Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Brownie on September 05, 2024, 01:09:57 pm
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Do any of you have experience with an X-Tronic 4000 series Hot air Re-working soldering station? There's a used one available locally on FB Marketplace. I wonder how useful or suitable it would be. "Hot air re-working"?
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Hot air rework stations are meant for SMD. It's a completely different approach to soldering than what we're used to in the amp building world.
That having been said, there are uses in amp building and repair. I use mine to remove adhesive, targeted heat shrinking (more convenient than a big heat gun), heat testing specific components, drying out and dewaxing conductive fiberboard, preheating PCB before desoldering through hole larger components like pots, and preheating chassis before making a ground connection.
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Hi Brownie,
I own a Pace MBT station, very useful for Pedal work/PCB plated thru holes and SMD etc.
I do not own a Hot Air Attachment (Pace Thermojet, priced from A$600++ to approx $1500) Cant justify $$
I love the Pace PS90 Sensatemp (60W) irons esp for Turret work.
I would say I haven't really needed a Hot Air Gun but the Pace Solder Sucker is very useful.
I can't imagine where you would use a Hot Air Gun for Tube amp work :dontknow:
One more consideration, unless you have mastered Hot Air gun with SMD pcbs, you can easily "blow" components off when trying to solder them. My Thoughts :laugh:
Kind regards
Mirek
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As mentioned, hot air is for surface mount components.
Best example to watch it being used is northridgefix on YouTube.