"The ZT-2 is for someone with a lot/a lot of patience. It heats up slowly and only seems to get to about 350 degrees F. The airflow is extremely low and does not actually give an indication of flow rate; the knob controlling airflow is a rheostat that rotates 2 1/4 times around to the right stop. I'm not even sure that this combination of heat/airflow got to a rate that would re-flow any kind of solder."

"ZT-7 was the machine most of my lab mates were using for reflow on prototype printed circuits while I was working at MIT's Media Lab. When I founded my own company, I purchased a ZT-7 (on Ebay) for the business and used it for small runs of our wearable device with an inch-scale PCB. The ZT-7 and Zeph air bath was the best way my team found to mount small components like the inset-pad ADXL accelerometer onto our circuits. ZT-7 made in house production of our device possible.

Tragedy struck in 2015 when I moved my company to San Francisco. My shippers damaged the ZT-7 in moving it across country-- the telescoping nozzle head was bent and the plunger wouldn't plunge. I reached out to Zeph to ask about repair options, and they replied offering their flat-rate repair service. I felt the pricing was fair, and ended up contracting them to repair my ZT-7. Zeph was highly communicative about the repair process. I emailed the main support line that put me in touch with Zeph's sales-lead and CEO David. David got me a repair quote and oversaw my order. Zeph's CTO Randy reached out to clarify the issues I was experiencing with my machine.

The repair results were stellar, and return shipping was handled without hiccup. Today my ZT stands proud and operates perfectly. I'm impressed with this company. It's exactly how working with a small engineering tool firm should feel. I will continue to utilize Zephyrtronics products and services."

"I have spent most of my life starting medical electronic companies and now I am doing what I really love --consulting in electronics. One of the key technologies that I wanted to have in house was the ability to work on SMT PCAs. I researched the field and bought a complete assembly and prototype set of Zephyrtronics equipment: from board preheaters to solder paste dispensers.
I was not experienced in using this process and was educated by reading their technical papers and by many many phone calls asking for help.
Their equipment works incredibly well-I can’t understand why anyone developing SMT PCAs would not have a set of their equipment.
This company is GREAT in their customer support and in fast delivery—I just cannot speak more highly of them and am very happy to be able to do anything I want to do in SMT layouts.
I have found Zephyrtronics to be a great company which loves to support their products and users.
"

"We are new at building PCB boards and have encountered so much useless information until we found Zephyrtronics. Our first contact was a phone call answered right away. They spent many minutes on the phone educating us on how and what we need to be successful building our prototype boards. Every detail was covered. We placed an order for solder paste (which btw works great much better than the other stuff purchased from another company) and other supplies. We received conformation emails and the order arrived as expected. Our first attempt building a prototype failed miserably. We followed the instructions suggested by the reflow oven company ( I wish I had spoken with Zephyrtronics before purchasing our reflow oven). The oven company were way off the mark. One phone call to Zephyrtronics to discuss what went wrong addressed the issue precisely. If not for the support and knowledge of Zephyrtronics we would have wasted many dollars and many hours. We continue to order supplies and receive the same great service. These guys are an oasis in a desert of BS.. Thank you Zephyrtronics for making us successful building the prototypes!
allen"

"Zephytronics is awesome! I have been dealing with them for over 10 years and have NEVER had a problem. Their equipment just keeps on working and working. I have other PCB users come to me to use my Zephytronics equipment when their own equipment can’t do the job. Their supplies have always been top quality from their flux to their solder paste.

I started using their equipment over fifteen years ago when I was an engineer at a high-tech company in Santa Barbara. When I started my own company 10 years ago, some of the first equipment I purchased was a complete Zephytronics work station and it is still going strong today.

I understand that they have had some employee issues in the past, although it never affected any of my dealings with the company.

This is a good company with excellent products that they stand behind. I trust Zephytronics and will continue to use their products on a daily basis. We do the impossible every day and our customers expect nothing less than perfection, Zephytronics equipment allows us to provide just that.

Gary R. Ringler
President - AVD,LLC.
"

"What a bunch of nonsense, This company is staffed by caring and competent directors with customers that have complained about miniscule problems. Its amazing how many cry babies are out there. I had a similar problem with them about an item that was out of stock. When I inquired about future delivery the President of the company went out and found an alternate source of the product, dropped by the post office and mailed it to me, all out of pocket. In my way of thinking that's over the top. According to Chris LaDoux, There is a five dollar fine for whining. Google that.

