Wouldn't it be great if soldering stations... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2017, 10:48:19 pm
content: ... had a cool down mode where it turned off heating and kept temperature display ramping down to know when it is safe to switch tip? May be a three position power switch with ON-COOL-OFF.As a hack, I wonder if it would be possible to use a cheap infrared sensor in the iron stand to determine temperature with some degree of accuracy. If so, an MCU could1) Measure/display tip temperature2) Detect iron going off base to turn on smoke fan3) Detect iron going on base to turn off fan after some delayWouldn't you guys like something like that ?

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2017, 10:49:45 pm
content: What's wrong with just turning it off and doing something else for five minutes? Go and make a cup of tea...

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2017, 10:54:08 pm
content: Quote from: mc172 on January 27, 2017, 10:49:45 pmand wouldn't it be great if the MCU also made the cup of tea ?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2017, 11:05:49 pm
content: For #1, there's something called set-back features.The simplest form is just a timer, but there are also some that detect when the iron goes into the stand (stand connects to the power unit for example, though there are other designs too). And it will do whatever you set the station to do when the iron reaches the stand (i.e. drop the temp, and if left in there, will turn the iron off after a specified period of time).

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2017, 11:12:02 pm
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on January 27, 2017, 10:54:08 pmWell, no - it'd probably do something stupid like put the milk in first.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2017, 11:16:44 pm
content: I dont turn off the station to replace tips. So far it works with weller and metcal stations.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2017, 11:57:14 pm
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on January 27, 2017, 11:16:44 pmWait, you DON'T turn the station off to replace tips?What so you touch a 700Fo+ soldering iron like it's no big deal?

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 12:04:18 am
content: I always change them hot... On Weler, you dont have to touch hot parts.... Unscrew tip holder... drop hot tip in a metallic box where I keep tips, drop new one in tip holder, screw it on handle.. 10 sec .. keep on soldering..... (it is WSP80 series)..

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 12:05:02 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on January 27, 2017, 11:57:14 pmThe Metcal irons come with a pad attached to the cord that is specifically designed for grabbing the removable tips with. It helps with the Metcal that it will turn itself off the second the tip goes open loop and it's designed so that all the heating is concentrated into the very tip and the shaft surrounding it is not actively heated the way that the shafts of conventional irons are.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 12:30:06 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on January 27, 2017, 11:57:14 pmYeah, I have very thick skin.No, I dont touch the tip or the iron part. Pliers and stuff. Also I dont touch it, becuase the grease from the finger will burn the next time you turn it on.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 12:30:25 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on January 27, 2017, 11:16:44 pmI do the same thing, I use JBC station.

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 12:32:23 am
content: Metcal do suggest you turn it off. But no wait necessary, as you say the connector end of the tip is cold.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 12:33:13 am
content: Quote from: gamalot on January 28, 2017, 12:30:25 amThis is how it works.

author: Hensingler
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 01:24:54 am
content: 11 seconds of JBC tip changing

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 01:38:07 am
content: I flip my Metcal off to change tips, because it's one of the old ones that doesn't have proper protection against open-circuit operation, but then immediately pull the hot tip with a pliers and put the new one in, power it back up, done.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 03:33:30 am
content: Quote from: mc172 on January 27, 2017, 11:12:02 pmNo.. no.. no.. no......Milk and tea leaves should never come into contact with each other.

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 08:20:32 pm
content: Wouldn't it be great if soldering stations where not overpriced like shit?some german guy on YouTube ordered a JBC handle + JBC tip for a total of like 100+$ and made for like 10$ DIY soldering station that fits the JBC.yet JBC iron with the station cost like 2000$. nah, the whole magic is in the tips and tips cost like less then 50$. the iron itself is no more then a simple holder for the tips and the base unit is just a fancy amplifier that amplify the thermocouple voltage inside the tips, and a switching element that controls heating element.

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 08:55:16 pm
content: uhh, a lot of them are much less than half that.http://www.jbctools.com/cataleg.php?id=1And if you want to spend less, buy a Hakko or buy used.This feels like complaining that new, quality brand 6.5 digit DMMs cost too much.P.S. I probably spent $100 on my used Hakko and another $100 on new tips and the newer stand that puts the tip to "sleep" when not in use.

