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/diy/ - Do It Yourself

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File: 80 KB, 273x526, dosh.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
428901 No.428901 [Reply] [Original]

Can any of you /diy/ers suggest a good soldering station that isn't too expensive? I've got around $90 and I think it's time for an upgrade from my shitty radioshack soldering iron. If it's of any interest I mostly solder small contacts.

>> No.428911

>>428901
Hakko FX-888 or 888D. You could also keep a lookout for a secondhand Metcal, Weller, JCB, Ersa etc.

>> No.428958

>>428911
Looks like a great soldering station, will probably be going with this one. Any other suggestions?

>> No.429055
File: 20 KB, 300x265, fx888.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
429055

>>428911
>Hakko FX-888
I don't know whether or not the product is any good, but it looks an awful lot like a Fisher-Price soldering iron for children.

>> No.429111

>>429055

Very good for the price but there are alot of counterfeits on the market.

>> No.429121
File: 211 KB, 1600x1200, hakko 936.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
429121

>>429055

It's a fantastic iron for the money, despite the appearance.

Even though it looks silly, it performs better than the old model it replaced.

Pic related.

>> No.429240

Man I was having a good old time soldering when my bitch ass teacher kept trying to make me do it a different way. Like, fuck man, if the way I'm doing it works and doesn't have any cold solders, then fuck off.

>> No.429245

>>429055
It is dave jones approved so I guess it's good...

>> No.429246

>>428901

I have a Hakko 888. It's got some good fast warm up, but it does have a little bit of trouble with fuckhuge motherboard groundplanes sucking the heat.

You see that little copper wool in the pen holder? That shit is god tier. GOD TIER.

I was reading on badcaps and the guys there were talking about how much more powerful the old 1960's temperature regulated weller stations were than the hakkos. They're crotchety old farts, so take it with a grain of salt, but it might be worth checking ebay.

>> No.429251

>>429246
Weller stations are really great and probably perform better than the 888, but in terms of price/performance I'd say the 888 is the winner.
And yeah, motherboards or computer pcbs in general are a pain in the ass.

>> No.429368

>>429055
It's the best soldering station in that price class bar none.

I've never understood that "everything must be black or gray or I'll catch cooties" mentality.

>> No.429371

>>429111
>there are alot of counterfeits on the market.

This is a big problem. Unless you're buying from an authorized distributor, there's a 95% chance a "Hakko" station or iron tip is counterfeit. The FX-888 was replaced by the FX-888D (digital button controls only) pretty much just because the original was cloned to hell and back.

>> No.429376

>>429371
Do you know where I could find a legitimate dealer? I live relatively close to an IPS Group store.

>> No.429379

>>429376
http://www.hakkousa.com/buy.asp

>> No.429383

>>429376
I realize I was being unneccessary alarmist. If you buy it at an electronics or hobby store it's probably going to be legit. Just stay away from shady online retailers and Chinese resellers.

Once you get the station it's easy to verify its authenticity by opening it. In the real one, the temp control is performed by a Hakko custom IC which so far hasn't been cloned, while the counterfeits use a fully-analog feedback loop.

>> No.429387

>>429379
>http://www.hakkousa.com/buy.asp
Awesome, The IPS Group is a legit distributor. Guess I'll see about picking one up this weekend.