I’d never used Metcal or JBC until recently. I’ve managed 15 plus years of SMT work with Hakko style irons. I recently got a new job, and the guy who manages our lab and does our soldering previously did soldering for military satellites for 20 years. He said he has something like thirty satellites in orbit.

When I asked for a soldering station I could use in the lab, I saw a lot of JBC machines around. I said “could I get a JBC?”. He said “oh the JBC is a Ferrari. I don’t think you need a Ferrari. I’ll get you a Metcal. That’s the Toyota of soldering irons.”

I can’t comment on exactly what he means, but he seems very experienced and has good things to say about JBC.