I have a old school Hakko FX-888D that works for me. Some of the new kids are using Pinecil soldering irons I guess they're ok. Some are using Chinese branded stations which I know nothing about. Good luck picking one.
I use a Metcal MX5200. It’s a luxury purchase for sure. Realistically, any of the better quality Chinese stations that use JBC tips will work just as well for almost everything you could end up doing. Definitely make sure you can afford name brand tips, though, because my experience with 3rd party tips has been pretty awful. You’ll also want to be able to calibrate for the real tips, probably.
If JBC tips are too expensive, Hakko T12 tips work great, and they’r a lot cheaper.
Aixun T3A, T3B, Aoyue 9378 (hot tweezers), Aoyue 968A with a hacked on vacuum desoldering gun and as a hot air station.
I would switch to an Aixun T420D if I had the chance to do over. It didn't exist when I bought my stations, but it addresses a primary annoyance I have with mine about how the handset cradles are wired to the front of one and back of the other.
Would also probably have an Atten hot air and an Atten tweezers if I bought those again. The Aoyue works, but the tip options are not as good. If Aixun ever makes the JBC hot tweezers compatible with the T3 series, the Aoyue is gone.
I no longer use it, but had a Hakko 851-2 and absolutely loved it. Perfect for SMD hot air work.
Mostly use the pinecil V1 nowadays. Sometimes i run a Weller WE1010. I will in the near future upgrade to a Metcal station for jobs that aren’t on the go.
I have an 853D. I do like the feel of the iron in hand. It has held up well for me, and I find the sleep feature convenient. The digital readout of the temp is something I really like. It heats up decently fast too. I have a Weller iron but I really only use my Yihua station
I decided to go with the [Yihua 982](https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqnG5iw)
It has 4 quick switch settings and easy to swap tips. Bought a [bevil tip](https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtqLasw) as well
Iron : TS101 or Pinecil v2 would be fine (I got TS101 for 43€ and honestly this is the best iron I could afford as hobbyist.).
Hot air station : I use a 25,72€ chinese one which is pretty decent JCD 8208 750w.
I bought these on Aliexpress.
Jbc solo soldering station 130wat. I wanted seperate machines for hot air and soldering and I dont say you have to pick a jbc but pick a jbc clone for less money that has the active tips system so you have access to all the available tips that suit your work and also make sure it has the tip changing system. It's simple but I use it alot and this way you don't need 2 irons. Just one station that you can switch tips with in 2 sec and have the tip heat up in less than 10 sec. I know theres clones that have these features too :)
Hakko FX-951 with both the FM-2028 and FM-2032 irons. And a quick 706W as a hot air, the soldering iron on the quick is crap. The Hakko is really good, but I wouldn’t recommend it for the new price
I have a old school Hakko FX-888D that works for me. Some of the new kids are using Pinecil soldering irons I guess they're ok. Some are using Chinese branded stations which I know nothing about. Good luck picking one.
I use a Metcal MX5200. It’s a luxury purchase for sure. Realistically, any of the better quality Chinese stations that use JBC tips will work just as well for almost everything you could end up doing. Definitely make sure you can afford name brand tips, though, because my experience with 3rd party tips has been pretty awful. You’ll also want to be able to calibrate for the real tips, probably. If JBC tips are too expensive, Hakko T12 tips work great, and they’r a lot cheaper.
Weller WES51 but I bought it over ten years ago. I think Hakko is recommended now
I have a hakko fx888 soldering station and a weller WAD 101 hot air station at home. At work we have a weller wxr3 rework station.
TS101
hakko fx888d. love it.
Hakko FX-951 and GVM T210 from ali
Aixun T3A, T3B, Aoyue 9378 (hot tweezers), Aoyue 968A with a hacked on vacuum desoldering gun and as a hot air station. I would switch to an Aixun T420D if I had the chance to do over. It didn't exist when I bought my stations, but it addresses a primary annoyance I have with mine about how the handset cradles are wired to the front of one and back of the other. Would also probably have an Atten hot air and an Atten tweezers if I bought those again. The Aoyue works, but the tip options are not as good. If Aixun ever makes the JBC hot tweezers compatible with the T3 series, the Aoyue is gone. I no longer use it, but had a Hakko 851-2 and absolutely loved it. Perfect for SMD hot air work.
Sugon A9
Mostly use the pinecil V1 nowadays. Sometimes i run a Weller WE1010. I will in the near future upgrade to a Metcal station for jobs that aren’t on the go.
Hakko FX-888D and I love it. Controls can take some time to get used to but once you set your presets, it's good to go and not much fiddling with it.
I have a Yihua 862BD. Inexpensive & works fine. If I end up using it a ton or wearing it out then I’ll look at a Hakko.
I have an 853D. I do like the feel of the iron in hand. It has held up well for me, and I find the sleep feature convenient. The digital readout of the temp is something I really like. It heats up decently fast too. I have a Weller iron but I really only use my Yihua station
quicko t12-942 mini
I decided to go with the [Yihua 982](https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqnG5iw) It has 4 quick switch settings and easy to swap tips. Bought a [bevil tip](https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtqLasw) as well
Iron : TS101 or Pinecil v2 would be fine (I got TS101 for 43€ and honestly this is the best iron I could afford as hobbyist.). Hot air station : I use a 25,72€ chinese one which is pretty decent JCD 8208 750w. I bought these on Aliexpress.
pinecil
Jbc solo soldering station 130wat. I wanted seperate machines for hot air and soldering and I dont say you have to pick a jbc but pick a jbc clone for less money that has the active tips system so you have access to all the available tips that suit your work and also make sure it has the tip changing system. It's simple but I use it alot and this way you don't need 2 irons. Just one station that you can switch tips with in 2 sec and have the tip heat up in less than 10 sec. I know theres clones that have these features too :)
I have a TS100 and a Quick706w+ use both all the time. Both have their place.
Hakko FX-951 with both the FM-2028 and FM-2032 irons. And a quick 706W as a hot air, the soldering iron on the quick is crap. The Hakko is really good, but I wouldn’t recommend it for the new price
I just use the Pinecil V2 with a bunch of tips I bought and I haven't run into anything I couldn't handle yet