Wickeycolumbus Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Hey guys, I'm in the market for a new soldering station and figured some of you may be able to recommend a brand or model. We have Hakko 936 stations at school, and I like those a lot. My only issue with getting one is that they were discontinued and I'd have to get a used one. I'm looking for a thin detachable pencil and a wide variety of low cost tips. Surface mount attachments would be nice. Is it realistic to get something nice for under $150? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 There are countless Hakko clones out there (or at least, they are compatible with Hakko tips.) I'm sure that quality varies a lot, but mine cost $70 and has served me well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uzumaki Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 eBay also shows many new Hakko (probably all clones) with variety of features from plain one temp iron to multi-temp with analog or digital display, and even a rework station with hot air blower and soldering iron set. Wellers is another good brand to look at. I used them in school over a decade ago FWIW I'm still using a $20 Radio Shack junk. In the long run I average maybe 10 hours per month on soldering iron (plus maybe 2 hours a month with Radio Shack desoldering tool), I'd need to do a lot more to justify spending $80+ on a quality set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 (edited) hakko, tons of tips, and reasonably priced, even brand new, and a million knock-offs have not been impressed with weller in a while, they have seriously nice stations... for serious applications like millitary and industry but seriously, 60 bucks for a wood burner on a lamp dimmer? http://www.jameco.co...10001_146595_-1 I personally have an XYTronic, and its a great soldering tool, and I gave like 45 bucks for it, BUT since place I bought it from seems to have gone under the only place I have found tips for it is jameco, and I frankly dont like jameco cause of past issues with UPS only shipping, or minimum order dollar amounts or face a fee crap... they dont do this now, but the only thing I have ordered from them in 3 years was a couple new tips and a brass sponge Edited May 24, 2013 by Osgeld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Game-Tech.US Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Couldn't be much happier with my JBC station - . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Hakko FX-888D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 I like the JBC stations as well, its what we started using at work, but they are out of my budget hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Thanks for the input. I'm strongly considering the FX888. Not really a fan of the design, but I'd rather get the current model than a used 936 or clone. Plus the you can get the FX888 for $75 new. Does anyone know if it uses the same tips or irons as the 936? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 (edited) The FX-888 is essentially a re-design of the old standby Hakko 936 model, a soldering iron that's ..... The FX-888 uses T18 tips, where the 936 uses 900M tips. seems that's a no, but you can find just about any style tip in the appropriate size (from hakko) Edited May 25, 2013 by Osgeld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 seems that's a no, but you can find just about any style tip in the appropriate size (from hakko) I did some looking because I have used old and new Hakko tips and never noticed. Mine is apparently compatible with the older 900M series tips. Looks like T18 is the "new" series of tips. And looking at tips I've bought over the years, I have both kinds and both work and fit on my iron. If there are any differences, I don't know what they are, and it's never seemed to matter. I buy tips from Fry's and they have a wide selection for just a few dollars each. While at Fry's once, I considered buying a real Hakko. I had it in my cart, even, then thought of my clone that has worked flawlessly for years and for literally thousands of boards. That was when I put the Hakko back on the shelf. There are actually good clones out there, believe it on not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Ended up buying this: https://www.hmcelectronics.com/product/Hakko/FX888 Seemed like a pretty good deal. Can't wait till it arrives! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
channelmaniac Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 You did just fine on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 So far I'm pretty happy with it. Haven't given it much of a work out yet, but I can tell it's far better than the Weller I had before it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wood_jl Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I sure appreciate the info gleamed from threads like this. Even for the ham-fisted and inexperienced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+grips03 Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 You know I bought a Hakko FX-888D and didn't like it. The analog FX-888 seems like it would be great. Like like a smaller version on the 936. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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