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BTW: I accidentally left mine on for 12 hours the other day. Still works perfectly.

Yeah, it seems really well made. Although there is clearly something tiny rattling around inside of mine, not sure what. Doesn't seem to be causing any problems, though.

I wish there was an LED indicator letting me know it was turned on-oh well.

Pics:

Received the FR-300. Surprised how compact it is compared to the old version.

Tequipment has them for $239 and If you are an EEVBlog forum member, use code EEVBLOG6 for a 6% discount. The already offer free shipping >$100 and no tax unless you are in NJ/PA.

Let me know what you think of the cutters.  Hopefully you like them.

Got them in the mail-These cutters are amazing. The spring pressure is perfectly consistent throughout the range of motion (hard to describe), and there is a definite stop at full-close and full-open. It just *feels* nice to use these things. Same feeling I get when I use my snap-on stuff. 

Of all of them, the Erem 2422E and 776E get the most use.  The 2422E is more standard size with an oval head.  The 776E is very small and has a tapered relieved head.  If I were to recommend one, I think the 2422E would probably be a good choice as an all around cutter.

Thanks-On your recommendation, I ordered a set of the 2422E from Amazon.

An aside: In the past, I have never received counterfeit Apex Tool Group products from Amazon (have purchased a lot of the green-handled Xcelite electronics pliers without issue). Hoping all will be good here as well.

Amazon used to be my go-to place for almost everything, but now I second guess my purchases after receiving a few counterfeit items. And they also keep a running ratio of your returned item count to ordered item count, and if you exceed a magical unpublished threshold, they ban you forever. So I have become more judicious in my purchasing, and often order from other vendors even if it costs a bit more to avoid headache. /Rant.

Yeah, made me a bit concerned too. Others are selling the FR-300 for a similar price. MSRP is still $309. Oh well, if it works it works. I doubt it would be discontinued so early?

Anywhoo, I pulled the trigger on the FR-300 from tequipment and grabbed 1.3mm and 1.6mm nozzles, in addition to the included 1mm. Per my calipers, 16mm board mounted pots have 1mm wide pins, but they have some breadth so very well may not fit in the 1mm nozzle. Should have my bases covered with 1.3mm and 1.6mm.

Nevermind, they have ones that are already bigger, no drilling necessary:

http://www.tequipment.net/search/?F_Keyword=FR-300%20nozzle

100% satisfied. The replacement has not caused any issues and I've desoldered hundreds of components with it at this point. The only small complaint is that the nozzle hole is too small to fit over a 16mm PCB pin. But, I have not looked to see if there are larger nozzles yet. So far I have been able to desolder those by going at them from the sides or using my old desolder gun.

Awesome-I am about to pull the trigger momentarily.

And I think they do have "larger" nozzles: just look under "customers also bought" here: http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko/FR-300/Desoldering-Equipment/?OrderItemId=1056733

Although if yours came with the 1mm standard one, it might not be larger. I am thinking of grabbing an extra and drilling it out.

Out of all those pictured, which ones do you use the most?

I've gone through several pairs of those stamped CHP-170 side cutters (and one pair came with my Hakko iron), and they work ok until they get dull. And then I just buy another for $5.

But I love good tools as well- so If you had to just have *one* pair of high-end side cutters, which one in particular would it be?

I usually just pay the high cost for the real deal from Mouser, but this prevents me from stocking up in bulk like I do with most other parts. I just can't convince myself to buy anything from Tayda-I always, without fail, regret cheaping out on parts. There are no free lunches, no real deals. I think my time is worth much more to me than the perceived cost savings associated with buying inferior parts.

PPP has them for $0.95 http://www.pedalpartsplus.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PPP&Category_Code=Trim but the selection is extremely limited.

I wish SB had them, but they seem to only carry the cermet trimmers with inline pins, requiring ugly pin bending or otherwise.

I spoke too soon. The FR-300 is being returned. Unfortunately, I got a defective unit and it appears that the temperature sensor is toast. The nozzle doesn't heat any longer. So, I will get a replacement and hopefully that one will be okay!

Was your replacement functional? Would love to hear if you are still satisfied, or decided to go another direction.

There are lots of similar complaints about the FR300 in the Amazon reviews. I really want one of these, but the complaints of "broke after a few days" are numerous.

I have a FX888D and it is excellent quality. Makes me think there might be some counterfeits floating around? Or Hakko just had a bad run?

The next step up from the FX300 is in the $~$450 range and requires shop air. Too rich for my blood, and I don't want to have to be constrained desolder in the garage, where my air compressor is.

Hmm those look almost identical to the R13-85A1 switches I have. Maybe there are many, nearly-identical looking switches of varying quality? Do you know if these are different than the ones in the PPP link in the OP? I also found these: http://bitcheslovemyswitches.com/#!/SPST-Soft-Touch-Momentary-Footswitch-Normally-Open-SHORT-SHAFT/p/30853627/category=5027572

I guess I'm a little dismayed--all the effort to have elegant relay switching, and then a seeming dearth of quality/elegant switches to activate the microcontroller.

get the SCI ones from smallbear, they are serious quality.

oos at the moment of course...
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/momentary-spst-no-soft-touch/

Wow thanks for the link. I thought I had seen everything on SB.. guess not. I am going to grab a few of these and see if I can come up with an arrangement that will work nicely. Might have to get a bit creative, I am envisioning a U shaped bracket that tightens down with the linked actuator and holds a piece of perf.

What about the actuator Small Bear sells for working with small board mounted momentaries.

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/switch-actuator-for-b-o-b/

Hi all-

I have several 1776 finish line relay bypass boards (and a bunch more on the way), and I am converting most of my builds over to use these as they are spectacular.

However, I can't seem to find a soft touch switch (normally open, of course) that I actually like. The closest I can find, and I have a few of them, is the R13-85A1-05 which is common and made somewhere in asia. However, the build quality on these is pretty low (especially for the price).

I can live with the switch not being an actual footswitch, as long as it is pretty robust and operates really smoothly. I really enjoy extremely smooth operation in the hardware and high build quality.

The ones at PPP ( http://www.pedalpartsplus.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PPP&Product_Code=9014&Category_Code=SWI ) seem to be identical to the R13-85A1-05 switches. I think these are same ones that are all over eBay?

Any ideas? I have browsed and queried Mouser, but other than a couple of the Carling models (which have really strong springs in them, not soft touch at all), nothing looks appropriate for a pedal.

One mechanism I like, is what Tech21 uses in their para driver boxes. Let me see if I can take a pic of my para driver DI:





They use a PCB mounted click switch (it's really quiet though), and a panel mounted spring/footswitch assembly. I like the feel of this, but I have no idea where to source the panel mounted spring/switch assembly.

Argh I was up until 3am Pacific refreshing, and wake up to all gone. 

Ah those look right to me. Much thanks.

Search for mmbf5457 or mmbt5457 and mmbfj201 for the J201's. I seem to recal those being the part #'s