The modern tool market is flooded with a wide variety of techniques designed to facilitate the labor process. Without some tools, it is generally impossible to imagine the work being done, because there are no analogues for them. One of these tools is the Lukey 702 soldering station. The ceramic heater of the soldering iron tip, a convenient hot air gun, a high-quality case and intuitive controls are just a small part of what makes it a truly universal tool. Let's take a look at its features.
A Little About Lukey Corporation
The company was founded in 2001. Among its products, the main niche is occupied by the electronic component of a large number of tools, as well as turnkey solutions for the repair of a variety of high-tech gadgets. In addition to such equipment, a large number of various hand tools designed for the assembly and repair of radio equipment are also produced under the WASP brand.
During the work, the company managed to establish itself as a manufacturer of fairly reliable equipment designed to perform repair work related to soldering chips, simple soldering, repairing computer and mobile equipment and much more. Among the most successful models are Lukey 702, whose ceramic soldering iron heater allows you to work with accurate temperature, and a convenient hairdryer makes it easier to evaporate microcircuits and even chips.
Basic equipment upon delivery
Together with the soldering station, a set of necessary equipment is supplied to start work. It includes the station itself with a hot air gun, which is non-removable, a separate soldering iron with one high-quality universal tip, a stand for it with the necessary accessory in the form of a sponge, a holder for the hot air gun, which can be fixed to the station body with screws, and also three air nozzles different diameters.
This kit will be enough for beginner hams and craftsmen. Those who are engaged in professional repairs, you can optionally buy a few replacement tips for the soldering iron at your discretion. A detailed Lukey 702 instruction in Russian is attached to the station, thanks to which even someone who has never worked with such equipment can easily get used to it.
The benefits of a soldering iron
A standard soldering iron equipped with a ceramic heater and replaceable tips is used for soldering. This option gives great advantages to those who work with electronics, which, as you know, is afraid of discharges of static electricity. Although the manufacturer does not position the ceramic heater as anti-static in Lukey 702, the probability of component damage when working with it tends to zero.
Such a heater contributes to the rapid heating of the tip, since it is located inside it and is as close as possible to the working edge. It has a temperature sensor with an error of only 5 degrees, so you can always adjust the temperature as accurately as possible. If necessary, you can easily change the tip quickly. Buying additional kits is also not a problem, because the manufacturer made sure that the heater and the clamp of the soldering iron were of standard sizes.
You can heat the soldering iron up to 480 degrees, which is enough for you to melt even the most refractory solders. He also copes with problem areas where the tracks are a radiator. All this is possible thanks to a heater power of honest 50 watts.
Features of the hot air gun
When choosing a soldering station, you should linger a bit on this model, because it offers a pretty good option for a hairdryer compared to its predecessors. Its main difference is the location of the compressor.
In most modern budget stations, the compressor is located in the main building. This leads to increased noise during operation, and a rather rigid and thick hose goes to the hairdryer. All this reduces usability. In Lukey 702, reviews of which we will consider at the end of the article, the compressor is made in the form of a small turbine located in the handle of the hairdryer itself. Thanks to this modification, it was possible to dispense with a thin flexible stranded wire that supplies power and takes readings from the temperature sensor. Since the hair dryer needs only 200 watts of power to work, the thickness of the wire turned out to be quite comfortable for work.
Moreover, its productivity is no lower than that of its predecessors. The turbine is capable of distilling up to 120 liters of air per minute, and the spiral provides heating of the air flow to 480 degrees already familiar to us. As mentioned above, in Lukey 702 there are only three nozzles for a hairdryer, but they are enough for all possible jobs.
Station management
In this regard, the manufacturer tried to maximize the comfort of use during operation. The temperature setting of the soldering iron and hair dryer is made using a digital display with an accuracy of 1 degree. The inclusion of both devices is carried out by buttons located to the left of the displays. Separately made variable resistor that allows you to control the strength of the air flow of the hairdryer. This Lukey 702 soldering station compares favorably with its competitors, even among the same manufacturer.
