SMD Tool Selection Help

SRLM

I'm looking to do some SMD soldering of complete board systems, and I need some new tools to do so. I'm looking for suggestions on what to buy. At a minimum, I think I need a reflow oven and a hot air rework station. I'll be building all the boards by hand, and probably with stencils for the paste.

Here is what I think I need:
- Reflow oven
- Hot air rework station
- ???

I've budgeted $1300 for everything together. Are there any suggestions on what I should get?

SRLM

It seems that the only reasonably priced reflow oven is the T962(A) version from Ebay sellers. Here is one:



Is it likely to work well, or will it just break or (even worse) fry the boards?

WBA Consulting

That reflow oven may work, but quality would be suspect. By quality I mean repeatability. For the price, you can get the same results with a high end toaster oven and a home brew controller.

Some questions for you:

What size boards?
What complexity of part types? (QFPs, QFNs, SOICs, 0603, 0805, ?)
What volume are you planning?

(thanks for that eBay link, reading the language in the specs was a riot!)

SRLM

Ok, so perhaps a better approach would be to list in one place all the ovens that I can find, and make a comparison:

Here is a collection of ovens, most of which appear to be variants on the T-962A:
http://www.ownta.com/wholesale-dropship-repairing-tools/soldering-tools-dropshipping-wholesaler/reflow-soldering-machine/

This one looks like it's the model that the Chinese ripped the T-962A off of. Unfortunately, I see it listed as 220v, which might not be impossible to overcome but it is certainly troublesome:

http://www.amazon.com/MD-2012-Automatic-Lead-Free-Reflow-model/dp/B00892W36A
http://www.madelltech.com/MD5001.html

Or maybe they're all ripping off of SMTmax? Here is the look-alike for $465:

http://www.smtmax.com/detail.php?id=42

There is the Aoyue HHL3000 oven, for $985

http://sra-solder.com/product.php/6383/88/aoyue_hhl3000


At a much higher pricepoint, there is the luxereous LPKF ProtoFlow E (and it's larger brother the S):
http://www.lpkf.com/products/rapid-pcb-prototyping/smd-assembly/soldering/protoflow-e.htm

$4000 http://www.lpkfusa.com/store/pages/productdetail.aspx?pid=384
E2275 ($3000) http://www.printtec.nl/contents/nl/d360.html

And finally, can't forget the reflow oven cleaner...

http://www.amazon.com/MicroCare-Reflow-Oven-Cleaner-Spray/dp/B000132X5G/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1350008090&sr=8-16&keywords=reflow+oven

RDL2004

You could just buy one of the $250 (800 watt) versions and see how it worked. If not acceptable, just resell it on ebay and chalk up any money lost as a learning experience. I bought a toaster oven for $20. I haven't soldered anything in it yet, but it cooks really well.