Orion.
>
>The invoice I got from Circuit Specialists describes this unit as:
>
>CSI-STATION1    $34.95
>CSI936 SOLDER STATION/CERAMIC
>HEAT ELEMENT & STAND
>
>Looks like you nailed the source of this product since "936"
>appears in its description.  I've been very pleased with this unit
>in building my K2, filter kit and KD1JV's AT Sprint 2 (mostly SMD).
>A spare heating element was also included with it.  If of any
>identification help, all tips' model #'s are all preceded by the
>word "AOYUE".
>
>73,  Bill  W4ZV