Low Cost Soldering Station hobbyist use - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bneo99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 07:52:12 am
content: Hi, I am a electronic hobbyist and also a 10th grade student. I was watching video of Dave on Youtube and he always says use a good quality temperature controlled soldering station(something like that). Being a student I'm quite poor so I started with just a firestarter iron. Now as I learn more and is more confident to take it to the next stage (SMD soldering).I was planning to get a Hakko FX-888D but in my country (Malaysia) which uses 240VAC as the mains voltage and the price for the FX-888D that supports 240V is twice the price of it for 120V countries.(http://my.element14.com/hakko/fx-888d/soldering-station-digital-70w/dp/2280753)Then I thought of getting a US version and modify its transformer but with the shipping costs etc. added in its quite close to the price of the 240V version.So I would like to ask you guys to give recommendations on other cheaper soldering stations that is cheap (below USD 100), is reliable and will last for a long time. Getting the replacement tips should also be easy and cheap. I've considered chinese knockoffs but I'm not sure on the quality of them as they are knockoffs.Thank you for helping and have a good day!Bryan

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:17:37 am
content: I got a 220V hakko 888 for ~US$99 on aliexpress.Ive heard there are 888 knockoffs but my 888 is legit as far as i can tell.

author: bneo99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:20:45 am
content: Quote from: Psi on December 30, 2014, 08:17:37 amCan you provide pictures of it? How long have you been using it?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:24:26 am
content: Had it about a year now.No issues except it blew its fuse once, no idea why, I put a new one in and its been fine since.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:25:00 am
content: Quote from: bneo99 on December 30, 2014, 08:20:45 am5 second search:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/220V-HAKKO-888-Fx-888-Solder-Station-Electric-Soldering-Iron/977815289.html

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:25:48 am
content: I think he wanted pics of my one from aliexpress. just to see if it looked fake.That $73 one you posted is obviously a copy, it says in the description lol.QuoteMine was like $103 + 25 shipping, or something similar to that. So significantly more than $73 with free EMS shipping

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:34:55 am
content: Quote from: Psi on December 30, 2014, 08:25:48 amYa pays ya money and takes ya chances.QuoteMaybe your seller wasn't as honest as the one I linked.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:39:00 am
content: The yellow paint is coming off mine on the stand where it rubs on the iron.Others on this forum, who got their hakko from an authorized distributor, have said their 888 is doing exactly the same thing.It's unlikely both the legit version and the copy has this exact same issue.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 08:48:21 am
content: Here's a few more pics of my one.Build quality is miles better than my legit Aoyue station.

author: bneo99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 10:19:43 am
content: Quote from: Psi on December 30, 2014, 08:48:21 amLooks quite original to me too. But do you think I can get Genuine Hakko Stations for that price now?

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 01:21:50 pm
content: I would suggest that you find your budget first, and then explore what can be done within that budget.I would say if you pay more than $40 for a temperature controlled iron, you have paid too much, particularly given that you can use irons intended for China (220v vs. 240v).There are many ways to control temperature. I would pay more attention to availability / quality of tips, handles and such. There are also irons with the controller integrated into the handle, at a much lower price point.It may not be worth it, or possible, for you to buy the real Hakko solder iron.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 02:34:16 pm
content: QuoteYou would be surprised. In Chinese lexicon, there is a new term, over the last 10 years or so, called "high fidelity" fake, essentially knockoffs that are so real that it is practically impossible for a lay person to tell them apart.I have seen handbags, watches, phones and electronic parts / etc. that are like that. I think a working principle should be that anyone from ebay is fake unless proven otherwise.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 09:58:33 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on December 30, 2014, 08:25:48 am...Anyway, if you want buy original HAKKO products at such a low price ,pls go away...Now that kind of product description actually makes me trust the seller. He told it like it is!

