My $40 hot air station was a total game changer for phone repairs

I used to struggle with those tiny phone connectors using just a soldering iron. About six months ago I bought a basic 862D hot air station for around $40. It lets me remove and replace those small BGA chips without cooking the whole board. I fixed three iPhone charging ports last week that I would have messed up before. What other tools under $100 have made a big difference for you guys?

3 comments

3 Comments

laura_allen12d agoMost Upvoted

Got a cheap USB microscope that plugs right into my laptop. It cost maybe sixty bucks. That thing saved me from guessing on solder bridges and trace damage. I can actually see what I'm doing now instead of just hoping it looks right. Makes a huge difference for checking your own work before you power something on.

alex30712d ago

That's a solid use for one of those scopes. What magnification are you usually running at for checking solder joints? I've found the sweet spot changes a lot depending on the board and component size.

scott.jana12d ago

My old landlord tried to charge me for "damage" to a stove burner. Pulled out my phone, zoomed in, and showed him it was just baked on grease from the last tenant. He shut up real fast.