Oddbean new post about | logout
▲ ▼
OceanSlim | 13 days ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag +6 
 You guys liked that so I'll keep going. I've been very pleased with this soldering station I got too. 
https://video.nostr.build/c4daf18b257a58d2aafcd0e7aa67432260746dac930003ceaa3633e8a26ec87b.mp4
nostr:nevent1qqsghpcn8xs4gftm8ennfgl9ny9svawawfujf4fgp3nm048vlpeu7psprdmhxue69uhkummnw3ezu6rpwpc8jarpwejhym3wvdhj7q3qzmc6qyqdfnllhnzzxr5wpepfpnzcf8q6m3jdveflmgruqvd3qa9sxpqqqqqqzmjyf3a
▲ ▼
ChipTuner | 13 days ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 Big fan of the Hakko machines myself. I've got many 100s of hours on a Chinese Weller clone for well over a decade too. I like having my stand/base separate from the control station, lighter and don't have to deal with the cord.
▲ ▼
OceanSlim | 13 days ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 Hakko is king but for the price... Oof it's expensive.
▲ ▼
ChipTuner | 13 days ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 Fair I guess. I probably got it on sale or something I never buy new stuff for list price XD. I wish I could even explain it. I was using it daily on QFP stuff and it was night an day difference between my China hacker 6000 and the Hakko. Weight, balance, grip, heating, tip size/design, the silicone + detachable cable, it was so much better I have fresh tips and even a new heating element in the cheap one, still no match when it's on for 6+ hours a day. I was doing a ton of QFP stuff and other tiny surface mount which sucks, but the upgrade made it bearable. 10/10 recommend spending the money on a good station like that. 

When running the cheaper ones for long periods, especially if it's just sitting around, the heat soak in the handle is also a big issue. Oxidized tip damage became an issue, i'd have to keep cleaning and tinning the tip to keep it from getting damaged. I can leave the Hakko on for hours without even using it and not worry about picking it up and just using it.