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 09:09:02 pm
content: Quote from: mmagin on January 28, 2017, 08:55:16 pmI have a Weller WES51. its great.525$ where what does the work is 50$ and the base unit 100$ max is still kinda a lot. 400$-350$ is more like it IMO..Quality brand 6.5digit DMMs have much much more then a whats inside soldering stations, they are much more complicated and you cant make a DIY 6.5digits DMM that compares to the original one for much cheaper, But you can make DIY JBC iron that is not far then the original one, expect much cheaper.

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2017, 11:29:22 pm
content: Quote from: ZeTeX on January 28, 2017, 09:09:02 pmSure, but there's a lot of durability and longevity in the expensive soldering stations. Quality mechanical stuff hasn't really gone down in price over the years quite like semiconductor devices have. Plus long-term product support (e.g. not obsoleting tip formats quickly).

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 01:51:42 am
content: I don't get what the fuss is all about. I've been using my £30 whatever clone (something similar to this) for about five years now. No problems until you try to change the tip. Just make do with the tip you've had fitted for the past few months or years and you'll be fine. Most of the time you don't really need to change it, anyway.Also, this whole gimmick of being "off" whilst in the holder. Does it really matter? The thing is dissipating a few Watts at most, who even cares?At work I'm blessed with ERSA, Weller and Metcal soldering irons/stations. To me, they're all the same, although I like having a dial that I can turn to adjust the temperature as opposed to using one button to perform nine functions.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 02:14:00 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on January 27, 2017, 11:57:14 pmFor the better brands you can get special tools/pliers to replace the tips while they are hot. Ofcourse you are not going to wait for a soldering iron to cool down. A good soldering iron allows for changing tips quickly when hot because for many soldering jobs you'll need to change tips. Ersa for example has these pliers:The flat bit at the end is used to hook/unhook the spring which holds the tip in place and the round openings fit around the various tips.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 04:37:20 am
content: Quote from: ZeTeX on January 28, 2017, 08:20:32 pmIt is not that expensive, I've spend about 600AUD on my JBC station (included handpiece and 2 tips).

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 06:32:50 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on January 27, 2017, 11:57:14 pmHands of steel :p

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 06:35:46 pm
content: Quote from: mc172 on January 29, 2017, 01:51:42 amLeaving the iron on burns away the tips. I have to start with a new tip after my kids use my iron and they leave it sit on for long periods of time and the coating on the tips burns off.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 06:47:46 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on January 29, 2017, 06:35:46 pmLeaving the iron on burns away the tips. I have to start with a new tip after my kids use my iron and they leave it sit on for long periods of time and the coating on the tips burns off.What do you call a long period? My Ersa stations don't have a power down but tips last over a decade. But then again I set the temperature to 330 deg. C.

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 07:47:54 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on January 29, 2017, 06:35:46 pmThink about it for a minute. What good would a soldering iron coating be if it "burned off" in the working temperature range?Length of time at elevated temperature for soldering iron tips makes no difference. It's worse to keep changing the temperature as you are thermally cycling the iron and causing stresses in the materials it's made from, all of which have different coefficients of thermal expansion. If you leave it at one temperature, this doesn't happen. Those Weller WMRP "pencils" are bloody good, though.You've either got aggressive flux or kids using soldering irons for things other than soldering, like they do, which results in coating damage. This ends up as something like what you can see in the picture I've attached. That's a 175 W Weller iron with a Ø16 mm tip for a sense of scale. The erosion is caused by plating breach and the copper (used for efficient power transfer between the element and the work) ends up dissolving into the solder when it is molten. The copper is still 6-700 °C away from its melting point when this happens.

author: Hensingler
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 08:10:37 pm
content: Quote from: mc172 on January 29, 2017, 07:47:54 pmQuoteFrom an OKI-metcal document herehttp://www.newark.com/pdfs/techarticles/oki-metcal/extendingTipLife.pdf

