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Post by ben on Mar 26, 2015 22:38:59 GMT -6
So, it's time for a new soldering iron. The question is, soldering gun, station, air, wattage, temp? Also, which brand has the best/longest lasting tips.
Right now, I'm using a radio shack 40W that I've had for years, but with all this electronic soldering I've been doing, I think I need a better tool. The tips are getting eaten away, too. I have to change the tip every mic project, and even at that, it starts disintegrating half way through.
I know the hakko tips are very expensive and I can't figure out why. $20 hakko v. $5 weller?
Do I need air? Is that so I don't need a separate heat gun?
What wattage should I go for for mic building? Temp setting? I'm thinking I should have 70-80 watts, but the temp setting I'm not sure of. At that, do I really need a precise temp? Precise temp means digital readout, which equals more money.
There are some great looking soldering stations on ebay for around $80 or so with air gun. I'm leary of a no-name brand item that needs replacement parts like tips. I would have to research the brands of tips compatible unless they are proprietary, then I've got a station that I can't get tips for. Are most of them at least some kind of universal?
Thanks
-Ben
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Post by mulmany on Mar 26, 2015 23:02:42 GMT -6
I have a Hakko, been using the same tips for 6 years now... no issues. I also have been using the brass cleaning thingy don't know if that helps the tips last longer. I Have been very happy with it. It's not fancy, no digital read out just a led that goes off when it has reached temp. It also has a lock out so you can set the temp and it can't get moved. I have been working at 700 F for most things... count to 3 and good to go. I think its the 985.
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Post by jayson on Mar 27, 2015 10:19:06 GMT -6
Where are you seeing $20 for new Hakko tips? That's robbery! Check eBay they'll be MUCH cheaper. I've got a Hakko 936/907 on my bench at work that I picked up in 1997; I've never changed a tip on it - still has the factory original chisel tip - and it gets used A LOT! I like it enough that I got another one to use in my home workshop when I heard it was being discontinued. I just picked up a bunch (I think it was a 12 pack) of assorted new tips for it on ebay for 12.00. I only did that because I needed a finer point tip for soldering together some GAR2520s. Here's a listing for a similar multi-pack that even includes a 907 handle for $17.00
If you already have a 936 or other Hakko power supply that will work with it your already good to go and all you spent was $20!
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Post by svart on Mar 27, 2015 11:07:05 GMT -6
If you keep checking ebay you can usually find a nice Metcal iron setup for around 50$. They are better than Haako and MUCH better than weller anything. Just make sure you find a base AND handle.
For metcal, the tips you use define the temperature. I generally use 700-800F tips for everything. Very rarely do I use lower temps for anything. Hotter tips mean less working time so the parts and board don't heat up as fast. It's backwards to what you might think.. Lower temp irons tend to make you leave them on the solder joint longer, allowing the board to heatsoak a lot longer and get hotter.
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Post by mdmitch2 on Mar 27, 2015 11:19:56 GMT -6
+1 on Hakko.... I've been using some of the same tips for close to 10 years. I use the FX-888 and the 808 for desoldering. I also recommend the panavise 350. I solder pretty much everything at 740F.
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Post by ben on Mar 28, 2015 2:25:29 GMT -6
I was wrong about the $20 tip. It was a specialty tip I was looking at. The Hakko's do run a couple bucks more than the Weller though. svart, No really cheap Metcal listings right now, but I did find this: www.ebay.com/itm/261381854267?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITIt's got hot air and takes Hakko tips, not to mention the extras like the helping hands and magnifier. mdmitch2 I checked out the panavise, but I think I like the old aligator clip type. Good suggestion tho. What do you guys think of that model on Ebay? |
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Post by fishnmusician on Mar 28, 2015 15:25:25 GMT -6
Got the Hakko FX-888 station here. Done more than a hundred CAPI pres and doa's at 700-750 degrees with no problems. Used 3 tips so far. Tips are $6-$7 at Frys.
