new soldering station

**dale** · 03-31-2011, 10:27 PM

after teaching my self to solder a little I bought my self a new Black jack BK2000 digital station. Looks real nice, small every thing is accounted for in the manual but I have one extra thing it has a white handle looks like from an old time sucker and it has 4 wires coming out the top it reminds me of a wire file for cleaning small ports on gas powered remote cars. Does any one know this is and what is it used for in soldering ??

Dale

**gmbartold** · 03-31-2011, 10:47 PM

Hi Dale: I recently purchased a CSI-1A soldering station and it comes with a replaceable ceramic heating element for free. I read that Your model also comes with a spare heating element. Mine is a has two long wires and two shorter wires.

Gary

**dale** · 04-01-2011, 09:20 AM

That must be what it is. Thanks for seding some light on it for me

**dale** · 04-01-2011, 09:47 AM

with using the Black jack BK2000 digital station what is a good temp for soldering ren 24SS boards ?

**taybrynn** · 04-01-2011, 10:53 AM

I got the 3000 combo and its been fantastic. Heats up in like 15 seconds.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/10072

**mlkren** · 04-01-2011, 12:24 PM

I am looking to get a new soldering station. Should I go analog or digital? Any feedback with what you are using would be greatly appreciated.

**Skunberg** · 04-01-2011, 02:07 PM

If you see surface mount in your future you may want to look at the bk5000 or other clones.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9752

**mschell** · 04-01-2011, 10:12 PM

I picked up a BK5000 just last week and while I haven't done any surface mount yet, I did use the soldering iron to build my Sparkfun reflow toaster oven board. It was quite nice to be able to adjust the temps of the iron. Decent price of just under $100 before shipping for both a great iron and hot air for surface mount.

As for analog/digital, I just don't see the need for the digital readout. The analog knob works for close enough temps. I'm betting that the control circuit isn't that much different. Besides, how do you know what that 2 degree difference mean between 348 and 350?

**taybrynn** · 04-02-2011, 02:24 AM

I don't think analog or digital matters much. Mine is nice with the digital and has been easy to adjust up and down and see.

When you hit plus or minus buttons is show the target temp, then it flips back to actual temp ... and you can see when its
ready and it beeps once.

The 3000 is incredibly fast to heat up ... and it uses the lead free tips which are pricier, but really easy to put on and off ...
and you can switch in 10 second if you use some pliers to keep from burning yourself.

The stand is metal is really nice quality. The unit is also metal cased.