| Can anybody give me feed back on the pro and cons of | using Pace, OK, Hakko, Metcal, etc... Kris, Pace is going to be your best bet when it comes to productivity. I used to do rework and repair for Compaq and all of the PCA lines in their manufacturing buildings are equipped with Pace units. My present employer uses Metcal equipment and while I no longer do rework, I've had to use the equipment on occasion for engineering purposes. The solder extractors are heavy and awkward to use; unlike the wand type on the Pace units. You have to use a switch connected to the power supply on the Metcal to shift the focus to the tool being used and then wait for the temperature to come up (this is only a nuisance on the solder extractor). Unless of course, you wish to buy a power supply for each tool. The Metcal units are pricey, and you will find out just how much when you start ordering replacement tips. I could list many more pro's & con's of each, but this response would get too lengthy. In a nutshell, stick with Pace. I'm not a salesman, just someone who was actually doing the work on some of the highest volume production lines in the world. Email me if you need more info. Craig Wilmer SMT Engineering
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