Hakko FX-880D Solder Iron/Station

[Burgerman]

I have been soldering stuff large and small, since long before I left school maybe 11 years old. I am 55 now. I have about twelve 240V soldering irons currently, from tiny 6 watt ones, to 200 watt huge irons for doing sheet metals. I have had many more over the years that were lost, damaged, and thrown away.

I should have bought one of these about 40 years agoi! Its not just a replacement for all but the biggest, its BETTER at soldering, and easier to use than the lot of them put together. I just threw away 10 old irons and only kept a 100 watt instant gun, and a huge 200 watt monster.

Why?

The thing is tiny, and has silicon grippy handle so its light and easy to manoever without getting in the way of your work/view. Feels like a tiny low power iron. Its not low powered though, its got a huge punch. But doesent overheat. It will solder things you just do not expect it to be capable without getting out the big guns. And it manages to do all of this with a really flexi silicone cable that doesent inhibit you or get in the way. And even though its got the power to solder some serious stuff, its temperature controlled very accurately so never goes black and burned or overheated. It stays tinned and shiny really well. It makes easy work of everything. I ordered 2 ends. A pointy one for fine electronics and a slightly chisel shaped one for thicker wires.

The temperature control is really fast! Its all but impossible to make it cool down much, and it recovers in an instant. It heats up from cold to its set temperature in a couple of seconds. And then stays tinned and shiny. And the base is heavy. The part that holds the hot iron is a metal casting and stable, with wet sponge and brass wool to clean the iron. Its very heavy and stays put.

OK not cheap. But good tools never are. All parts are available fast. And I recommend anyone serious about soldering stuff to get one ASAP! You wont regret it.

[expresso]

I agree - no experience here but i really like this little kit - it does stay put - - and very fast to heat up - i got a few extra tips in a Kit - etc, - but turned out i was able to solder the connectors with just one tip for everything -

i put it to the highest setting and takes no time to do the job - if your experienced like BM - even better -

theres a trick to getting the presets to show up and be able to use them - - i found a video that shows the correct way to do it - nothing in the manual about that - it arrives with a 750 degree temp - once you unlock the presets

you have 5 of them you can scroll to and use - and you can manually adjust anyone of them and make that a new preset instead -

[Burgerman]

I hope not! Thats glowing red!

We are in Centigrade here! So 300 to 350 is great for normal shiny clean soldering with LEAD/TIN solder. Dont use that godawful lead free crap. It always looks dull, doesent run well, needs higher temperature and has a narow temperature window.

[shirley_hkg]

Beware not to push too hard when doing large objects, eg Anderson pins . Fast heat loss can cause blown heating element.

[Burgerman]

I use a flame but noted!

[Burgerman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzPYi05nw80
presets

Better look. Review etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_exJEnZN9QI

[terry2]

I looked at that iron but at £99 for a UK version is to much for me as it will get little use.

So I went with the TS100 digital oled programmable soldering iron station. With coupons it cost £35
And it will work off the mains\laptop charger or a phone battery bank, so it's portable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpuvyjIm8ac

[Burgerman]

Good price. How good it is I dont know. But should be fine for most stuff. But I miss the heavy base and holder and build quality. I threw away too many old worn out and bad irons. Looks good for the price though.

[expresso]

I hope not! Thats glowing red!

We are in Centigrade here! So 300 to 350 is great for normal shiny clean soldering with LEAD/TIN solder. Dont use that godawful lead free crap. It always looks dull, doesent run well, needs higher temperature and has a narow temperature window.

i did fine at the 750 degree and even 850 for the larger wire to heat it up and tin them faster - the longer it takes - the more time i have to make mistakes i did the connectors same way - very hot - and didnt take long - one after another

i can try a lower setting and see - cant hurt to try -

by the way BM - is something wrong with this Site in terms of sending me a email when theres a response to the sections i subscribe to ? as of late - i dont receive emails about the responses any more - i have the box checked to notify me when a reply is posted - but i dont get notifed -

not sure if this is only me , the site or my internet -

[Burgerman]

Dunno. It works for me. But occasionally I get a server error. This is what heppens if the site is really busy and the log on times are extended so you dont lose posts when posting after a long time...

[expresso]

ok maybe i stay logged in even when i am on - i will try to remember to log off each time

[Burgerman]

No its not you, its a finite amount of shared server space!

[shirley_hkg]

Christmas present for myself .

HAKKO base iron , using renowned T12 tips which have built-in heating element and temperature senser , making it super accurate and recovers instantly .

The sleeping function is great , that never oxidizes a tip , with programerable idolling time .

It's tiny but powerful @72W , and can easily be powered from chairs ( 24V X 3A ) .

EXPENSIVE ? ? ? £19.10 with 1 FREE TIP .

HAPPY NEW YEAR

[shirley_hkg]

EXPENSIVE ? ? ? £19.10 with 1 FREE TIP .
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[alfiepink]

Ive got a temperature controlled antex soldering iron. Goes up to 450c it the 50 watt iron i love it with the 6mm horse shoe tip. Gets hot in a very short time. I have also got a wep 952d+ hot air and also has a soldering iron i use them both sometimes depending what i am doing

[shirley_hkg]

[shirley_hkg]