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 10:24:35 pm
content: Get a Xytronic LF1600 or LF2000. In Europe those go for about $140 or something like that. Those are made in Taiwan and except for cheap capacitors being used, the build quality is very decent. I'd say that there is cheap shit like all Hakko clones, Attens, Yihua, Zhongdi and other stuff like that and there are name brands like Weller, Hakko, JBC, Ersa (which is sometimes crap too, but that's another story) and such. Xytronix is somewhere in between those two ranges.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 10:36:50 pm
content: QuoteHere is what I meant, shamelessly copied from ebay.I have two of them, bought 5 - 10 years ago and thoroughly abused, one with its heating element broken, and one with its tip going red hot (more like white hot). They are still working today.They are my throw-away irons, except that they simply refuse to die.The brand name is called "Yellow Flower", with transparent body. The latest iteration has a lcd read-out, going for 5 - 6 usd in China (220v version). They should be better than mine (knock offs).

author: WattsUp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 10:37:34 pm
content: 5 second eBay search turned up this for £109.95http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Xytronic-LF-1600-80W-Digital-Soldering-Station-Temperature-Controlled-/121392154128?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1c43894610

author: WattsUp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 10:43:10 pm
content: Or for a bit cheaperhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BK-3000LF-premium-digital-soldering-station-70W-solder-iron-UK-Co-and-warranty/221383898373?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D28111%26meid%3D2f356e3ac95b44d4984ab212e02d97c2%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11472%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D121392154128&rt=nc

author: WattsUp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2014, 11:14:46 pm
content: I don't recommend the soldering guns, they have no place in SMD work, which is the purpose you want it for

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2014, 12:12:12 am
content: Email all the soldering iron manufactures saying your a 10th grade student and asking them where is the best place to buy one of their stations without the huge element14/RS/etc. markups.There is a real chance one of them will either hook you up with a cheap station, or just send you a free one.(dont ask for a free one though, ask where you can buy one at a fair price)

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2014, 12:59:12 am
content: Quote from: Psi on December 30, 2014, 08:48:21 am@Psi, I don't remember the various details spread across multiple threads, but isn't the FX888 supposed to have a Hakko branded chip in position U1. I can clearly see the U1 pcb designation in Dave's 242 episode.Aren't the fakes supposed to have a generic chip in IC1? Your picture shows a LM324 in IC1.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2015, 06:46:03 am
content: Genuine Hakko's run a custom MCU, fakes don't have them (most are based on LM324 IIRC).Take a look at the pics inthis thread, the location at U1 in particular (definitely not an LM324).FWIW, the original FX-888 hasn't been produced for a couple of years or so (analog knob instead of LED display and buttons like are on the FX-888D).

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2015, 08:29:24 am
content: Does the analog 888 have this chip though? The digital 888 would need a mcu/custom chip for the led display.If mine is a fake then its the highest quality fake ive seen, it works awesome and solders anything i throw at it with ease.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2015, 10:53:52 am
content: Quote from: Psi on January 01, 2015, 08:29:24 amCustom chip, but not the same as the digital version (pics in the link are of a US voltage analog unit). Even the package changed between the two models.You can also check out Dave's video on the original FX-888 for close up images IIRC.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2015, 01:04:05 pm
content: Those prices for Xytronic are very high. Here's an european example:http://www.reichelt.de/XYTRONIC-Loetstationen/STATION-LF-1600/3//index.html?ACTION=3&GROUPID=4543&ARTICLE=88890&OFFSET=16&I've had it for 3 or 4 years now and it is a really good iron. One thing is that thermal coupling between the heater and the tip could be better, but it's still quite good.

author: larsdenmark
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2015, 06:21:49 pm
content: Quote from: poorchava on January 02, 2015, 01:04:05 pmHow long do your tips last?Do you know if one can get replacement tips? I can't find any at Reichelt that fits.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2015, 06:36:06 pm
content: Tips are reasonably good. I'm using mine almost daily, often many hours in a row and I've had the same tip for more than 2 years, I don't remember exactly. Those can be bought on auction sites like ebay or other country-specific ones. The knife-blade shaped tip I use for almost everything costed about 7€ or somehing like that.

