SALE (USA): X-TRONIC 4010-XTS 60 Watt Digital Soldering Iron Station Kit - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: isobig
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2016, 11:12:21 pm
content: Found this on sale today. I have no experience with X-tronic brand but it seems to be a decent unit. And you get extra goodies! On sale for $69.80 and free shipping.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA9TM3PW8167&ignorebbr=1

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2016, 11:52:41 pm
content: You'd be better off getting aHakko FX-888DorWeller WES51since you're in the US. Much better quality than the Chinese brands as a general rule, and you get small details that have a real impact on usability, such as silicone insulated cable between the base and hand piece. Both can be had for ~$100 shipped (you can add some tips to meet the free shipping amount requirement, as you'll need some anyway).For example, TEquipment sells a Hakko FX-888D Kit that includes 4 extra tips (Kit 4), that's a decent deal. I'd also recommend adding the following tips:T18-D32T18-3C(it's easier to use for drag soldering than a chisel, but still more of a general purpose tip than the dedicated drag shape, the900M-T-3CM, and is ~ half the cost)Hakko's interface isn't the easiest, but it's not that difficult (read the manual). Their tip quality is excellent, and not terribly expensive, so get the genuine article from a distributor (too many fakes on eBay or similar, and even if the clones don't claim to be genuine Hakko, they won't last nearly as long).The Weller is easier to use, as it's just a knob. I'd give it a bit of a knock on tip quality, as it's been variable lately (they may have fixed this, but there's still NOS in the supply chain if it has).Also,Hakko's Tip Selection Pagewould be worth the time it takes to explore.

author: isobig
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 03:12:23 am
content: Hey nano... thanks for the info. I already have a Hakko FX-888D.I had just seen the product on that site and thought to post it here if someone wanted to take advantage of the sale.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 05:18:51 am
content: Quote from: isobig on April 24, 2016, 03:12:23 amThat is a Chinese clone born out of the Hakko 936/937 design and since the Hakko Fx-888D goes down to $70 on special it's better to pay a little extra for the real thing. Nanofrog just basically warning others as the low end of the market is flooded with Chinese clones of Hakko.Once you start looking at the Chinese offerings you can also find the Aoyue 2900 and 2901 for around that price which has arguably better heating technology than the Hakko FX-8801 and Hakko 907 handpeices found on the Hakko Fx-888 and 936/937 stations.These 2900s are probably a clone of the Hakko FX-951 and look to be Hakko T12/T15 tip compatible. Looking further around for cheap 2900s and you will come across the Circuit Specialists CSI-2900 for $60. Doesn't have all the goodies, isn't as cheap to run, but on paper a better clone station for the money.Buy at your own risk.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 05:50:39 am
content: Quote from: Shock on April 24, 2016, 05:18:51 amThat's actually quite an interesting - X-Tronic seems to be ripping off the XYTRONIC name. Real shame as XYTRONIC is a Taiwanese company that makes really decent soldering/rework equipment.