Looking for a Hakko FX-888/FX-888D - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 02:48:28 am
content: I'm looking to buy a Hakko FX-888 or FX-888D...I've found a couple on eBay, but just wanted to check if they are ok:Standard FX-888:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Original-Hakko-FX888-23BY-FX888-Soldering-Station-/110822404172?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cd87b04c&_uhb=1Newer FX-888D plus 10 tips:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Hakko-FX888D-Soldering-Station-10-Hakko-tips-for-gift-/181176490004?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2ef5d814&_uhb=1I also found on on Deal Extreme:http://dx.com/p/hanko-fx-888-70w-soldering-station-ac-220v-126505?utm_rid=51035725&utm_source=shopbot&utm_medium=pcs&utm_campaign=shopbotau&tc=AUDAre they all legit?I'm leaning towards the FX-888DI'm in Australia...Any advice...?

author: jmole
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 03:02:08 am
content: First one you listed looks legit. Same box/accessories that I got from Amazon in the US. We ordered 3 or 4 for a lab course about a year ago. Good price on it too. Great iron.I'd recommend the non digital version. I've found that unless you have a very high-end digital iron (like mypersonal favorite), it's much easier to manage one with a little turny dial.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 03:08:33 am
content: The FX-888/888D costs $90-$110 in the US as the 120 V version. The 230 V version typically costs rather more than that. So if you see it listed at $80 it will be suspect. There are Chinese versions that look the same on the outside, but have different electronics on the inside.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 03:09:26 am
content: Ask for the serial no. before you buy, if the seller is hesitant then avoid at all cost.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 04:18:00 am
content: I'm withIanBon this. All of the links posted are from Chinese locations, and are highly suspect IMHO (proven that fakes exist, and would expect this to be more common for 220V variants, since US 120V vs. 220V versions for most of the planet differ substantially on price; figure ~ double US pricing from what I can tell on avg.).For example, Element 14 has the following:FX-888:http://au.element14.com/hakko/fx-888/soldering-station-fx-888/dp/1719021FX-888D:http://au.element14.com/hakko/fx-888d/soldering-station-digital-70w/dp/2280753Hopefully, there are others who could point you to lower prices for Australia (Element 14 has stock on both).

author: Guppzor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 04:54:20 am
content: I purchased my Hakko FX-888 a year or so ago and at the time I was tossing up between buying from eBay or some other overseas source for about the same price as the listing you linked to. At the end of the day I went with ordering on from element14 ($180ish including shipping at the time IIRC) because I could not be certain I was going to get the real deal from overseas and if I did have a problem I would end up spending the same if not more. Plus it was here the next day...

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 07:41:41 am
content: Quote from: Guppzor on July 23, 2013, 04:54:20 amAbsolutely. Also try Mektronics.

author: shailesh3t
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 08:50:27 am
content: i bought mine from adafruit n its seems to be a good one

author: Guppzor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2013, 10:45:41 pm
content: Quote from: tronixstuff on July 23, 2013, 07:41:41 am+1 Only reason I didn't get it from them was that I needed some other gear that element14 had that Mektronics did not.

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2013, 02:27:37 am
content: I decided to buy the Deal Extreme one... from reports it sounds like its genuine... and if it is fake its a really good one that people haven't had trouble with...hopefully I've made the right decision...

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2013, 01:26:39 pm
content: If you don't have a real one to compare side by side its really hard to judge. The only part thats most obvious is the grip. It is very firm, high density foam material.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2013, 01:49:09 pm
content: Quote from: birdie on July 24, 2013, 02:27:37 amIf it's not an hakko and it's wrote hakko they will give you some money back.

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 10:19:36 am
content: I ended up cancelling my order from DX this afternoon... the order hadn't progressed at all...So I'm back to square one... now to decide where to get one... or maybe similar alternative suitable soldering station...?

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 10:54:34 am
content: Quote from: birdie on July 29, 2013, 10:19:36 amIf you're handy to one of their stores, check out the Altronics Micron stations, for example:http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=T2416Some Dick Smith stores still have the T2200 station:http://www.dicksmith.com.au/tools-hobbyist/temperature-controlled-soldering-station-dsau-t2200it's an old design, but still going strong after almost 30 years.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 10:59:22 am
content: Quote from: birdie on July 29, 2013, 10:19:36 amTypical of DX; wait times can be rather unpredictable.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 11:27:13 am
content: I got mine from someone on aliexpress, seems genuine and works really well.No problems at all.I have noticed some of the yellow plastic is rubbing off where the iron touches the holder though.Be interested to know if anyone else has noticed that on genuine units bought from official resellers.

author: baljemmett
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 01:34:25 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on July 29, 2013, 11:27:13 amThe yellow section of my genuine holder is showing signs of use, in the form of some chipping I think - haven't noticed the colour rubbing off onto the iron, though. Will try and remember to take a comparison photo this evening...