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 08:27:46 pm
content: I agree with the statement about corrosion happening faster at elevated temperatures, but the same document also says:QuoteThat's quite contradictory. If the tip is coated in and wetted with a layer of solder then the iron (Fe, not the iron) isn't in contact with the air. If what they are saying is true the everyone that doesn't work weekends would return to work on Monday with unusable soldering iron tips.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 08:43:08 pm
content: Mine is an old Radio Shack (was the best they sold made by ungar back then) but doesn't have any temp control. Kids will start soldering something and then put the iron in the stand and leave it set and after a while the coating on the tips just seem to burn away.One of these days I'll get a better iron but I've been using this one for nearly 30 years.Weller has a similar doc on tip life with the same cautions to not leave the tip sit idle un-tinned for long periods of time.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 08:43:41 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 29, 2017, 06:47:46 pmIt is the temperature mostly.. I keep mine in 310-360°C range and the tips last forever.. And also, solder, wipe on a sponge, solder, wipe, solder, wipe...You wipe off the flux immediately after you're done with solder joint..But I made experiments with higher temps and once you get to 370-380°C (where apparently many people keep their soldering irons) tips start erode very quickly...And water based fluxes are more aggressive, I use no clean rosin type...

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 08:48:58 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on January 29, 2017, 08:43:08 pmWell that is it.. Those uncontrolled ones can reach in excess of 450°C... Long ago, I had one of those..It was eating trough the tips like crazy...I mounted microswitch on a iron holder, so when I would put iron on holder, it would insert diode (1n4007) in series with heater, halving the power.. That way it would stay hot enough, but wouldn't overheat...

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2017, 01:30:36 am
content: I guess its about time to upgrade. Have had this one on my amazon wish list for a while.http://www.weller-toolsus.com/soldering/systems/weller-wesd51-soldering-station-digital-50w-120v-eta.htmlI guess I just need to order it.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2017, 03:39:08 am
content: Quote from: eugenenine on January 30, 2017, 01:30:36 amPM sent (please read before buying).They sell both the Weller WESD51 (here), and Hakko's stations as well. Personally, I'd recommend stepping up to aHakko FX-951*. This particular model offers an exceptional value in the US.Aside from the tip technology = better performance vs. the WESD51, it offers full set-back features which really helps extend tip life**. They also offer kits for both & other stations which add tips (you'd be surprised by what a basic set of ~5 tips can do, ).* Although the tips are cartridge types (tip + heating element + sensor in a single assy.), common profiles aren't expensive. Cheaper than some manufacturer's simple plated tips.** It's not unheard of for Hakko or a few other tip manufacturers' tips to last 10+ years. Unfortunately, Weller's tips have a spotty record with those that come from both Bosnia and Mexico (coming from a Weller user BTW; I use their LT & NT series tips). And as it happens, the WES/D 51 stuff, including the ET series tips, are usually, if not exclusively, made in Mexico. Those from the US, Germany, or Japan are well made however IME.

author: elecman14
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 30, 2017, 01:36:43 pm
content: If you are doing a lot of hot swapping of soldering iron tips you should take a look at getting a pace 1100-0206-P1 tip changing tool.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 10:35:09 pm
content: FWIW, this is me old ironI out a new tip on it and soldered a little bit one day last week and a little bit last night and one side of the tip won't take tin already.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 10:54:56 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on January 30, 2017, 03:39:08 amThanks, the 951 looks a little over my budget, I may do the FX888D for now.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 11:04:27 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on February 02, 2017, 10:54:56 pmI'd still recommend saving the extra funds first, then get the FX-951. Particularly because the price difference isn't all that much (under $100 IIRC). Seriously, you'd truly be doing yourself a massive favor.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 11:57:39 pm
content: the 888 us under 100 but the 951 is over 250 without tips, is there that much of a difference?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 12:02:53 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on February 02, 2017, 11:57:39 pmAre you taking the discount code into the mix?That said however, the difference you get in performance and comfort for that $150is a bargain. With other brands, it's $300+ if you check around to get to the next level of station.

