Buying a Hakko FX-888 What other bits to get? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: leham
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2016, 09:23:59 am
content: Hi guys,My high quality yiuha soldering iron is shite, so I'm buying a FX-888D this week.What tip should I buy?I mainly want to work on SMD stuff, I don't know the pitches but basically mobile phones and other small stuff, an example of pitch would be something like the EP2C5Q208C8N. I've soldered a fair bit at this size but my iron is a bit how ya doin'.....I've heard chisel tips are good for this kind of thing, I'd prefer to buy from Mektronics as my work has an account with them..http://www.mektronics.com.au/catalogsearch/result/?q=fx888I'm thinking about this pack of tips, thoughts?http://www.mektronics.com.au/hakko-fx888d-tip-kit-1.htmlIs this solder and flux good? would .56mm be too thick?http://www.mektronics.com.au/solder-wire-fluxes-wick/tin-lead-solder-wire/multicore-60-40-362-0-56mm-0-25kg.htmlFrom what I've seen (on youtubes) KINGBO RMA-218 looks like nice flux, anyone have any experience with it?http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KINGBO-RMA-218-No-Clean-Flux-Paste-BGA-flux-paste-for-BGA-solder-station-/172065914439?nma=true&si=%252Bzwfw6dbsvu3d19n2U9DSFID%252BDQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557I'm looking to spend no more than $250 all up (888 is cheap atm, please don't buy them all guys)Thanks for any advise everyone

author: un4tural
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2016, 09:01:12 pm
content: i got mg chemicals flux recently and it's amazing (gel type in a syringe) I'm no expert but i replaced a sim/sd slot with it and it was a total breeze. i got highly recommended a cartridge style station too, which i must say works really well and is quite responsive to temperature, not a hakko or a big brand, but it works amazingly well (only spent 64£ on station) honestly for the price its great.anyways, i'd pick up good wick and flux with an extra fine tip and one of those brass tip cleaning sponges, those things are awesome. check if fx951 i think from hakko is within ur budget, though i think it's a fair bit more expensive.edit:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/picking-a-soldering-station/a lot of good insight from people smarter than me there

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2016, 09:36:39 pm
content: You have a good choice of tips to start. The solder also looks good but I would recommend 63/37 because it's eutectic. I have Kester 66 core with 44 flux. My choice of flux is MG Chemicals 835 liquid RA flux. I have a squeeze bottle with a needle and a syringe with a smaller needle for more precise flow. Kester 186(I think) is also very popular. Nanofrog will tell you to get a real BonKote flux pen, not a cheap knockoff.

author: leham
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2016, 10:02:51 pm
content: Thanks for the replies guysI watched daves soldering videos and as a result I think I should go with .46mm but the price for 63-37 at that size is a bit too much for me currentlythis is the .46 60/40http://www.mektronics.com.au/multicore-60-40-362-0-46mm-0-25kg.htmlThey have 63/37 for about the same price but it's .56 so I'm a little confused as what would work out best in the long run, I'm only going to be doing basic stuffThe FX-888D comes as a kit with the stand which has a built in sponge and a brass sheep to boot.I ordered some goot wick from evilbay the other week and am waiting for it to arrive, apparently it's genuineis this flux any good?http://www.mektronics.com.au/solder-wire-fluxes-wick/liquid-flux-flux-gel/mg-chemicals-no-clean-flux-paste-10ml.htmlI have some chemtools gel flux already (orange colour) but unfortunately the label has worn away, I also have some liquid no clean flux that I was using to mess around with BGA's.I can probably wait on the flux I guessMy main concern was the tips and solderThanks again

author: bcbeck96
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 20, 2016, 11:08:28 pm
content: 63/37 in my experience is easier to use, less likely to result in cold solder joints. The flux is good flux, i have used it but I personal like liquid flux better. Both will do the job. I also have that tip pack, I use them all regularly with the exception of the conical one. It is handy once in a while, but the work horses will be the two smaller chisels. Couldn't be any happier with my original 888 analogue version. I also prefer Kester solder and fluxes, but in the end the results are all the same.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2016, 11:58:42 pm
content: For most work I like 0.8mm solder, so the 0.5mm will be plenty fine. Go for the 63/37.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2016, 12:14:15 am
content: 0.05" solder is the smallest I use. 1.27mm. Anything smaller is a waste of time, IMO. My paradigm includes flux and certain soldering tips that are apparently not conventional, though. For instance, I have no use for a chisel tip, whatsoever.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2016, 06:58:07 am
content: I'd recommend the following:Multicore .56mm 63/37 solderFX-888D tip kit you linked, as well as a bent conical (T18-BR02) and either a hoof (i.e.T18-CF3) or tip made specifically for drag soldering (900M-T-3CM).For BGA, you'll want a gel/tacky rework flux like what you have, and liquid for most anything else SMD wise (flux core in the solder will usually be sufficient for thru-hole). MG Chemicals 835 comes in hobbyist friendly sized bottles (125ml).And Yes, aBonkote BON-102refillable brush pen is extremely nice for dispensing liquid flux, and I prefer it over a needle bottle. As mentioned, be sure to get a genuine one, as the counterfeits have a bad habit of the valves not working correctly, if at all (you can remove the valve <guts in the resevior>, but you lose some of the fine control & it will leak if not stored brush end up). OC White and Ideal-Tek carry them in their catalogs, so that may be an alternate means of locating one (Farnell carry them but only in 5 packs now). Brush bottles (i.e. nail polish bottle) would be another alternative, as would be the refillable felt tip pens (ITW/ChemtronicsCW7000).