Aoyue 2703A+ SMD Professional Repair & Rework Station With Hot Air, Soldering Iron and a Desoldering Tool

I only give 5 or 1 star reviews as those are usually the only ones anybody reads. (Why would I care if somebody "sorta likes" or "sorta hates" something?) Anyway, This is a good system. It's definitely worth what you pay for it considering a comparable Pace station is $1000+. I have had mine for a year and have put it through its paces. So here's the bullets:I wish it could read in degrees F sometimes but it can't.The sponge that it comes with is only 1/8" thick and dries out way too fast. Needs to be about 1/2" thick sooo badly.The replacement tips are ~$20 and not all are available on Amazon. (Note to self: don't leave it turned on unless you program the AutoSleep first. It's not preset. Burned up the WQ-B tip the first month.) (Additional note: The default temp is 350C which is too high for lead solder whch should be ~320C.)The desoldering gun is lacking. The design is such that the extractor tip tubes extend into the collection chamber. As a result they don't conduct heat all the way through the tube and the tubes get clogged constantly during heavy use. One solution would be to use a much higher temp but then you risk damage to the PCB. The desoldering tip cleaning tool is made of steel which is fine but it doesn't conduct heat enough to melt through a clog. I made myself one out of 20AWG solid copper wire and of course the copper is more flimsy but it clears clogs better.Calibration requires you to have your own temperature measurement device. They could have easily added a thermocouple somewhere on the unit and a simple subroutine in the microcontroller for an autocalibration would have been sooooo easy. And trust me you want to calibrate it. I have a 2BC chisel tip and a LB conical tip and set at the same temp they are drastically different in temp (even considering the obvious heat conductivity of the two tips; but let's face it, isn't 350C supposed to be 350C? The LB runs about 280C at 350C setting which is beyond the +/-50C calibration correction setting capability.).The temp of the air nozzle is subjective based on the distance from the workpiece and the airflow. This is understandable but some "tips" or "suggestions" for these settings would be nice in the manual especially since there is no built in temperature measurement device. (Come one! Thermocouples are cheap - especially in China.)The SMD profile programming is easy but if you're going to do very much SMD work get the unit they make that has the air gun mounting arm contraption. Holding the airgun steady for a 3 minute profile is fine for one or two SMDs but when your project has 30+ SMDs to solder it gets old REAL FAST.I guess the main drawback to this unit is that it has no thermocouple to read actual tip temperatures or heat gun temps. Whether they incorporate an autocalibration feature or not is just a wish but being able to read your actual tip or air temp is crucial and is NOT part of this unit.

It could be bad luck. I see lots of good reviews, but I have not been able to use this more than 2 or 3 hours in the nearly 3 years I have owned it. It worked fine on the first day after unpacking it, and I was very happy to have this fine piece of equipment. I had waited years to purchase one of these, and had great expectations. Shortly afterword, I became very busy at my real job, and was unable to have the time to use it for the big project I had planned. As things calmed down at work, I prepared to use the soldering iron, and it would not heat up. The display just said "plug". Several frustrating days later, after trying unplugging the unit from the wall, checking the contacts, doing internet search, I ordered a new tip, and that did the trick. a week or 2 later, it again would not heat up, and just said error. I ordered a complete handle assembly, and again it worked. I also spent a boatload of money buying each of the other types of tips since I was so happy it was working again. Then, again, no heat and only error. Again, none of the tips worked, and a 3rd handle was ordered, along with a new de-soldering assembly as that also had stopped working/heating. After less than one hour use. All to no avail. Now after many hundreds of dollars, the only thing that works is the heat gun. Update 06/10/16, contacted supplier. They answered within a few hours, REAL PEOPLE INSTEAD OF MACHINES, and will be sending me replacement boards about $25.00 each. It should only need one, but I will keep the other as a spare. Nice to have that service. I will upgrade stars, and possibly again if parts take care of the problem. Stay tuned....