author: bneo99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 11:49:33 am
content: Sent to Hakko Singapore and they didn't reply so I emailed again to Hakko Malaysia in KL and this is their reply. (I asked for the price for both FX-888D and FX-951)QuoteSo the price they offered me is about half the price of the same one at element14 but I asked them again is there any discount and they replied nope.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 12:20:34 pm
content: QuoteSounds like you want a more-than-fair price.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 06:30:10 pm
content: Quote from: bneo99 on January 08, 2015, 11:49:33 amFor professionals, time is money. Product means income and quality is part of that. Any unnecessary fiddling a professional do to achieve "professional outcome" is money lost.In my view, for hobbyist however, I think one should not get too stuck about the "quality tool". My experience is thatone learns a lot more having to improvise and adept. When budget-for-hobby is limited, perhaps it is a good idea to spread the money around from one item to another. You may be better off learning on something less expensive (but good enough), and when you outgrow that less expensive tool, then shoot for a better one. Mean time, you can use that $ saved to try different projects.I would suggest you look again at these two replies (quoted below) that Danny wrote earlier in this thread.RickQuote from: dannyf on December 30, 2014, 01:21:50 pmQuote from: dannyf on December 30, 2014, 10:36:50 pm

author: bneo99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 09, 2015, 04:20:42 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on January 08, 2015, 12:20:34 pmStudents, poor students in a country where the money value drops by the day. LOLQuote from: Rick Law on January 08, 2015, 06:30:10 pmYeah but I do not plan to change my station anytime soon (5-10 years or more?) so I would prefer something that would last that much amount of time (of course when used with care)Also, I want the quality because I plan to occasionally do repairs for people like friends and families members so having a quality brand tool that have been getting recommendations by people helps me to be sure that It will be safe for soldering random sensitive components.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2015, 05:43:36 am
content: Quote from: bneo99 on January 09, 2015, 04:20:42 pmThe problem is, quality costs money.As I see it, you've three potential solutions:1. Save up for a brand new quality station (assumes the latest quote is out of budget). Just requires patience.2. Look for a good quality used unit (just make sure it has all the necessary parts to make it work, and that spares are still available).3. Buy Chinese and cross your fingers.#2 is the best way you'll get to your goal of quality at low cost. Compromise being it's used, likely not that wonderful cosmetically speaking, and may not have all of the bits and pieces it came with (i.e. you get the base + iron, but the stand is missing).You'll need to be patient for a good deal on a used station to appear, assuming they come available in your market.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2015, 03:27:55 pm
content: QuoteThose $4 irons sold by Radioshack, just as an example, are perfectly safe for soldering random sensitive components.If that's your top priority, picking one is easy, especially if you want to pay more.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 05:58:15 am
content: Yeah, Goot are goodI've used their regular soldering irons since the early 80s and barely had to change a tip but have no experience with their soldering stations though.Considering a low cost soldering station myself the Hakko FX888D comes up as a natural quality choice (despite the "toy" appearance) but I seeGoothave soldering stations as well though I'm not sure about their availability or prices in Europe/USA. At least they have a more professional appearance.UPDATE: Apparently far from as common as Hakko, Weller etc. I've found that they are actually available from the following sites (hopefully more as well):Toolboom (Hong Kong)Renex (Poland)Procon Technology(Australia)Howard electronic instrument Inc(USA)GSMserver(USA)Mwave(Australia)Warcom(Australia)Synergy electronics(New Zealand)PCBA tools(India)Amazon(USA)They're not "dirt cheap" but I hear their quality is great from the few posts I've found on the subject. TheGoot RX-711seems to be the one to go for with analog control (a dial knob) and a digital readout. Pity they're more expensive than the Hakko FX888 though.

author: bneo99
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 05:26:56 am
content: UPDATE: After realizing that I could just contact the Hakko distributor for my country to get a quote on the FX-888D, I emailed them and around the end of March 2015 I got myself a brand new genuine Hakko FX-888D for RM523 (USD 140~ at that time). Have been using it for almost a year now and I'm very satisfied with it.

author: knotlogic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 06:30:42 am
content: Quote from: bneo99 on February 15, 2016, 05:26:56 amI would say that's a good deal. I'm just south of the border from you and we just got one at work. Cost us roughly USD 200.Ours is some assembly required too: it comes with bare leads and a BS 1363 plug included in the box.