Aftermarket handles for the Hakko 936? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 02:44:30 am
content: I have a ESD safe Hakko 936. I have definitely not treated the soldering iron handle well in the time i've had it. It's about time for a replacement since i've just about broken the cable on the one it came with.I've been looking on eBay and Amazon and it seems like I can either get the $9 907 handle that's for sale everywhere which is a clone of the 907 "Medium" handle.I absolutely love the 900S-ESD "Small" handle, but it seems like that's very hard to come by even on the used market, and the tips for them look unusual as well - so i'd be worried about going down that route since it will inevitably lead to this dilemma at some point down the roadIs there anything to worry about with the $9 Medium handles that are everywhere on eBay or Amazon? Hopefully, i'm just being paranoid.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 06:47:36 am
content: They wont be as high quality as the original 907 handpieces. People have brought them in the past and found them wired incorrectly, so if you go down that path double check before using and don't blindly trust it. As for that particular handpiece noone can determine the quality with certainty, it's an unlicensed knockoff (aka outright counterfeit).The problem with the finer handpieces and tips is the mass and power delivery difference due to the smaller size. It's not going to be better at soldering but it might heat a little faster, overall performance though will be lower, it will struggle to do everything the 907 can. That being said someone is selling a cheap used 900S on ebay for about $50 with shipping. But really you are not gaining anything so I wouldn't bother.I would buy a genuine handpiece if it was me, but I think a better idea is if you have the cash and doing lots of soldering ditching the Hakko 936 for a new Pace ADS200 soldering station, it's only ~$220 with discount delivered for the instant setback version. It's cheap to run, fast and has great performance. Then you could either slap a bandage on the 936, keep it as a second or sell it to partially offset the cost.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:31:07 pm
content: Electronics are easy to clone. Material science is not so easily copied. Keep the original handpiece and replace the cord. The clones not only use cheaper materials, the clone factory may not be able to reproduce the quality of the original at any cost.It's not trivial to make a plastic that can stand up to extended high temperatures for decades without weakening. Well, maybe it IS trivial after you know how to do it. Hakko knows how to do it.The clone handpiece you buy for $10.00 will be nice and shiny and new. But it will snap in two in about 2-4 years of regular use. And most of the clone handpieces have a rubber overgrip that will feel slippery and sweaty and will get much hotter while operating the iron. The textured/foamed polymer overgrip on a hakko handpiece gets darker with use/age as it picks up various dirt, but it feels great and does the job. For practically ever.There's nothing too special about the innards of your hakko station compared to a clone station. The part that matters is the handpiece. Don't throw that out for a $9.00 piece of junk.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2019, 03:06:06 am
content: I haven't seen any reported any problems with the 936 clone handles, but you can just replace the cable, it's a standard 5-core silicone insulated one.I'd also recommend getting a spare handle with compatible heater, even if it's a clone you can at least use it to repair your other one(s).

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 09:31:40 am
content: Thanks guys. Ok, the cord on the original handle is better now. The TS100 is my main iron, i like it a lot, the 936 is my backup so not spending much on it is definitely preferable

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2019, 11:13:57 pm
content: I haven't found a problem with some of after market Hakko handles like the T-12 9501 or 907. But be warned about the 2028. The original colour holders for the T-12 tips won't fit properly on the after market 2028 handle.

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2019, 09:40:02 pm
content: There is a bunch of different 907 clones, some use heaters with thermocouple sensing and may have different dimensions so mounting original heater is not an option. 907F is the one compatible with Hakko IIRC.Still, just replace the cable if that's what broke. Or buy a Chinese 907F and transplant the cable. They come with a decent silicone cable. At least mine did.Quote from: KL27x on August 11, 2019, 10:31:07 pmAhem. Except for those meant for thermocouples.And those with shitty transformers which sag under load. And those where somebody forgot grounding. And... you get the picture.