Picking between Hakko soldering stations
 

Would you buy the Hakko 936-13 or the Hakko FX888? Tired of dealing with the frustration of trying to solder these 10awg lipo wires... Time to get something that will last.

http://www.amainhobbies.com/index.ph...oldering-Irons

It's seems the 936 is quite popular with the r/c crowd. Seeing pics of the pits at like Nats and stuff, you see lots of 936's. They are more visually appealing then the FX888, with the skins they come with from AMain. But obviously the FX888 is newer, more powerful, more efficient, etc. Is the 936 really more then I'll ever need, or is the FX888 being only nominally more expensive, a better idea to just go ahead and get the better iron?

The extra $10 looks to be worth it although the FXX888 is a bit "Fugly"
I have the 936 and it's more than enough soldering station than I'll need for general RC applications. The standard tip on the FXX888 is more suited for circuit boards whereas the standard 936 tip is a fat tip that isn't very good for small jobs. Hope that helps

The 888 has 10 more watts of power than the 936. I've never run into anything I couldn't solder and solder well with my 936 and that includes 8 and 10ga wires.

I recently got one from Circuit specialists. It is very nice and a good bit cheaper than the Hakko. Read the soldering guide in this section probably on the 2nd or 3rd page by now. It comes with a new element if you were to ever wear one out, and the station and tips are top notch. They back their products too.

Here is the link. http://circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9747
If you get one i recommend one of these tips for the heavy guage wire. http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7549
or http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7321

Remember whichever iron you get to keep your tip tinned at all times, and don't leave it on when you aren't using it, Mine takes like 10-20 seconds to heat up so there is no need to leave it on.

+ on the use of a large tip, to better hold the temp up, on larger wires. And technique is important, proper tip maintenance, use paste flux, etc. The tutorial mentioned, kinda lengthy but some really good info:

http://www.rctech.net/forum/radio-el...ef-lesson.html

As far as your question, I also agree, the 936-13 (large tip model) is well proven. But that new fugly job would probably work fine too, just might need a bigger tip, not sure which one it comes with. The smaller size would be nice.

wow that really is a great price! seems to me that everyone wants to get the same looking equipment these days. I say as long as it does the job they why pay more to have what everyone else has just for looks and stuff.

Thanks for the link, I'll pass it on to others looking for a cheaper alternative. Unfortunately that particular one is out of stock. The digital version runs $54.95. For that price it's close enough, for me, to justify the Hakko, when you factor in AMain coupons, $5 customer rewards points, and the sweet flame wraps the Hakko comes with.

The Hakko 936 seems to be the same as the Team Checkpoint station, except with the Team Checkpoint one you can actually see what temp your at even with the decals on. Does anyone know if they are the same internally also? Meaning same quality wiring and circuitry.

My 936 is about 10 years old and still going strong. Just finished doing some 8 GA wires to deans. I don't miss dicking with my old iron. This was well worth it!

I've got the Team Checkpoint version of the 936. It's an awesome soldering station. Get's everything done that I ask it to. It is the exact same thing as the Hakko 936, just re-badged under Checkpoint's name. Either the 936 or the FX888 would be good for RC and pretty much all small solder jobs in general. They are good quality and shouldn't have trouble finding parts for them if you need a new pen, tip, or something along those lines.

ya go with the hakko hands down!!!! i have one that is ten years old used to sit out in the cali sun over long two or three day races when we used to run six cells. never turned it off left the temp all the way up and still to this day works like a charm. well worthe the money. and just fyi the cheaper iron that there i a link to it is only a 35 watt iron. i always would run wore whatts than needed becouse you wont over heat what your trying to soder.

hakko
 

hello there. Ya i just bought a hakko 936 rc model last week and love it.. it blows my weller soldering iron out of the water. I should have bough one of these many years ago considering what i spent on different soldering irons.

i used to have trouble soldering rc stuff with the others. i recomend hakko hands down.

On a side note i found out that the 936 has been discountinued when i went to register it. the new fx takes it place but 936 parts are still avaible on ebay and hakko.

buy it you wont regret it.

Either one you will be A-OK with!