My faithful hakko 929 finally bit the big one, went in to solder, pressed and the iron hand piece part broke in half.
Playing with new FX-951. Seems to be the perfect replacement! Need to get a few additional tips. Perfect timing. Iron pre kit, XA 252 is at post office for pickup Monday, just in time.
Russellc
Playing with new FX-951. Seems to be the perfect replacement! Need to get a few additional tips. Perfect timing. Iron pre kit, XA 252 is at post office for pickup Monday, just in time.
Russellc
Nice. I'm spoiled with the Pace MBT soldering / desoldering station I use at work. Would love to have the same thing at home but... big investment, even for a good pre-owned one. I did recently get a new PanaVise 350 for Father's Day, went ahead and added some stuff to it I thought might be useful. Here it is with one of my newly completed regulated PS boards from the BZLS article.. (I will be offering up some of these PCBs for sale at some point, ended up with extras)
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Man, now I really do feel inadequate. I like my Hakko 888, but talk of interstellar solder stations tell me that I could use an improvement.
Nice. Enjoy it in good health
To give my two cents, I think I'm done with big-name soldering tools. After getting the TS-100, my soldering stations have been collecting dust. Powering them up only for the de-soldering pump or the air rework tool
My only gripe is that it's not ergonomic, but meh... The tips last forever and it holds heat on humongous metal parts like a champ
To give my two cents, I think I'm done with big-name soldering tools. After getting the TS-100, my soldering stations have been collecting dust. Powering them up only for the de-soldering pump or the air rework tool
My only gripe is that it's not ergonomic, but meh... The tips last forever and it holds heat on humongous metal parts like a champ
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@william2001 ... I now must have the 'helping hands' attachment for my PanaVise. I had no idea that existed.
I'm content with this
few additional hands/irons with different tips ...... easier to unplug/plug DIN than change tips
practically - doing that just with top one, choosing between 2 sizes needed for smd work; mid one strictly for common through hole work, lower one widest chisel tip, strictly for heavy duty work
hint - using exclusively Quick 236/706/936 tips with these; in my neck of wood easier to get genuine ones than genuine Hakko; in fact, stumbled first on Quick, didn't even check for Hakko
few additional hands/irons with different tips ...... easier to unplug/plug DIN than change tips
practically - doing that just with top one, choosing between 2 sizes needed for smd work; mid one strictly for common through hole work, lower one widest chisel tip, strictly for heavy duty work
hint - using exclusively Quick 236/706/936 tips with these; in my neck of wood easier to get genuine ones than genuine Hakko; in fact, stumbled first on Quick, didn't even check for Hakko
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ItsAllInMyHead - That "QuadHands" base is nice and heavy. There are a few variations available. The arms are just on there with some strong magnets, so they're easily removable if they happen to be in your way.
The station I currently use is just like ZM's there. Except mine just has different branding, works great..
The station I currently use is just like ZM's there. Except mine just has different branding, works great..
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Fantastic, thanks! I've got a separate unit that I use occasionally, but having it incorporated into the PanaVise would be fantastic.
What are the large vise type arms holding the completed board you show in the second picture? I don't see them on Panavise's website as a compatible accessory.
have few more pics of decent cheapo for ya
now, Tower of Power
again - changes I made are - adding front face switches, more convenient; also super-gluing handle-to-base screw mount on every solder handle-stick - cheapos are prone to wiggle there so remedy is simple
now, Tower of Power
again - changes I made are - adding front face switches, more convenient; also super-gluing handle-to-base screw mount on every solder handle-stick - cheapos are prone to wiggle there so remedy is simpleAttachments
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hot air station and desoldering station
for first one, choosing cheapo - take one with membrane pump in case, not those having fan, either in case or in handle
desoldering station - felt filters - I'm making my own, buying cheap packages of dozen - felt pads for furniture feet
not matter of price for original ones, simply I have those felt pads 300m from home, while originals I need to remember to order
for first one, choosing cheapo - take one with membrane pump in case, not those having fan, either in case or in handle
desoldering station - felt filters - I'm making my own, buying cheap packages of dozen - felt pads for furniture feet
not matter of price for original ones, simply I have those felt pads 300m from home, while originals I need to remember to order
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I never thought of setting up soldering stations with different tips. I have a couple of FX-888's that I should do that with. Looking at this thread, I need some more tooling, or for that matter a bench.
I moved somewhat recently and my latest work station has been a box of assorted electronics tools by my listening chair, and a flipped over trash can with drywall for a work surface... Actually, I can recommend the drywall. very safe from making scratches, cheap etc. But I can't recommend the trash can. 😬
I moved somewhat recently and my latest work station has been a box of assorted electronics tools by my listening chair, and a flipped over trash can with drywall for a work surface... Actually, I can recommend the drywall. very safe from making scratches, cheap etc. But I can't recommend the trash can. 😬
Geez and i thought i was doing ok with my Metcal. Y’all got some series rigs!
I still sometimes hold circuit boards between my knees as I solder. Ok, so that is a bit of a stretch, but when I do use it, there is a clumsy little jig that holds my boards nicely if I have the patience.
FWIW, what I see here is an example of how finer work is done. You get the right equipment (for you), and it allows much better performance than before. I learned this early on in woodworking. The first couple of years I struggled with equipment that really wasn't up to the task.
FWIW, what I see here is an example of how finer work is done. You get the right equipment (for you), and it allows much better performance than before. I learned this early on in woodworking. The first couple of years I struggled with equipment that really wasn't up to the task.
I love my Metcal MX500. I bought it for dimes on the dollar in the 2008-09 recession. I later added the hot air tool HCT-900.
The best tool I've found for holding PCBs is Hakka's Omnivise C1390C: https://hakkousa.com/omnivise-pcb-holder.html
Tom
My 951 came with a cylinder shaped metal piece with holes drilled in it to hold various tips. Just yank one out and stick the other in. The modern Hakko iron part is better than the older ones my other two Hakkos have. (Including the one that broke in half.)
Russellc
Yikes. I think you are right. I am working on an amp now. I have upgraded to the kitchen table. But I need to be quick about it otherwise my wife will downgrade me to the outside. 😬Better then using a bedwith cats!
That is pretty slick.