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Tools on a $2500 Budget

N

_Nicco_

New member
I'm looking to get started in logic board repair and I have set a $2500 budget for myself.

It seems like an ultrasonic cleaner is one of the most valuable tools to have so that will set me back about $912 with a basket and fluid.
Have any of you had trouble with buying cloned gear sold as genuine on Ebay? I found a couple good deals on an open box FM 203 on Ebay and a used FR-810B on Amazon but I don't know how to tell if they're genuine or clones.
Is a microscope essential for starting out? If it is, I'm planning on getting the Amscope SM-4BZ-80S which is a binocular stereo with 3.5-90x zoom.

In the following list, which would be the suggested purchases with the $2500 budget?

• Hakko FM-203 $580 with tax and tip or $400 on Ebay (Don't know how to verify if genuine or not)
• Hakko FR-810b $860 with a tip or $680 used on amazon (Don't know how to verify if genuine or not)
• Crest CP500HT $912 with basket and fluid
• Amscope SM-4BZ-80S $475

I can afford 3/4 with my budget or I could get all of them with the gamble of not getting genuine Hakko. Any suggestions on how to proceed? I'll be purchasing a fume extractor soon after making a few bucks.
 
T

techrepair

Member
hi,
yes microscope is essential for starting out .
✖ TOOLS USED:
● Flux: http://bit.ly/2cYIx7t
● Solder paste: http://bit.ly/2epK1JE
● Soldering Iron: http://amzn.to/2cKkMyO
● Preferred tip: http://amzn.to/2d5MgPn
● Micro Soldering Pencil: http://amzn.to/2d5MWUP
● Micro soldering tip: http://amzn.to/2eYrF4a
● Hot Air station: http://amzn.to/2d5M7Lw
● Hot Air EXPENSIVE: http://amzn.to/2cYI6tY
● Tweezers: http://amzn.to/2d5NBpi
● Multimeter: http://amzn.to/2cYJY5T
● Multimeter Probes: http://amzn.to/2cKkvMh
● Fume Extractor: http://amzn.to/2d5MGoD
● Microscope: http://amzn.to/2cYIMjg
● Microscope LED light: http://amzn.to/2d5Mh5T
● Solder: http://amzn.to/2cKkxUp
● Ultrasonic Cleaner: http://amzn.to/2cYJqgk
● Branson EC cleaning fluid: http://amzn.to/2cKlBrp
● Jumper wire THIN: http://amzn.to/2eqF5T7
● Jumper wire THICK: http://amzn.to/2eAJ5AU
Bench PSU: Agilent 6542
 
N

_Nicco_

New member
Right now I'm deciding between a Used weller wha900 and a hakko FM203 or Just the FM203 and hold off to buy the FR810.
The WHA900 is $417 for a demo unit so not used in a shop environment at all. Should I wait to buy the FR810 or is hot air essential for most logic board repairs?
 
G.Beard

G.Beard

New member
_Nicco_ said:
Right now I'm deciding between a Used weller wha900 and a hakko FM203 or Just the FM203 and hold off to buy the FR810.
The WHA900 is $417 for a demo unit so not used in a shop environment at all. Should I wait to buy the FR810 or is hot air essential for most logic board repairs?
Click to expand...

You need hot air if you want to do a nice job. I mean, OK so you can get by with an iron as I'm sure most have at some point but if you got the cash to get hot air.... Get hot air.
Get hot air before the cleaner if you have to..... That's my take on it anyway. My cheap hot air did the work that paid for the expensive cleaner.
 
Last edited:
N

_Nicco_

New member
knightman said:
i'm on the same boat, just a smaller budget maybe..

so far what i am going to be buying is:

- Hot Air station: http://amzn.to/2d5M7Lw
Click to expand...

If you're looking to purchase the WHA 900, you can get it on ebay from this seller for $600.
I was also able to contact a local distributor and they were able to get me a used demo unit for $390. To find a local distributor, you could probably just email weller and they'll put you in touch with someone local.


EDIT:
If I hold out on buying an ultrasonic, I was thinking about buying the Crest CP1100HT to be able to clean PC motherboards and possibly game consoles. I haven't measured the size of those logic boards but does anyone know if the CP1100HT would be large enough?
 
Last edited:
larossmann

larossmann

Administrator
Staff member
_Nicco_ said:
Right now I'm deciding between a Used weller wha900 and a hakko FM203 or Just the FM203 and hold off to buy the FR810.
The WHA900 is $417 for a demo unit so not used in a shop environment at all. Should I wait to buy the FR810 or is hot air essential for most logic board repairs?
Click to expand...

There's nothing you can do with the FR-810 that you can't do with the WHA900. Buy whichever is cheaper.
 
P

phist1987

New member
:( im just using magnifying glass all this while because company dont want to give budget...so lucky still can repair plenty of board using it...
 
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