new soldering station suggestions
07-03-2014, 07:09 PM
#16
Check out the hakko fx601-02 it can be found on Amazon for around 60 bucks it works great and is 1/3 the weight of a soldering station and smaller too... I've used it with great success here's what it looks like: http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/ha...FSxo7AodKiUAmg
07-04-2014, 03:32 PM
#17
Tech Adept
Were you trying to solder with the mini tip that came with it? If so, it doesn't matter what iron your using, a tip that small will not transfer enough heat.
I have soldered many esc's (most all of them Tekin) with it and it gets more than hot enough with a medium chisel tip to get a good joint in a couple seconds not allowing much time for heat to transfer to the board.
I have a fried that bought a track power station as well and it does the same thing... solder. No better, no worse.
Geezatek, Like I said, I'm going on 3 years with mine and have no issues. It has cost me about $6 per year of use and getting cheaper lol. Not sure what happened with your buddies to not work after a couple weeks but my friend and I both got one and they are both going strong to this day.
OP
Spend the big bucks if you want, you asked for a budget station and I gave a suggestion. I can say from experience that all you need for any RC soldering job is the knockoff and a hakko tip that's at least 3mm. I hope to post in this thread another 3 years from now that my $18 knockoff is still working
A $100+ station will work as well... just depends on how much money you want to spend to achieve the same results.
I have soldered many esc's (most all of them Tekin) with it and it gets more than hot enough with a medium chisel tip to get a good joint in a couple seconds not allowing much time for heat to transfer to the board.
I have a fried that bought a track power station as well and it does the same thing... solder. No better, no worse.
Geezatek, Like I said, I'm going on 3 years with mine and have no issues. It has cost me about $6 per year of use and getting cheaper lol. Not sure what happened with your buddies to not work after a couple weeks but my friend and I both got one and they are both going strong to this day.
OP
Spend the big bucks if you want, you asked for a budget station and I gave a suggestion. I can say from experience that all you need for any RC soldering job is the knockoff and a hakko tip that's at least 3mm. I hope to post in this thread another 3 years from now that my $18 knockoff is still working
A $100+ station will work as well... just depends on how much money you want to spend to achieve the same results.
It's possible that I had a defective or had issues. I used them both at the same time back to back with the same size tips. The trak power straight up had more heat. Before I got into soldering the 5mm plugs with the 10Ga wire from cheaper batteries it wasn't a issue.
If ur on a budget get the hobby king. The hako is pretty pricey and the trak power is a great middle of the road option. Just sharing my experience. Sounds like u bad better results tho.
07-06-2014, 11:39 PM
#18
You get what you pay for. $18 compared to $80-$100. Yihua936 Or Hakko 936. Cosmetically it looks the same. The inside what counts. fq shows you the Yihau936 (Hobbyking)on YouTube which he uses. Show you differences B/n the two. Show a bit of differences B/n them. Yihau really looks inferior with the Hakko. Look on Youtube search Yihau936- Cheapest Soldering Station and watch. You get what you pay for. Rusted corroded parts.
Hakko936 is discontinued, the Hakko888d is there you can purchase. But the Trakpower TK950 is still out there( Towerhobbies.com) Exactly like the Hakko936, even how the iron connection. And for $80.
Like I said you get what you pay for. Try the Trakpower open the station and look at the inners, see if the quality is correct. And see if the iron holder is steel or aluminum & larger sponge(Hakko) Plastic w/dingky sponge(Yihau). If not Send it back for refund. Again!! You get what you pay for!!!
In soldering, heat transfer important. Size of tip. I have 3 chisel tip for different applications. fq has 50yrs, I have only 25yrs experience with component level soldering on computer & Radar equipment(Navy). Navy doesn't use more than 25watts.
Hakko936 is discontinued, the Hakko888d is there you can purchase. But the Trakpower TK950 is still out there( Towerhobbies.com) Exactly like the Hakko936, even how the iron connection. And for $80.
Like I said you get what you pay for. Try the Trakpower open the station and look at the inners, see if the quality is correct. And see if the iron holder is steel or aluminum & larger sponge(Hakko) Plastic w/dingky sponge(Yihau). If not Send it back for refund. Again!! You get what you pay for!!!
In soldering, heat transfer important. Size of tip. I have 3 chisel tip for different applications. fq has 50yrs, I have only 25yrs experience with component level soldering on computer & Radar equipment(Navy). Navy doesn't use more than 25watts.
07-07-2014, 06:23 AM
#19
That was a copy paste of a review on HK... I'm 42 years old with about 15 years soldering experience.
There is no rust in my HK station, maybe someone that had rust set up their rc work space outdoors?
The plastic holder works fine, not sure why the guys in the vid wouldn't hold the iron. If you don't put it all the way in the holder it will flop but not if you insert it all the way in.
I have a number of sponges laying around the house, all of them can be cut to size and used in the holder.
There is no rust in my HK station, maybe someone that had rust set up their rc work space outdoors?
The plastic holder works fine, not sure why the guys in the vid wouldn't hold the iron. If you don't put it all the way in the holder it will flop but not if you insert it all the way in.
I have a number of sponges laying around the house, all of them can be cut to size and used in the holder.
07-07-2014, 07:53 AM
#20
Fq!! Where in LA are you? I lived to in LA for 52 years. Been out of Ca for 8yrs, Where " I'll Be Back" 'f'd the state up!! I read the thread. You have posted 50yrs in soldering, then now 15yrs or 42 yrs old. A mistype!! What you paid for is my reasoning That's all. Videos is Where anybody could make their own decision.
