TIL the difference between a cheap and a good hot air station is more than just price
I've been using a $80 no-name hot air station from an online marketplace for about six months. It worked, but I was always fighting it. The temperature would jump around by 30 degrees, the airflow was weak and uneven, and it took forever to heat up. Last week, I finally bit the bullet and got a used Quick 861DW for $250. The difference is night and day. The temperature holds steady within a few degrees, the air comes out smooth and focused, and it's ready in under 30 seconds. I just replaced a BGA chip on a laptop motherboard and it went down perfectly on the first try, no burnt pads or cold joints. I wasted so much time and risked so many boards with that cheap tool. For anyone doing component-level work regularly, is there a middle-ground station you'd recommend, or is it really a case of 'buy once, cry once'?