author: MacMeter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 12:47:33 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on February 02, 2017, 11:57:39 pmI'm in the same situation. I don't own a decent iron right now, I've used the Hakko 888, a few times, and dislike all the button presses required to do simple changes, and don't do enough soldering to remember them.Looking at the Hakko 951 online manual, it appears the interface and button presses are more streamlined, but I've never used one, perhaps someone who has used both could compare. Seems just a quick compare in pricing the difference is about 3x between these two models with some tips. I may wait and save up for the newer model. If Hakko still made the old analog "temp dial" model, it would be something to consider as well for price and simplicity, but I don't see it as it was discontinued. I don't solder every day so my needs are more hobby, occasional use oriented.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 05:45:26 pm
content: Yes, even if you discount both by the same %. The tips for the 951 are only $10 so its $99 vs $260 so not quite 3x the price difference but more than 2x the price difference.There are a couple comparison threads on this forum (I had to do a google search to find them rather than using the forum's built in search).Seems the biggest difference is the tips for the 591 contain the heating element so recovery and temperature regulation will be better. I can't decide if I'll use it enough to justify the extra cost.There also seem(ed) to be an issue with the 951 handle and the clones were better because they were two piece, don't know if thats still valid or not.I thought also, what would I use the temperature lockout for but I bet my kids will want to use it so I could lock them out from making changes. My son already wants my old iron but he'll burn through all the tips in a week and it has sentimental value for me as I won a state competition with it.To drag myself back on topic, the 951 does appear to power down after excessive idle. I just hope its not like energy star appliances where they power down while your still trying to use them

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 08:28:33 pm
content: Quote from: elecman14 on January 30, 2017, 01:36:43 pmIs this PACE tool compatible with the iron of the Hakko 888 ? What are the two metal terminations for? They do have very particular shapeshttp://www.tequipment.net/Pace/1100-0206-P1/Soldering-Accessories/

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 08:35:04 pm
content: The Pace PS90 and SX90 have grub screws holding the tip in place. The removal tool has a screwdriver point on it to turn that.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 06:53:18 am
content: Quote from: eugenenine on February 03, 2017, 05:45:26 pm1. First off, the FX-951 only costs $236.49 (link), and that'sbeforethe 6% discount they offer EEVBlog members (= $222.30 after).So knock off the $260 crap (never pay MSRP if you can avoid it).2. It's not only the tips (better performance), but the added features over the FX-888D and iron comfort that make it such a better soldering station, and a joy to use.As per the iron itself, Hakko's design uses I guess what you'd call a 2-peice design. Meaning, there's a grip/collar that holds the tip by friction, which then snaps into the rest of the iron handle where the end of the tip meets the electrical contacts. The clones simply copied this.3. As long as you're using it, it won't shut down on you. And as part of the feature set, you get to choose when it does what in terms of reducing temperature and shutting itself off (known as setback features).

author: MacMeter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 09:48:39 am
content: Can you recommend 3-4 must have T-15 TIPS, for the Hakko FX-951-66?I really don't do a lot of soldering, but I hate cheap $20 ones with no control. Over the years in my amateur hands, I came to believe I simply suck at soldering, destroying any confidence. The few times I used the 888 and received some basic how to advice, I did much better. For general hobby work I assume 3-4 different TIPS would be a good start, but there are so many to choose from. The only tip I used with the 888 was the T-18-D16, and it worked well. I'm going to have to study up on the different purposes for all those tip choices. And one of these days, besides online how to videos, I would love to take a hands on class as well. THANKS!

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 10:14:44 am
content: must-have tip types:T15-J02 (bent conical, good for drag soldering QFNs and SOICs)T15-K (knife tip, good for SMD soldering and clearing bridges)T15-BCF2 (hoof tip, good for SMD)

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 04:08:07 pm
content: Didn't see the sale price when I looked.http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko/T15-Tip-Kit-1/Tips/look like a decent assortment?

author: mauroh
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 06:38:35 pm
content: I was considering to buy a spare soldering station (I have a Weller) and the FX-951 was my first choice, but lookin around I found this:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Bakon-BK950D-T12-Digital-Soldering-Station-Electric-soldering-iron-BGA-solder-station-5-PCS-T12-solder/32770134311.html?spm=2114.13010208.99999999.6.0K3oU6And this:http://www.banggood.com/BAKON-950D-75W-Mini-Portable-Digital-Soldering-Station-with-T12-Tip-p-982824.html?rmmds=searchI'm not expecting the performance of a FX-951, but considering it use the compatible T12 tip do you think it worth a try?Any one of you have used it?Mauro