Scott"

"VERY SLOW don't do business with them. the last 2 orders i have placed took a week to ship. and they never sent any tracking info and sent the order on Friday making the past be a room temp by the time i got it. don't wast your money other suppliers carry the SAME PASTE and have 5 stars."

"Customer Service is non-existent. They do not honor their warranty. Shipped us a defective device, when I could get them to answer their phone (once in 28 calls) Jose said "we will get another unit out to you (I have to find out what the lead time is on another one) " - 5 months ago. I would avoid them like the plague."

"Terrible at delivering the items purchased in a timely manor. No confirmation emails. No shipment of order until I kept inquiring about status. They take the money very rapidly but are very slow to get the item to you. Also, shipment was placed on usps instead of UPS as paid for. Seems to be a serious and consistent issue. Good product-poor follow through. There are other options, choose a company that actually cares instead. I wonder if NASA had to wait forever for their orders? NOT LIKELY! I'm sure the real story is that the folks at Zephyrtronics donated the equipment to NASA then name drops every chance they get afterwards.

***Update July.25/14*** I finally received my order (the ZT-3) and to my surprise the item looked as though it had been used. It was indeed that way when they packed it in a tight box, then placed it in another box. So there was no possible way of damage from the shipping side of things. The bottom of the case has paint chipped off of it from where the the two pieces join and get screwed together. The little feet on the bottom where quite dirty. Paint is flaking from where they over tightened the case screws. The front of the unit has scratches and smudging from where the labeling was affixed. The top of the unit where there is (the supposed pride of Zeph) the pyramid tool holder looks like crap with all the large black particles sticking out of the "ceramic". Inside construction: There is a low priced (China built) fish aquarium pump that they have removed the label from as the vacuum pump. (warranted for a whopping 90days folks) Other than that there is a switch, a fuse and some wiring. Anyone who purchases this item needs to understand that the only quality is in the steel housing. Everything else is cheap and should never be priced at what it is. Buy a Aoyue 932 and get a comparably built product for Approx. $60.00. I have changed my mind and now I believe that the service and products are terrible. Zephyrtronics is a rip off. They should be forced to pull back from selling to the general public. "

"I placed an order for Low melt solder, solder paste and flux. Well I did get a confirmation email of any kind
I. send two emails and nothing! I called and left a message no response. Called back and my call was blocked. True a different phone and call went through only to get message machine. Left message called back on that phone and that phone is now blocked. Worst service ever. I have had better service from a shop run by prisoners! I did not write order date down.I was out of town with no printer. Thought. I would get a email response!"

"As with the other reviewers, I should have Googled for problems before ordering.
Nine days and counting with no contact at all from the company. Stay away.
Comparable items are available from other vendors who take customer service
seriously."

"I ordered Zephyrtronics' solder paste and a bunch of syringe tips. It has been well over two weeks since that order was placed, and there's still no sign of a shipment. Calls and emails have been ignored. If you want to actually be able to get any work done in a timely manner, I would recommend using a different vendor."

"I ordered some equipment along with solder paste from them. Their website says everything ships the same day!!!! I received the equipment a little less than a month from the order date, not to mention that I had sent emails and called and was given earlier estimated date. Anyways, the solder paste was not in the shipment and when I called, they said it should have been in the same box, but we'll send it again right away. After a week still not received anything and after so many emails and phone calls they said they are going to ship it today and I finally got tracking info, but it shows that still the package has not been picked up! I am so frustrated. Horrible customer service!"

"I was initially attracted to Zeph for its solder paste, which was recommended highly by a few Internet comments.

I should have sensed trouble when my two e-mails asking product detail questions were never answered. I ordered anyway, however. Ten(!) days later it arrived. Solder paste should not be subjected to potential heat for that long. I never received e-mail confirmation or tracking number. I also only received one of the two syringes of paste as well as the
incorrect dispensing needles.

I called on April 12 and was assured that the replacement
order was shipping the 13th. Eleven days later (and still no
package) I called again. The package had never been shipped.
There ended my relationship with Zephyrtronics.

In total I sent 5 e-mails to Zeph, none of which were returned.
I also made 4 phone calls.

Zeph may make good paste (I'll never know myself), but it is
expensive, and they charge quite a bit for very slow shipping.
Given the terrible order execution and customer service I
recommend not using Zephyrtronics."