Chuckt tiped us to the BlackJack SolderWerks Hot Air System in a followup to our Aoyue 852 hot air station tool post:
This is a cheaper smd hotair / re-work station in the United States. Several people on the forums say it works. Don’t buy too many of them because I want to get it at the same price!
Thanks Chuckt! Via the tips line.
I picked this same unit up last week. It works great for SMT parts. I was able to remove and replace the smallest bits on a old optical mouse with easy. The solder wand is OK but not as nice as I would have liked. It really should come with more tips like chisel tips. The sharp tip is not really to useful. But it does use the same tips as my other iron so that’s a plus. The wand stand and solder spool holder are CHEAP! but I guess they work.
Is the arm useful? I noticed an Aoyue model with that. I often feel like I need some way to hold the tool in place while I use both hands with the baord.
@Ian: Yes! the arm frees your hands to work with the board and chips. It holds the heat wand pointed up or down and and varying angles. It’s a must have for such work.