Digital Soldering Station with Chisel Tip Pack T18-D08/D12/D24/D32/S3

This works exactly like I expected.

No experience soldering prior to buying the Hakko (just watch the electronic Aussy guy on Youtube demonstrate it). My first ever soldering (a PL-259 connector onto RG-58 coax) task was challenging and successful, if not beautifully perfect. I definitely made the right choice with Hakko.

PSA: Watch videos on UI, before using/setting temp. You can actually screw up the calibration by accident! First off I would like to say this I am new to the hobby and I have only played with cheap crappy non-temperature adjustable pin type irons. This Solder iron is much better than what I have used in the past. It heats up quick, and the tips are better than the conical tips that come on most cheap irons. This looks like it is well made and lots of people rave about it. That being said the UI is HORRIBLE! It is presented as device that was beautifully designed by Toshiyuki Kita, though it doesnt look bad, just needs more buttons and a better UI.. I am docking two stars off for this as I think this should really be known about the downside of this device. Just changing the temperature you think would be intuitive enough, though it isnt. It is to easy to screw up the calibration of the device, when you think you are setting the temperature of the iron. Even HAKKO acknowledges this by documents I have read. This is what happens when more emphasis form over function. Even having CAL displayed would be a better idea than placing ADJ on their calibration process. I just want to control the temp and maybe have it stay at the last known temp. I see calibration as important though it is to easy to accidentally change the calibration on the tool. As I see a lot of people raving about this in the reviews. This can do a lot more than what I want and it seems they tried to pile a lot of items into it, though they gave you very convoluted limited way of controlling it. They should really have 2 buttons and a knob with an integrated button. I would normally only dock off one star for something like this, though I think people should really know more about the UI and not just assume this product is intuitive. I think reviewers gloss over the UI to much and I would like to see it be addressed, especially for new users.

After eight months using this as a second station to my Weller digital, I cant recommend it. Ergonomically, its very nice. I dont mind the program controls either. But if they are all like mine, tip temp seems to wander. The display will read the proper temp, but the tip will stall. i dont know another way to put it. Its inconsistent and frustrating. I may have a defective unit. Unfortunately, Ive only used this unit approx. two hours in that eight months, so the irritation has been a slow burn.

Ive had a Weller solder station for years and it was a huge improvement over the stand-alone soldering irons Id used up until then. Still, it took forever to heat up and soldering was always more difficult for me than what I saw in tutorials and videos. I finally decided to make an investment and get a nice, more expensive soldering station. The Hakko soldering station seemed to have good reviews and the features I wanted so I went ahead and bought it. I cant believe how great it is in comparison to my old soldering equipment! It gets up to heat in about 30 seconds compared to several minutes for my old station. It even tells you the temperature, so theres no guesswork. Soldering components is so easy now. I used to have to hold the iron to the components for so long that the heat transfer often ended up destroying the component. Now the same solder melts almost immediately. The sponge and brass cleaning coils help to keep the tip clean. The stand for the iron is heavy, well built, and is easy to set the iron down in. I havent actually tried changing the temperature from the default 750 degrees, mostly because I havent had a need to. Im definitely glad that it is an option if I need it in the future, though. I really wish I had gotten one of these years ago. I would have saved myself years of headaches and failed projects.

Awesome unit

This is an OK iron for large parts but anything 0603 or fine pitch like 0.2mm I would not recommend. The finer tips dont transfer the heat to the ends. We went through different solders and different ends hoping for the best but ended up having to get a metcal.

I have used Weller products for years... no more. This Hakko iron heats fast and works great. Its a fraction of the cost of a Weller station. Dont mess with Weller anymore, their quality isnt what it used to be.

I needed to upgrade my crap soldering iron because that thing was as accurate as throwing a bowling ball at a barn. Globs everywhere. No bueno. Bought this on a recommendation. I wish they still had the old dial version, but times have changed and its too hard to turn a dial. I like the feel of the iron. It makes me feel like I can accomplish everything. Because I bought this, Im going to Vegas and betting my life savings on roulette. After using this, the sun was a little brighter, the birds sang a sweeter song, and my bad luck has changed for good. This soldering station gave me confidence. Im going to try to date a super-model and impress her with my soldering skills. Well have super-attractive kids who never have to worry about poor electrical connections.

Pros: ++ Heats up fast within 30 seconds! ++ Temperature control ++ Excellent finish ++ Easy to use ++ I got mine with extra tips Cons: -- Not cheap at all! Other thoughts: I love this soldering iron. It heats up fast and it is easy to use which makes it fun. I use this to work on electronic projects as well as fixing wiring on my cars. It goes without saying, this thing is EXPENSIVE. However, it immediately pays for itself and again, it is a joy to use. If you have the cash and do moderate soldering, I highly recommend this product. This is one of the must have items I wanted next to a digital oscilloscope and digital function generator I also now have.