Hakko FR-301

[alanp]

I've been on the fence about getting a hand-held desoldering tool for awhile, and picked one up a few weeks ago.

Bloody hell.

You do have to clean it... multiple times each session... but it works very, very, very well. The pots just fell out of the old PCBs I was harvesting parts from (they've been sitting in the cupboard for half a decade... didn't want to waste the parts on 'em) and the rotary switches very nearly did as well! (The retaining clips on those work a bit better than the average 9mm pot retaining bits.)

If DIY electronics is a big hobby, and you're on the level of owning and using a scope, I'd recommend getting a FR-301 as well.

[jimilee]

Maaaan, I need one of those...soon....


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[madbean]

It's work to maintain but I can't recommend it enough. I've torn it down, replaced parts, etc etc over the years but it keeps going.

[jimilee]

It's work to maintain but I can't recommend it enough. I've torn it down, replaced parts, etc etc over the years but it keeps going.

It's just so dammed expensive, twice the price of the iron. I'll have one, but all my fun money is a little low right now. Maybe a go fund me....


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[pickdropper]

It's work to maintain but I can't recommend it enough. I've torn it down, replaced parts, etc etc over the years but it keeps going.

It's just so dammed expensive, twice the price of the iron. I'll have one, but all my fun money is a little low right now. Maybe a go fund me....


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Does your iron take blade tips?  I have a Hakko Desoldering Tool (the model previous to the FR301) and I use blade or tweezers to pull most components.  With the blade, I can heat all 3 pins simultaneously and pull the pot while the solder is hot.  I can then clean up with a solder sucker or braid.

[jimilee]

It's work to maintain but I can't recommend it enough. I've torn it down, replaced parts, etc etc over the years but it keeps going.

It's just so dammed expensive, twice the price of the iron. I'll have one, but all my fun money is a little low right now. Maybe a go fund me....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Does your iron take blade tips?  I have a Hakko Desoldering Tool (the model previous to the FR301) and I use blade or tweezers to pull most components.  With the blade, I can heat all 3 pins simultaneously and pull the pot while the solder is hot.  I can then clean up with a solder sucker or braid.

Yup, the Hakko 888. I normally use both braid and a sucker.  The desolder tool sounds so much less of a headache.


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[pickdropper]

It's work to maintain but I can't recommend it enough. I've torn it down, replaced parts, etc etc over the years but it keeps going.

It's just so dammed expensive, twice the price of the iron. I'll have one, but all my fun money is a little low right now. Maybe a go fund me....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Does your iron take blade tips?  I have a Hakko Desoldering Tool (the model previous to the FR301) and I use blade or tweezers to pull most components.  With the blade, I can heat all 3 pins simultaneously and pull the pot while the solder is hot.  I can then clean up with a solder sucker or braid.

Yup, the Hakko 888. I normally use both braid and a sucker.  The desolder tool sounds so much less of a headache.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The braid and the sucker are just for clean-up.  The blade tip is the star of the show.



They are stupid expensive new, but can occasionally be found new and unused on eBay.  I'm not sure if they make them for the FX-888, though.

[jimilee]

It's work to maintain but I can't recommend it enough. I've torn it down, replaced parts, etc etc over the years but it keeps going.

It's just so dammed expensive, twice the price of the iron. I'll have one, but all my fun money is a little low right now. Maybe a go fund me....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Does your iron take blade tips?  I have a Hakko Desoldering Tool (the model previous to the FR301) and I use blade or tweezers to pull most components.  With the blade, I can heat all 3 pins simultaneously and pull the pot while the solder is hot.  I can then clean up with a solder sucker or braid.

Yup, the Hakko 888. I normally use both braid and a sucker.  The desolder tool sounds so much less of a headache.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The braid and the sucker are just for clean-up.  The blade tip is the star of the show.



They are stupid expensive new, but can occasionally be found new and unused on eBay.  I'm not sure if they make them for the FX-888, though.

Ahh, I see the type blade you're talking about. Definitely worth a look also.


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[peAk]

I've been on the fence about getting a hand-held desoldering tool for awhile, and picked one up a few weeks ago.

Bloody hell.

You do have to clean it... multiple times each session... but it works very, very, very well. The pots just fell out of the old PCBs I was harvesting parts from (they've been sitting in the cupboard for half a decade... didn't want to waste the parts on 'em) and the rotary switches very nearly did as well! (The retaining clips on those work a bit better than the average 9mm pot retaining bits.)

If DIY electronics is a big hobby, and you're on the level of owning and using a scope, I'd recommend getting a FR-301 as well.

Man Alan, one of my all-time best purchases for building pcb stuff. I told myself when I bought it that I would always clean it after ever use and so far I have kept that up. I have a system down of cleaning it that goes really fast so its a nonissue now.

I eventually purchased maybe 4-5 different style tips for it so I can use the best one suited for the job. They are expensive too but also makes the tool even more useful.

[culturejam]

I have the FR-300, and it's amazing. I don't use it all that much, but when I need, it is a clutch bit of kit.