07-07-2014, 08:06 AM
#21
Tech Regular
iTrader: (4)
+1 on the Trak Power soldering station. With the chisel tip I can solder onto any heavy wire or large connector with ease. It gets hot fast and has the horsepower to keep up. Buy some paste flux to go with it and you're set. A lack of adequate flux equals cold connections and gloppy solder regardless of heat.
07-07-2014, 09:13 AM
#22
Sorry if I wasn't clear, that is not my review from HK's site. Just the most descriptive and helpful on the first page of reviews.
West LA near the beach, the Govenator did a job on the state but we are doing very well on reducing our debt by paying off maturing bonds instead of refinancing them.
And the weather rocks! Wouldn't give it up for even a 50% reduction in cost of living
Born & raised here also so I don't know any better
West LA near the beach, the Govenator did a job on the state but we are doing very well on reducing our debt by paying off maturing bonds instead of refinancing them.
And the weather rocks! Wouldn't give it up for even a 50% reduction in cost of living
Born & raised here also so I don't know any better
Hakko is not a budget purchase. The 926 is discontinued so you're stepping into a $100+ station if you don't want a knock off that's just as good.
The $18 I spent on the HK station has been money well spent... probably the best value I've spent money on in this hobby since the 90's.
You can also get a wrap for the hakko 936 and look pro
Here's a review on the HK site that sums it up...
I have been soldering for 50 years professionally, and have just purchased the Yihua 936 soldering station from HK. The Yihua 936 is a good Hakko 936 copy/clone (the Hakko 936 has been a great soldering station that has been in commercial service for over 15 years)... yada, yada, yada...
The $18 I spent on the HK station has been money well spent... probably the best value I've spent money on in this hobby since the 90's.
You can also get a wrap for the hakko 936 and look pro
Here's a review on the HK site that sums it up...
I have been soldering for 50 years professionally, and have just purchased the Yihua 936 soldering station from HK. The Yihua 936 is a good Hakko 936 copy/clone (the Hakko 936 has been a great soldering station that has been in commercial service for over 15 years)... yada, yada, yada...
07-07-2014, 09:53 AM
#23
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Last edited by rcuser67898578; 12-09-2023 at 06:57 PM.
07-07-2014, 11:37 AM
#24
Sorry if I wasn't clear, that is not my review from HK's site. Just the most descriptive and helpful on the first page of reviews.
West LA near the beach, the Govenator did a job on the state but we are doing very well on reducing our debt by paying off maturing bonds instead of refinancing them.
And the weather rocks! Wouldn't give it up for even a 50% reduction in cost of living
Born & raised here also so I don't know any better
West LA near the beach, the Govenator did a job on the state but we are doing very well on reducing our debt by paying off maturing bonds instead of refinancing them.
And the weather rocks! Wouldn't give it up for even a 50% reduction in cost of living
Born & raised here also so I don't know any better
Where do you run the RC's now?? LA's track has disappeared.
07-07-2014, 11:51 AM
#25
I have been using this one for close to 3 years now. They sell tips and replacement irons for it too. I bought the wider chisel tip at the same time I bought the iron. Great price and the iron has worked very well over the years. Only $29.95
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi-60w.html
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi-60w.html
07-07-2014, 12:13 PM
#26
Agree, johnny's find is probably better. Metal cradle and ability to use real hakko iron down the road if you want.
PV nude beach... mostly gay dudes and heffer chicks though lol.
Grew up in pv, I'm now down the road from tito's... best tacos ever!
Epic indoor near LA. Westcoast rc was world class but closed last year
Now OCRC (30 min) & SCVRC (30 min), both epic.
Used to run nitro tc (mtx3) but crystal park closed years ago so indoor offroad now
PV nude beach... mostly gay dudes and heffer chicks though lol.
Grew up in pv, I'm now down the road from tito's... best tacos ever!
Epic indoor near LA. Westcoast rc was world class but closed last year
Now OCRC (30 min) & SCVRC (30 min), both epic.
Used to run nitro tc (mtx3) but crystal park closed years ago so indoor offroad now
07-07-2014, 02:51 PM
#27
Venice beach was a nude beach, probably you weren't born yet, me in high school. lol!!
Three permenant tracks Had closed. Revelations went off-road, Crystal Park Closed lease was up and Crystal Park didn't want to add restrooms. Sun Valley closed by management I think, It was really good for the 5th scales. Been in the hobby since RanchPit in Pomona in the '80's. I go to the track in Camarillo/Oxnard every 3 months. GLARCRC is probably the best for racing, they used to run at Crystal Park. Now Metro station in Artesia.
Johnny's Circuit Specialist Station Looks good at $29!! Warranty of one year, and located in Mesa, Az.
Three permenant tracks Had closed. Revelations went off-road, Crystal Park Closed lease was up and Crystal Park didn't want to add restrooms. Sun Valley closed by management I think, It was really good for the 5th scales. Been in the hobby since RanchPit in Pomona in the '80's. I go to the track in Camarillo/Oxnard every 3 months. GLARCRC is probably the best for racing, they used to run at Crystal Park. Now Metro station in Artesia.
Johnny's Circuit Specialist Station Looks good at $29!! Warranty of one year, and located in Mesa, Az.
07-07-2014, 04:05 PM
#28
Has old mate OP bought a Hakko yet?
If this thread debate goes on for a bit longer he will be able to save up a little more to buy a real one
If this thread debate goes on for a bit longer he will be able to save up a little more to buy a real one
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