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 10:27:33 pm
content: Ok Element14 seems to be the cheapest for known genuine that I can find at $187... is that the cheapest for a genuine 220/240V FX-888?How does the Hakko compare to the Altronics, and DSE stations? I did have the basic $50 Jaycar station for a little while but it only has one tip available for it which is a standard conical tip...

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 12:27:01 pm
content: Ok I've discoveredhttp://www.oritech.com.au/has them for $174.90inc GST... Element14 has them listed for $170 but thats ex GST so sneakily that ends up being $187... Oritech also does free postage...I'm thinking that it probably is worth just buying a genuine one, the ones on eBay are about $120 so for extra $50 I can get a 100% genuine one from Australia...

author: Guppzor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 10:31:18 am
content: Quote from: birdie on July 29, 2013, 10:27:33 pmThe DSE T2200 was my first temperature controlled iron and it served me well for a number of years. It was also the iron in use at the TV and radio repair shop I used to do some part time work at. This was because they were cheap but reliable and fairly hard to break.I moved to the Hakko because I liked the form factor and had some cash spare at the timeIt was certainly worth it. The temperature is more stable and it does a better job then the T2200 when soldering to large copper pours. That's not saying the T2200 couldn't do it, but the Hakko just feels easier. If you were strapped for cash the T2200 would work well. I would offer mine for a good price but it is my backup iron and the iron I let others use if I'm doing a bit of instructional workIf you did go that route I would suggest getting some spare tips just in case DSE decide to discontinue everything associated with DIY and electronics other than consumer stuffSent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 10:39:45 am
content: The digital version T-2250 was also good, mine still works well.But i doubt you can get it any more.

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 12:53:23 pm
content: Hmm ok, I think I will stick with the Hakko... at least it should be supported for a bit longer, and being an international brand, a large range of tips and parts should be much easier to source...Everyone seems happy with Hakko, and Dave recommends it... so must be goodI want to get a wedge tip as well as per Dave's recommendation... which tip to go with? 1.6mm or 2.6mm (I think thats the correct sizes)?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 01:25:35 pm
content: go with 2.4mm for general use

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 02:41:08 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on July 29, 2013, 11:27:13 amAbsolutely, mine was bought from Tequipment.net and it has the same problem. I an guessing this would be hard to copy by someone faking the iron, so we could take this as a sign of authenticity.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2013, 12:49:45 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on July 31, 2013, 02:41:08 pmMight just be that Hakko decided to source cheap paint as well (tight manufacturing budget).

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2013, 03:17:31 am
content: Quote from: nanofrog on August 01, 2013, 12:49:45 amWell maybe their cheap paint is unique

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2013, 08:51:59 am
content: Thanks, that's good to know.Everything else about my ebay/aliexpress hakko 888 says "genuine", but the paint issue did had me wondering.

author: Grayfox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2013, 02:24:26 pm
content: I need a new iron.My duratech one from jaycar(basic $50 one) is having issues.http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=TS1620I can only run it at full power.If i turn it down to a lower heat the power LED turns off or flickers other wise it has been a nice iron.Running it at max heat is also killing the tips faster too, it is also annoying that you can only get one tip for it and it is a basic conical one.I would like a FX-888 since it has a nice amount of tips to choose from.

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2013, 04:59:23 am
content: I was having a similar issue with my Jaycar Iron and it was only about 3 weeks old... except mine I could fiddle with the knob then it would switch on... so i got rid of it...I've ordered a FX-888 from Oritech... got the station and the 2.4mm Wedge tip for $183.13 including free postage... was the cheapest I could find for genuine in Australia...

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 12:19:32 pm
content: It arrived a week ago, and I managed to scored the FX-888D for FX-888 price... the FX-888 has been discontinued so they sent me a 888D for the same pricevery happy with Oritech

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 12:20:41 pm
content: Quote from: birdie on August 19, 2013, 12:19:32 pmNice.

author: nishaon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 18, 2013, 07:22:30 pm
content: Quote from: birdie on August 19, 2013, 12:19:32 pmThat's great!I am also thinking of getting a HAKKO FX-888D. Do you suggest me to get it from Oritech?You have got one from them, how is it performing, is it genuine 220 volt with Australian plug?Your valuable advice is badly needed.Thanks.

author: kyle
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2013, 07:44:04 am
content: At least here in US Fry's (http://www.frys.com) has Hakko FX-888D for $69.99USD from time to time, good deal, I bought one locally, store can be found locally and one is 25 mile from me, this has become my favorite soldering iron.

author: birdie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2013, 09:23:49 am
content: Quote from: nishaon on October 18, 2013, 07:22:30 pmYeah I'd recommend Oritech... there are other Aussie suppliers but they were the cheapest when I bought mine... I haven't had much time to use it since being back at my day job, but I used it again today and its such a pleasure to use compared to all my previous irons... Yeah its genuine 240V with the Aussie plug...

author: nishaon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 19, 2013, 01:04:50 pm
content: Quote from: birdie on October 19, 2013, 09:23:49 amThank you so much. I am really excited to use that!