I've never had a soldering station. I've always used cheap single irons. This one is exceptionally good. It's amazing how quickly it heats up. I don't do precision soldering, but being able to adjust the temperature by a degree seems like a huge benefit when you need that kind of temperature control. I didn't buy replacement bits as there were 5 but there are plenty of bits and part numbers in the manual that you can order. Everything feels very solid and industrial and not the cheap plastic you usually get. Haven't tried it yet but I'm sure it will be a great wood burner for crafters.