One of the main advantages of such control at this station is the memory function relative to the given parameters. Even if you completely disconnect it from the network, your settings will be saved, and the next time you turn it on you will work with them. This is especially convenient if you have to perform routine work requiring the same temperature. Thus, time is significantly saved. And this despite the fact that at Lukey 702 the price is quite low, and it can be safely attributed to the budget class of equipment for repair and soldering.
Disadvantages of a soldering iron
Like any tool or any equipment, this station also has its drawbacks that open when you read about Lukey 702 reviews. One of them is a soldering iron, or to be more precise, directly the connector through which it is connected to the main unit. This model uses a standard PS / 2 connector, exactly the same as in personal computers used to connect a mouse or keyboard. And if it is ideal in the PC version, then in the process of work the constantly falling out soldering iron during inaccurate movement can be very annoying, especially if this fact is not immediately noticed.
You can deal with this problem by replacing the connector with a more suitable one. However, some masters solved the problem even more simply. Indeed, how often do you have to disconnect the soldering iron from the station after installing it in the workplace? Therefore, as advised on the forums, one of the most practical solutions will be to completely remove the connector and solder the wires according to their colors directly to the board. In order to protect then the cord of the soldering iron from accidental tearing from the main unit, the passage in the housing can be abundantly filled with hot glue.
Additional positive points
However, there are still more positive points for the station as a whole than for shortcomings. These include the automatic hair dryer shutdown system. There is a small magnet in the latch, and on the handle inside is a reed switch, which allows you not to press the hairdryer’s shutdown button all the time, but simply to place it in a regular place.
In addition to this point, the manufacturer has envisaged an increase in the life of the heating coil. When the hair dryer is turned off with the button or after positioning on the stand, the turbine continues to work until the temperature drops to 50 degrees. This ensures a smooth cooling of the spiral, and as a result, increases its service life. Due to this, many users note that in the Lukey 702 the heating element of the hot air gun does not have to be changed during the entire service life of the station.
Brief characteristics
Talking about the station itself, you can talk a lot, but the characteristics from the manufacturer can speak for themselves. So, the station has the following features and features:
- Soldering iron temperature range from 200 to 480 degrees;
- The temperature range of the hairdryer ranges from 100 to 480 degrees (the lower threshold allows the hairdryer to be used as heating when soldering small elements);
- Peak power consumption can reach 750 watts;
- The ceramic type of the heating element is used in the soldering iron;
- A turbine is used as a hair dryer pump;
- The maximum air flow can reach 120 liters per minute;
- The weight of the station is only about 1.5 kilograms, which allows you to take it with you on trips.
User reviews
Most consumers who bought this soldering station model are quite happy with their purchase. If there are minor flaws, such as a soldering iron socket, they can be easily eliminated by craftsmen. And, in the end, this is just a tool that, if desired, can be finalized so that it fits the needs of each master as much as possible.
Among the reviews you can find a large number of positive responses that note the high durability of all nodes of the station, as well as its maintainability if necessary. In the Lukey 702, the ceramic heater of the soldering iron is almost eternal, and fails only with intensive or careless use. Some advise finalizing it a bit by increasing the wires so that it immerses itself more in a special tip for Lukey 702. However, this is a subjective opinion, since the soldering iron gives good power even without such an improvement.
Of the minuses, temperature-sensitive wires of the soldering iron and hair dryer are sometimes noted, inadvertently melted with the same tools. But this point is also indirect, because much depends on banal caution when working with heated parts of tools.
Conclusion
Pretty good soldering station Lukey 702 is ideal for both beginners and professionals. Low price, a large number of advantages, good durability and a small number of shortcomings, some of which can be eliminated by the forces of the same station, can undoubtedly attract those who do not want to spend too much money, but at the same time dream of good equipment.