Have you ever wondered about how to use a hot air rework station? Using a hot air rework station shouldn’t have to be a massive challenge, but fortunately, these can still offer a hugely valuable solution in many cases. In line with this thought, today, we’re looking at some of the key things you should know about hot air rework stations and how to use them to help inform your own workshop decisions.
What is a Hot Air Rework Station?
First, it’s important to know what the actual function of a hot air rework station is. At their simplest, hot air rework stations are designed to help warm up solder, which allows for any excess solder to be cleaned up; alternatively, this also makes resoldering possible. Thus, hot air rework stations are often important in many cases for ensuring that your soldering work is completed to a high standard.
How to Use a Hot Air Rework Station
Using a hot air rework station is a relatively straightforward process. However, before getting started, we strongly recommend you closely check the safety requirements of using a hot air rework station. For example, among other points, always ensure you have the hot air rework station on a stable and secure surface and wear safety glasses at all times during operation.
Once you have done so, power on the rework station, then allow the device to heat up to the necessary temperature. This will often be incredibly quick, so it’s advisable to position the nozzle of the system in preparation for this. Then, once the system is heated and the settings are suitably set, hold the nozzle close to the existing solder and gently apply the hot air to the area; the solder should begin to melt relatively quickly.
This will then allow you to reposition or clean up the solder or the soldered part, as necessary; make sure you keep your fingers away from the hot air and the melted solder at all times, as these will be incredibly hot.
Once you have finished with melting the solder and repositioning or cleaning up the part in question, all that’s left is to turn the hot air rework station off and allow it to cool down. Keep in mind that the nozzle may remain hot for quite a while after use, even with self-cooling systems turned on, so it’s advisable to take care when handling this.
Finally, finish the job by removing any leftover, water-soluble flux and clean up the unit you have just finished working on. Remember, melted solder may solidify in a very short span of time, so you won’t necessarily have long after applying heat to finish the job.
Final Thoughts
If you have been thinking of using a hot air rework station for your soldering efforts, ensuring you know about today’s key tips could really help. Indeed, while hot air rework stations can be incredibly helpful, they may be of more limited use if you don’t know how to use them successfully. Fortunately, with the right approach, these excellent tools can be an ideal addition to your soldering efforts. If you have further questions, please contact us at info@gordakelec.com.