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Post by tonycamphd on Mar 28, 2015 19:18:31 GMT -6
Got the Hakko FX-888 station here. Done more than a hundred CAPI pres and doa's at 700-750 degrees with no problems. Used 3 tips so far. Tips are $6-$7 at Frys. holy shit balls! 100+ capi pre's what are you doing man! and where are the pics? lol! |
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Post by tonycamphd on Mar 28, 2015 19:24:30 GMT -6
I was wrong about the $20 tip. It was a specialty tip I was looking at. The Hakko's do run a couple bucks more than the Weller though. svart, No really cheap Metcal listings right now, but I did find this: www.ebay.com/itm/261381854267?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITIt's got hot air and takes Hakko tips, not to mention the extras like the helping hands and magnifier. mdmitch2 I checked out the panavise, but I think I like the old aligator clip type. Good suggestion tho. What do you guys think of that model on Ebay? that looks pretty friggin cool! i think those hot air units are good for smd parts, but i'm not sure? |
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Post by fishnmusician on Mar 29, 2015 20:12:24 GMT -6
Got the Hakko FX-888 station here. Done more than a hundred CAPI pres and doa's at 700-750 degrees with no problems. Used 3 tips so far. Tips are $6-$7 at Frys. holy shit balls! 100+ capi pre's what are you doing man! and where are the pics? lol! lol. I sell em on ebay and locally on craigslist. Oh and I have a few for myself too! |
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Post by gar381 on Mar 31, 2015 10:54:38 GMT -6
Got the Hakko FX-888 station here. Done more than a hundred CAPI pres and doa's at 700-750 degrees with no problems. Used 3 tips so far. Tips are $6-$7 at Frys. I got the same Hakko fishmusician has. Built 100s of gars with it... Great Iron!! BTW.. don't froget a Hakko 808 while your at it... This guy will SAVE YOUR BUTT!! Gary |
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Post by ben on Mar 31, 2015 19:51:28 GMT -6
BTW.. don't froget a Hakko 808 while your at it... This guy will SAVE YOUR BUTT!! Gary Yeah, but big bucks! |
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Post by ben on Mar 31, 2015 19:53:45 GMT -6
I'm leaning toward the FX888D after doing some research on quality and such. Are the tips in this auction OEM hakko, because that would be super cheap. Does the handle really make a difference, or does the one that comes with the 888 work well? |
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Post by jayson on Apr 1, 2015 6:19:34 GMT -6
As I understand it the FX888D is the direct replacement for the 936/907. I would imagine the handle that comes with it -the 8801 - is probably going to be an improvement on the 907 to some extent. So the handle is probably something that you really don't need..
The tips certainly fit the Hakko perfectly, but I have no idea if those tips are actually made by Hakko - I'm not sure if they are OEM or third party, I suppose it's possible that Hakko sub contracts out tip manufacturing and these tips come from the same pacific rim factories that theirs do. I will say that I've had one in my iron now for a couple of months now, so far I've built four GAR2520s and put together one of Dany Bouchard's U87 boards (Need Chunger to catch up with his orders so I can get the boards into a body with the tranny - then I can at least set the bias on the fet - according to Eric the capsule is still going to be a several weeks) At this point I've been really happy with how it's done. I'm not sure that these are going to last quite the same way the Hakko branded tips seem to. No doubt I'll know for sure in a year or so. So far they seem to be holding up very nicely: They seem to heat evenly enough and solder doesn't adhere to it in any unpredictable ways, I haven't noticed any premature wear and the power supply doesn't seem to be working any harder maintaining temperature. It'd be nice if Hakko included a little variety pack of tips with any new iron so the end user can be sure about the compatibility of the tips they're using.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Apr 1, 2015 7:27:30 GMT -6
I have the FX-888D, but it's the only one that I've owned, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. I'm not very experienced, but have successfully built a Colour Pallete and 3 colour modules so far using it. Seems to do the job.
