Hakko Hollow tip for Fx888D T18 BCM - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jwhitmore
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 02:30:21 pm
content: I thought the difficult part would be finding the solder tip that I wanted for my Hakko Fx888D. I wanted a hollow tip, as I've watched the videos of soldering with that for multi pin devices. I eventually find that it's the T18 BCM/CM tip that I want.My problem is that I can't seem to find that tip for sale anywhere? I'm in Europe and thought it should not be too difficult but I can't seem to find a supplier. Have I missed something? Is that tip no longer made?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 03:00:33 pm
content: They don't make it in the T18 series, but there are a couple in the 900M series that work for the FX-888/D.900M-T-2CM Shape-2C900M-T-3CM Shape-3CFWIW, I find the larger size to be more useful for SMD you don't require much, if any magnification.The links above are for Batterfly, which are located in Italy and ship internationally (English language option at the top center of the page). Prices are good too from what I've seen for Hakko pricing in the EU.

author: Sjokolade
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2016, 05:07:17 pm
content: I bought the Plato hollow smd flow tips for Hakko, Mouser sell's them.http://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Plato/HS-0530/?qs=%2fha2pyFadujNaYNBr7RVjTJX53VKyjCvjx9LJb4DI9o%3dhttp://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Plato/HS-0531/?qs=%2fha2pyFadujWLj6P4J4wy8fCM7%252bU9OYDbDHtUjO%252bElk%3d

author: jwhitmore
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2016, 03:47:58 pm
content: Thanks a million, been having Internet issues but ordered that tip up so thanks for your help

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 12:20:42 am
content: Thanks to this Sjokolade's link, I finally ordered my first spoon tips. I got both of them over 3 weeks ago.I soldered a couple hundred SSOP chips the other week, and now I have opinion on why hakko doesn't make spoon tips for T18 irons. IMO, T18 CF3 and CF2.5 are plain better at just about everything.With the plato spoons, I found the tips are prone to leave too much solder on the pads, causing a bridge on the last two pins that is difficult to remove. When I got the amount just right to where this does not happen, I turned over the iron and found the concave area was completely empty. Sure enough, the iron peters out right quick and didn't do multiple chips.CF tip is much more forgiving. And can do a lot more chips without stopping!When is someone going to make a CFM?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2016, 01:33:20 pm
content: Sounds like you might not have quite enough flux.FWIW, I've both bevel/hoof tips with face only plating and gull wing/spoon tips, and I'm fond of both.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 06:25:55 pm
content: Had another marathon soldering session and gave these tips another go. I might have jumped the gun. I was focused mainly on the larger one, since I get on so well with the 3mm CF. The smaller one is wonderful for SSOP. It appears to be about 2.5ish mm, or so, but it works quite similarly to the 3mm CF and holds a wee bit more solder, even. The tip requires a little more attention to tip cleanliness, but the tinned sides have some advantages.I still can't get the large Plato spoon to perform. I suspect it is maybe meant for larger pins/pads than SSOP. The edge between the face and sides appears to be super blunt/rounded. I can't seem to find a sweet spot with SSOP parts. The tip either doesn't leave solder, or it leaves huge bridges and can't remove them.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 10:33:23 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on November 28, 2016, 06:25:55 pmTry more flux, and see if that doesn't improve matters.Seriously*, it makes a significant difference IME (Kester liquid flux + Kester 44 w/ a 3.3% RA core by weight).FWIW, I use aBonkote brush pento dispense liquid flux (Kester 1544, 186, or 951; found an eBay seller that breaks down large containers). MG Chemicals' 835 RA flux is available in hobbyist friendly sizes (i.e. 100ml) if you're not willing to go the eBay seller route as I do. The Bonkote pen isn't cheap for what it is, but they're amazing to use IME (veryprecise control).There are counterfeits, but do note that the innards that act as the valve have a tendency not to work (remove them, and they work well enough, but if not stored brush end up, they will leak). Personally, I find the valve innards make it work properly (measured output per squeeze on the pen body).Hope this helps.* FWIW, I clean after soldering, whether it needs it for proper performance or not (I'm a bit OCD & like a clean board).

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2016, 11:04:10 am
content: No such issue, here. My IC's are drowning in RA flux.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2017, 12:15:45 am
content: Update: ENIG vs HASL, SSOP ICI have found that the small plato spoon tip works slightly better for me than a 3CF tip on a thick HASL finish. But 3CF almost as good. The 3CF works a bit better on ENIG.Sorry for the necro, but I want to give these spoon tips a fair shake.