A soldering iron station: any experience here?

[Skywave]

This caught my attention on e-bay - but I have no knowledge or experience of this item nor the manufacturer. But it does appear to be good value for money . . . .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-Soldering-...erTools_SM&hash=item485b5ae329

Can anyone here enlighten my darkness, please?
All comments will be appreciated.

(Note: A Forum rule applies here: please do not write anything that could upset someone. If you want to tell me something that just might upset someone - then please inform me in a P.M. Your comments will remain strictly confidential.)

Thanks.

Al. / Nov. 5, 2013 //

[Refugee]

Just make sure that spare bits can be obtained cheaply as they may well not last all that long.

[camallison]

Hakko is a recognised brand used in Far-Eastern manufacturing lines. I suspect it is pretty similar to the Weller range. You might ask the vendor about availability and price of replacement tips, and if Weller tips would be suitable. The brand is often seen as being for sale on other international electronics forums such as eevblog - see http://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwant...g-station/

As they say on there, make sure you buy genuine Hakko tips - available on ebay.

Colin

[Refugee]

Weller tips will not fit at all. They have part of the thermostat on the bit where it fits into the barrel of the element.

[Nick]

This is NOT a Hakko - its a clone.

Caveat emptor!

[Skywave]

Thanks Nick. Presumably the 'W.E.P' is the 'give-away'; the word 'Hakko' isn't there! Recent research indicates that the manufacturer is actually Yihua (China): so you are quite correct - a Hakko clone it is. It seems that there are several Hakko clones out there (see comment below). Nevertheless, do you have any knowledge of this item?

Edit: This is a complete re-write of my original post and subsequent edits / revisions: new data etc. made my original entry & revisions obsolete. My apologies to anyone thus inconvenienced or mis-led.

Al. / Nov. 5, '13 //

[Radio Fixer]

Why the "Lead free" ? Me I've bought up enough traditional solder to last my likely interest. Its what I've used for 60 years and I aint reckoning on changing now. I'm told that the new lead free stuff solders like chewing gum.

The good old stuff, a variety of wattage irons and solder braid and I reckon I can do any radios that interest me.

Gary

[Yorkie]

The word 'Hakko' is actually there Al - the listing states:

Japan imported HAKKO large power heater is perfect for large terminal welding such as LCD , air conditioning circuit etc.

By 'welding' they obviously mean soldering. I assume that the statement 'Japan imported HAKKO large power heater' is 'pidgin English' for soldering iron, because that text appears on the soldering iron page. If that's so, the inference is that get a HAKKO iron and a W.E.P. control station.

By 'Japan imported' presumably they mean imported into China from Japan, then paired up with the controller and exported to the UK and elsewhere. I note that it says it's for 220V 50/60Hz. I just wonder about the longevity of the transformer. The spec looks good, it comes with six tips, and states that the station is 'CE Approved'. The supplier is UK based, and operates 24/7 so you don't have to wait weeks for it to come from China, and any warranty problems can be resolved over the phone.

At 40 sovs, it might be well worth a punt.

I've got a couple of temperature controlled solder stations which came from Maplin. Both now discontinued and tips unobtainable, but I took the precaution of getting plenty of spare tips in anticipation of that happening.

[Skywave]

At 40 sovs, it might be well worth a punt.

Indeed, David, indeed: my sentiments, too. The reason for my interest was simply that I need a stand-by soldering iron. It comes with a one-year warranty. So even if it lasts just over one year and is then a scrapper, that's a depreciation to write-off of less than £1.00 per week. Obviously, I also assume that it will do what it 'says on the tin'. Anyway, I've taken the plunge now and bought one. After I've had a play with it, I'll report my findings.

Al. / Nov. 5, '13 //

[Nick]

I highly doubt that any part of it is Hakko - it looks like an end-to-end Chinese knockoff.

Good luck with it being ESD safe. I'd check the earthing etc. Carefully.