If I put my notes here, I might be able to find them again later!
Hakko FX-950
Posted 20th December 2013 at 11:29 AM by rjm
Earlier this year I had a really, really bad experience attempting to get a new soldering iron. This time around I made my purchase through a reputable Japanese online retailer, and am now the proud and happy owner of a Hakko FX-950 soldering station.
Its an analog unit, and was discounted quite a bit as a result. Personally I'm happier with a rotary dial temperature control anyway.
This thing rocks! I've dragged my heels on getting a decent iron for so long its ridiculous. In my defense, I could always borrow a semi-decent one from work, so the pressure to buy my own was not as great as it otherwise might have been.
Top five reasons to spend the extra cash:
1. 70W, variable, closed loop temperature control. As much heat as you need, whenever you need it: the feedback loop means that the power is proportional to the conductance load: the tip will not cool down when heating up a large thermal mass.
2. Heats up to the set temperature in about 15 seconds. Seriously, its ready by the time you've had time to arrange the parts on the table in front of you.
3. Indicator lights. Both for power on (continuous) and set temp reached (blinking).
4. The iron itself is light, thin, and easy to hold. More pencil than sausage. Makes getting into hard places so much easier, and the smaller tip mass means its much less likely to burn nearby objects accidentally.
5. There is a wide range of interchangeable tips to choose from, points, chisels and so forth. I went with T12-B2 Shape-0.5B. Word of caution: the tip is not included with the rest of the parts, you have to choose and buy one extra.
Its an analog unit, and was discounted quite a bit as a result. Personally I'm happier with a rotary dial temperature control anyway.
This thing rocks! I've dragged my heels on getting a decent iron for so long its ridiculous. In my defense, I could always borrow a semi-decent one from work, so the pressure to buy my own was not as great as it otherwise might have been.
Top five reasons to spend the extra cash:
1. 70W, variable, closed loop temperature control. As much heat as you need, whenever you need it: the feedback loop means that the power is proportional to the conductance load: the tip will not cool down when heating up a large thermal mass.
2. Heats up to the set temperature in about 15 seconds. Seriously, its ready by the time you've had time to arrange the parts on the table in front of you.
3. Indicator lights. Both for power on (continuous) and set temp reached (blinking).
4. The iron itself is light, thin, and easy to hold. More pencil than sausage. Makes getting into hard places so much easier, and the smaller tip mass means its much less likely to burn nearby objects accidentally.
5. There is a wide range of interchangeable tips to choose from, points, chisels and so forth. I went with T12-B2 Shape-0.5B. Word of caution: the tip is not included with the rest of the parts, you have to choose and buy one extra.
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Nice! I bought a new hakko myself earlier this year after using what I thought was a nice weller for 25 years.
wow, what I've been missing all this time....
mlloyd1Posted 20th December 2013 at 09:17 PM by mlloyd1
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I'm not sure how long ago now I bought my Hakko 936 (at least 10 years I guess) and man was it a revelation! I'd been using the type that the mains cord goes directly into the iron you hold in your hand for years.
I wished I'd forked out the cash many years earlier, worth every cent!
Tony.Posted 21st December 2013 at 12:45 PM by wintermute
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I'm jealous! I might eventually get a Hakko to replace my current soldering sausage. Shame the 888's are digital now.Posted 22nd December 2013 at 12:42 AM by Marine Boat
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:Nice Iron....I am using an older Hakko 929 that came with a half-dozen NOS tips...best $100 I ever spent in the shop! Oh...the time I wasted with the cheaper and ineffective Wellers
LeonPosted 25th December 2013 at 08:48 PM by devilsindetails
