Spark Fun has barely had the capitol to invest in a hot-air rework station… as business has increased, revenue has allowed us to purchase a few bottom-dollar machines to help… it was all a waste of money…

If you have ever tried soldering ICs and surface mount elements to a circuit board, then you know how hard it is. Unfortunately, the only commercial alternatives cost thousands of dollars. At least until Spark Fun turned a $30 hot skillet into a reflow oven! “I don’t think anything can replace the large scale, multi-zone, IR/convection reflow ovens. But I could by 100 hot plates at $30 a piece”

They also review the traditional toaster ‘reflow’ oven and commercial alternatives. $30 is still outside my price range. I’ll take the soldering iron.