Hakko 474 Desoldering Station

I am interested in getting the Hakko 474 for my birthday which is coming up soon. I haven't been able to find anywhere in Australia selling it for a decent price, can anyone please recommend somewhere where I could find the 230V version at a reasonable cost?

I have owned the Aoyue 474 in the past and found it absolutely useless. Any reviews/comments from people who have used a Hakko desoldering station would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

What a coincidence - I just dragged out my Hakko 474 this afternoon to do a big desoldering job. It hadn't been switched on for about 3 years - it was a throwout from my old work - deemed to be beyond it's 'use by date' and it worked like a dream. So keep hunting - on the basis of today's exercise, even a second hand unit shouldn't disappoint.

Do you mind if I ask what you used it on? And what is your opinion on the spring filter system, on the Aoyue this needed to be cleaned every 20 or so holes due to the hole in the spring clogging up.

With the Hakko, does the solder actually stick to the inside of the spring like it's supposed to instead of blocking up the hole?

Repinion on the spring filter system, on the Aoyue this needed to be cleaned every 20 or so holes due to the hole in the spring clogging up.

With the Hakko, does the solder actually stick to the inside of the spring like it's supposed to instead of blocking up the hole?



Ive not used the Aoyue so its hard to compare - yes the spring collects most of the solder but some clogging of the hollow tip does occur.
Years gone past Ive used this very same old unit at scout electronic weekend camps where we had 150 or so scouts soldering PCBs for the first time in there lives. Lot and lots of clean up with the Hakko 474 by the instructor (me) so they could try again! It did very well but a regular push of the supplied cleaning wire into the tip was essential and then emptying the spring when the indicator and the slow groan of the pump told us it was full of solder again.


Ive used a lot of desoldering tools in my past professional life including surface mount equipment and the old Hakko does a fine job for the hack work.

harv