1 left?

http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-808-KIT-Contained-Desoldering-Internal/dp/B00FZPTEK2/

Actually the replacement looks pretty sweet! I may have to eBay my 808.

http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko/FR-300/Desoldering-Equipment/

I thought it was discontinued 3 years ago? They are still for sale on ebay are they not?

I'm hoping the wick post was a joke

I was just thinking of getting a desoldering station. It looks like the Hakko 808 is 300 bucks on ebay anyhow. Any alternatives are 220V.

As much as a solder sucker is a pain in the butt to use, is it really worth $300 for a slicker alternative (at least when you're not in the biz, ie don't desolder stuff every day)?

No, not really a joke. In many cases wick is very effective, it's really good for cleaning through hole vias out after using vacuum extraction, removing excess solder from lands and pads, or solder removal in tight areas that can't be accessed well with a vac tool. Any situation you just can't quite do well with a vacuum. I have access to some very sophisticated soldering and desoldering equipment at work, and we still use wick often. The difference is in knowing how to use it properly, and we have had professional soldering training courses so we know how to use it.

I guess ebay is not the only source.... anyone have experience with Yihua?

http://www.amazon.ca/Displays-YIHUA-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B00O2QXLTA/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3

Or Weber?

http://www.amazon.ca/Displays-YIHUA-Rework-Soldering-Station/dp/B00O2S2OCS/ref=sr_1_1

Is there a usability difference between a "desolder gun" and a "vacuum pickup tool"?

_{Post edited by EvanDickson: Additional question, editted post rather than a new one since no one had posted in the thread yet.}

Ahh. I tried it once, but couldn't do much with it. I use a hand pump for small things and lugs, and the 808 for all board work. I can pulled 40 pin ICs clean in like 3 minutes, I love that thing.

A good vac desolderer is a great tool. Just a suggestion: If you ever try the braid again, one thing is get some liquid flux, we use CircuitWorks lead free flux dispensing pens. Put down some liquid flux before using the braid. Most of the time the problem with braid is that the flux is too dry, even when brand new out of the package.