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 08:58:57 pm
content: Wow, buy 4 tips and get the soldering iron free! If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Mauroh, I doubt that I would personally try it. I also have the FX-951 and I will say that it is worth every penny. You don't know how stable the power supply is. Yes, you can adjust the temp. Does it have setback features? I don't see a silicon pad to remove the tips. That would be an extra cost. I have a collar for each tip I have. Easy in and out and I don't even need the tip removal pad. I won't mention the wand holder.For you and eugenine, here is what it boils down to. How often are you going to use it? What is the range of uses? Strictly SMD or SMD through 10 ga wire and every thing in between. What is your time worth and, more importantly, what is your frustration level worth? My dearly departed father would always say, buy the best tool you can and only buy it once. You buy a cheap tool and it sucks and it isn't worth the trouble of returning it, then you buy a different tool with the same result and further down the rabbit hole you go until you spent the cost of the really good tool trying a bunch of cheap substitutes with the attending frustrations and then spend the money that you should have spent up front. I don't solder for profit, I solder for fun and it's a lot more funner with my FX-951 and Metcal MX-500 than it was with the firesticks and the Hakko 936 that I have owned.

author: MacMeter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 11:17:32 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on February 04, 2017, 08:58:57 pmIs the temp adjust simple with the buttons on the 951? I didn't enjoy the complicated menu system on the 888.

author: mauroh
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 12:54:31 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on February 04, 2017, 08:58:57 pmI totally agree, and for my needs I think I'll take the FX-951, but I was amazed by the extremely low price for a soldering station that use T12 cartridges as the FX-951.I was hoping to get the feedback of someone that bought it, because I think it could be a good replacement of the Hakko 936 as a general advise for an entry level soldering station.Mauro

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 03:26:23 am
content: Quote from: MacMeter on February 04, 2017, 09:48:39 am1. A few chisels, say 1.6, 2.4, & 3.2mm (covers SMD that doesn't require a microscope as well as Thru-hole)2. 3 - 4mm Hoof and/or dedicated drag soldering tip (hoof can do more, but isn't quite as easy to use for drag soldering vs. dedicated tip)3. Bent conical (great for passive SMD parts)This small grouping of tips can do an amazing amount of work and relatively comfortable to use as well (i.e. not having to work at weird angles).FWIW, Hakko'sTip Selection pageis worth perusing.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 04:58:19 am
content: You guys are tempting me to sell my fairly new 888 and get a 951!But I have half a dozen tips... Replacing them would really add up. Some of the 951 tips are $16

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 08:33:35 am
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on February 05, 2017, 04:58:19 amFWIW, Hakko tips will last 10+ years with basic care (keep it tinned properly to avoid oxidization of the iron plating on the tip).

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 02:20:19 pm
content: Quote from: MacMeter on February 04, 2017, 11:17:32 pmThe way it works is you put the control card in and adjust hundreds, press *, adjust the tens, press * and adjust the ones. It is a bit clunky but I find I just leave the temp set at 650F and I can solder what I need. I think I only adjusted the temp once. The FX-951 has some serious thermal capability and recovery so I just size the tip to the job. I have a collar for each tip I have so it is quick out and in and the temp comes up very quickly.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 02:32:24 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on February 05, 2017, 08:33:35 amArgument not significant at my age. What could have weigh is how long would they last with no care

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 06:42:45 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on February 05, 2017, 02:20:19 pmSo the 951 does not have the five presets P1/2/3/4/5 ? Just the one, which you have set to 650F?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2017, 09:20:06 pm
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on February 05, 2017, 02:32:24 pmThey'd still last a long time as Hakko's tips have the thickest iron plating I'm aware of.Also, using the brass wool is easier than a damp sponge IME.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2017, 01:50:22 pm
content: Ok, I did it, Hakko 951 and tips ordered. The 'how much are you going to use it' question; I really couldn't justify the higher priced model but my logic in the end was if I order the higher priced model maybe it will entice me to use it more often

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2017, 04:16:04 pm
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on February 05, 2017, 06:42:45 pmI never bothered to read the manual to see how many, if any, presets it has. I just set it to 650F and left it there. I solder anything I need at that temp.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2017, 02:08:35 am
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on January 27, 2017, 10:48:19 pmSo I just got my Hakko 951. The stand is mounted on a pivoting panel which simply presses a switch when the iron is placed in it so thats how its doing its sleep mode. Would be really easy to either interface with their switch or even easier just mount a second switch right beside it.