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Post by ben on Apr 1, 2015 8:08:56 GMT -6
Ok cool. What's your favorite tip for DIY work?
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Post by category5 on Apr 3, 2015 11:50:35 GMT -6
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 3, 2015 12:08:22 GMT -6
thats my next iron! and yes, 808 is amazing, instills confidence and the desire to experiment knowing you can swap things out safely, and with the utmost of ease 8) |
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Post by category5 on Apr 4, 2015 10:02:42 GMT -6
thats my next iron! and yes, 808 is amazing, instills confidence and the desire to experiment knowing you can swap things out safely, and with the utmost of ease 8) I had an 888D before that and there's no comparison. It drops to 250F when you set it down and reaches 700F in a couple of seconds once you pick it up. If you're working on a tough ground plane or something that's wicking away your heat the iron kicks into overdrive to keep it at the set temp in real time. Since it drops temp when you set it in the holder it oxidizes much less and the tips last forever. It's really a great tool for guys that do a lot of soldering. You can also get their micro iron for it (not tried it yet) for doing SMD work or working in very small areas. I built stuff for years and years using cheap 30W wall plugged irons. I was a masochist and didn't realize it. |
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Post by ben on Apr 4, 2015 13:16:24 GMT -6
It might be a great price,but more than I'd like to spend. I think the 888 is more than what I need. I can get the 888 with 5 tips for about $130. The 808 is an awesome piece of soldering gear, but i'm going to troll Ebay for a used one  Until then, I'll suffer with my solder sucker. |
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Post by category5 on Apr 4, 2015 17:57:53 GMT -6
It might be a great price,but more than I'd like to spend. I think the 888 is more than what I need. I can get the 888 with 5 tips for about $130. The 808 is an awesome piece of soldering gear, but i'm going to troll Ebay for a used one Until then, I'll suffer with my solder sucker. Nothing wrong with that Ben. The 888 is a great setup too for moderate DIY duty. Please don't be fooled by the older model 900 series and Chinese knock off tips though. They seem like they fit but are not really compatible. They leave a fairly large air pocket between the tip and element which results in a lower than expected tip temp. I've got a couple of Aoyue Chinese setups too (one for rework) and they aren't bad for their insanely cheap price. Much better than what I was brought up on. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2015 0:08:17 GMT -6
The Aoyue stuff is very good bang for the buck. The tech guys at the Motorola hi-tech center where i used to work used Aoyue hot air stations for analysis and repair of mobile phones every day...
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Post by ben on Apr 5, 2015 9:13:11 GMT -6
Nothing wrong with that Ben. The 888 is a great setup too for moderate DIY duty. Please don't be fooled by the older model 900 series and Chinese knock off tips though. They seem like they fit but are not really compatible. They leave a fairly large air pocket between the tip and element which results in a lower than expected tip temp. I've got a couple of Aoyue Chinese setups too (one for rework) and they aren't bad for their insanely cheap price. Much better than what I was brought up on. Oh, I'm going through an authorized dealer. I've read about the counterfeits on the market. Considering the miles of cable, 4 full studio rewires and countless other projects that I've pulled off over the past 25+ years using only cheap Radio Shack soldering irons, I think the 888 will be the perfect upgrade. lol |
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Post by ben on Apr 11, 2015 10:17:15 GMT -6
I went with the Hakko Fx-888D. Came with 5 tips for $125. Most of the parts for my new C-12 project just came in, so I'm looking forward to getting this show on the road. Thanks for the advice!
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Post by guitfiddler on May 5, 2015 5:15:44 GMT -6
I went with the Hakko Fx-888D. Came with 5 tips for $125. Most of the parts for my new C-12 project just came in, so I'm looking forward to getting this show on the road. Thanks for the advice! Do you have a link for that 888 w/ 5 tips you bought. I'm looking too. Thanks |
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Until then, I'll suffer with my solder sucker.