I would like to give the 4.5 stars but I am unable to...Anyway I just received this product today and have tested most of the features. It may be a bit too early to give a excellent review but I wanted to say what I like and don't out of the box.Over all this system is exactly what I needed. I have already found my soldering skills have gone way up (at least I think they did :) ). The main unit is constructed with a solid aluminum case and easy to use controls. It allows you to easily turn on one or all of the devices with a simple press of the corresponding button and the master power switch is a great addition to quickly turn off the system. One thing to note is the heat gun does have a cool down ability so if you use the main power instead of the heat gun power button, you will loose the cool down function. In my opinion this is fine. The handle on the top is great for moving the unit which being in a apartment is very useful.Some people have cautioned you must remove the red coated screw on the bottom. While, yes, you do have to remove it. When the product arrived there are 2 stickers on the device, one on top and one covering the power cable that warn you to do exactly that. Maybe this is a new addition but if you miss those warnings you kinda deserve a broken unit, just saying.Anyway a more in depth of the individual componentsSoldering iron:The soldering iron feels good in the hand. They have a padded area towards the top of the handle which helps get a good grip on the device. The included iron has a nice fine tip which being someone who solders breadboard components a lot will be very useful. One thing I immediately was disappointed about was that only one tip is included. These tips are the heating element/thermometer and soldering tip combo. I was expecting to get at least 3-5 variety tips with a 250+ station but no big deal. Another thing to add about the tips are they appear to be hard to find. Aoyue's site has a selection of tips but all are for units where the heating element is separate from the tip. From searching I could only find a few sites that appear to be out of country. If Aoyue has any suggestions as to where to find some in the US I would really like to hear.If it helps anyone, the tip included is a lf-2b tip. Im not sure if that's a universal design or if it is an Aoyue design.The fume extractor is also excellent. It is removable but I recommend you leave it on. After just 4 solder joints on a PCB I checked the filter and there was a good about of white substance on there. This is the first fume extractor I have used so I was shocked at what is being released. Made me wonder how much of that stuff I inhaled before getting this!The stand is made from solid steal and holds up very nicely, the iron feels like it should be able to fit more snuggly into the holster but I assure you it is not going anywhere when you place it in. The stand also includes a good sized solder spool which is nice to have but there is no way of securing the spool down so it can easily fall off. It also includes two tip cleaning devices; A sponge with holder and brass mesh with cup. Both can be attached to the stand with either being mounted below the iron and another on the side of the stand. Lastly it includes a tip holder which brings me back to why only one tip?Heat gun:The heat gun is exactly what I expected. The handle is made with a strong plastic and from what I have heard and seen it is fire retardant which some cheaper competitors do not think about adding. It includes 3 tips, one fine point, a larger circular and a square one for SMD. Along with that they include an extra heating element (but again why only one soldering tip!) which I hope does not burn out quickly but we will see. They claim to have air spreader which I would agree does what it says, the heat does appear to be very equally distributed. The mount for the heat gun is mounted on the main unit. When I received the unit this was upside down but two screws let you fix that in no time. Included in the mount is a button which tells the device the gun is in the holster and allows the main unit to start a sleep timer to turn it off after a user set time. I wish this feature was included in the solder stand and the desoldering gun but I don't intend to leave any of them on after using them (However all the devices have a sleep timer that can be set, however it will count down once you turn it on and now after it has been placed in its holster.)One issue I have with the gun is there does not appear to have any way to disconnect it from the unit. No big issue jut If I know im not going to use it why should I need it attached.Another thing to note. The air inlet is the same used by the fume extractor and the desoldering gun. When you want to use the heat gun they include a cap to place on the inlet that allows more flow than the other caps.Desoldering gun:I am really impressed with this one, the gun is made out of really good plastic composite. It does have a cheep look to it but once you feel it you know its a good design. The layout of it is pretty universal. From the tip you have a standard tip that fits most through hole components, this is followed by the enclosed (but removable) heating element followed by the solder containment spring, after that is a sponge to capture everything the spring did no.Cleaning is very easy, simply pull down on the release switch and pull the containment unit out. They include a tube of petroleum jelly which you apply to the spring to keep the solder from sticking or corroding the spring. The spring is easily cleaned by simply pulling the spring apart and rolling it in your fingers. Finally is the sponge which does require to dampen at each use (should stay damp for a good half hour or so of use).The device does have a indicator which shows you if the unit is clogged or needs to be cleaned. This is activated with the vacuum so you can not tell while it is just idle.The product does include 6 extra sponges, an extra spring collector, 2 additional tips, one larger tip and one smaller tip, an extra gasket which goes between the tip and the spring, a poking tool and a drill bit and handheld tool to clean the tips.One thing I want to note. The desoldering gun and the fume extractor use the same vacuum port. While it does include separate caps you still have to unscrew one to use the other. No big issue as it takes about a half turn to remove and fasten the unit. I should also be noted that the output for the fume extractor and desoldering gun is the heating gun. It is not heated but that's where the air is directed.Some odds and ends:The device does include a SMD suction tool which helps to place SMD chips. It has 3 different size suction cups. One thing with the device is it does feel a bit cheep and the button is a bit tough to press. It also has a alignment tool which looks like a football goal. It does seem that it allows SMD's to be moved delicately but it is very cheep (plastic handle and two wires shaped in a U).Over all I am happy with this. I would have liked to get more for the near $300 I paid for it but I am sure that that money was well spent and it will last for all the hobby work ahead.A brief overview:+Very sold design of the main unit and the three attachments+Good solder stand made from good materials and anti slip feet+Includes brass and sponge tip cleaner+Easy to use controls+Sleep and cool down functionally+Holsters for heat gun and desoldering are mounted on the main unit+Portable (to some extent)+Two extra carbon filters for air input (fume extractor and desoldering connect to it too)-One solder tip included. I really wanted to see more and the main reason I gave 4 stars vs 5-Have to switch air inputs for desoldering or fume extractor. I would have liked two ports and a manual switch but taking the connectors on and off is not hard so this is not a big negative-+Lots of spare parts. While this is good I don't know what to do with them. I currently have them in the box it arrived in. I would have liked to see some kind of tool box or bag to hold it all.-Solder spool is a bit cheep and has no way to lock it down-The manual found [...] shows the device to come with 6 carbon filters (vs 3) and 6 heat gun attachments (vs 3) Im unsure if this is an older manual or what but more parts is always better-A slight design change I would make is the analog flow sensor has a metal ball inside it. When the air shuts off it falls down to the bottom making a good thud sound. I would have liked there to be a cushion at the bottom so each time you disengage the desoldering gun you don't get the thud sound. (just being picky)While I do have a handful of negative aspects most are just personal opinion. I am very pleased with this and it is exactly what I wanted. From my use so far I can say it does a professional job with all your soldering needs. If you are thinking of buying something to last I would recommend this.Again if an Aoyue representative would like to comment on where to get replacement tips (or a variety pack if possible) in the US please comment. I am sure I will not need a replacement for a few years but it is always reassuring to have a place you know will have them.To end, great product. I would give it a 4.5 if I could but Ill leave it at 4 just because I expected additional tips that appear to be offered with some lower end Aoyue models and the fact the manual I found online shows more parts that what was received (even though I received everything that the manual with my unit said I should receive).Ill update after I get more use. I plan to order my own custom PCB within a few months with some through hole and surface mount components so Ill let you all know how it went.