Looking for a Hakko FX-888/FX-888D

[birdie]

I'm looking to buy a Hakko FX-888 or FX-888D...

I've found a couple on eBay, but just wanted to check if they are ok:

Standard FX-888: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Original-Hakko-FX888-23BY-FX888-Soldering-Station-/110822404172?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cd87b04c&_uhb=1
Newer FX-888D plus 10 tips: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Hakko-FX888D-Soldering-Station-10-Hakko-tips-for-gift-/181176490004?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2ef5d814&_uhb=1

I also found on on Deal Extreme: http://dx.com/p/hanko-fx-888-70w-soldering-station-ac-220v-126505?utm_rid=51035725&utm_source=shopbot&utm_medium=pcs&utm_campaign=shopbotau&tc=AUD

Are they all legit?

I'm leaning towards the FX-888D

I'm in Australia...

Any advice...?

[jmole]

First one you listed looks legit. Same box/accessories that I got from Amazon in the US. We ordered 3 or 4 for a lab course about a year ago. Good price on it too. Great iron.

I'd recommend the non digital version. I've found that unless you have a very high-end digital iron (like my personal favorite), it's much easier to manage one with a little turny dial.

[IanB]

The FX-888/888D costs $90-$110 in the US as the 120 V version. The 230 V version typically costs rather more than that. So if you see it listed at $80 it will be suspect. There are Chinese versions that look the same on the outside, but have different electronics on the inside.

[nukie]

Ask for the serial no. before you buy, if the seller is hesitant then avoid at all cost.

[nanofrog]

I'm with IanB on this. All of the links posted are from Chinese locations, and are highly suspect IMHO (proven that fakes exist, and would expect this to be more common for 220V variants, since US 120V vs. 220V versions for most of the planet differ substantially on price; figure ~ double US pricing from what I can tell on avg.).

For example, Element 14 has the following:
FX-888: http://au.element14.com/hakko/fx-888/soldering-station-fx-888/dp/1719021
FX-888D: http://au.element14.com/hakko/fx-888d/soldering-station-digital-70w/dp/2280753

Hopefully, there are others who could point you to lower prices for Australia (Element 14 has stock on both).

[Guppzor]

I purchased my Hakko FX-888 a year or so ago and at the time I was tossing up between buying from eBay or some other overseas source for about the same price as the listing you linked to. At the end of the day I went with ordering on from element14 ($180ish including shipping at the time IIRC) because I could not be certain I was going to get the real deal from overseas and if I did have a problem I would end up spending the same if not more. Plus it was here the next day... 

[johnboxall]

I purchased my Hakko FX-888 a year or so ago and at the time I was tossing up between buying from eBay or some other overseas source for about the same price as the listing you linked to. At the end of the day I went with ordering on from element14 ($180ish including shipping at the time IIRC) because I could not be certain I was going to get the real deal from overseas and if I did have a problem I would end up spending the same if not more. Plus it was here the next day... 

Absolutely.  Also try Mektronics.

[shailesh3t]

i bought mine from adafruit n its seems to be a good one

[Guppzor]

Absolutely.  Also try Mektronics.

+1 Only reason I didn't get it from them was that I needed some other gear that element14 had that Mektronics did not.

[birdie]

I decided to buy the Deal Extreme one... from reports it sounds like its genuine... and if it is fake its a really good one that people haven't had trouble with...

hopefully I've made the right decision...

[nukie]

If you don't have a real one to compare side by side its really hard to judge. The only part thats most obvious is the grip. It is very firm, high density foam material.

[ddavidebor]

I decided to buy the Deal Extreme one... from reports it sounds like its genuine... and if it is fake its a really good one that people haven't had trouble with...

hopefully I've made the right decision...

If it's not an hakko and it's wrote hakko they will give you some money back.

[birdie]

I ended up cancelling my order from DX this afternoon... the order hadn't progressed at all...

So I'm back to square one... now to decide where to get one... or maybe similar alternative suitable soldering station...?

[johnboxall]

I ended up cancelling my order from DX this afternoon... the order hadn't progressed at all...

So I'm back to square one... now to decide where to get one... or maybe similar alternative suitable soldering station...?

If you're handy to one of their stores, check out the Altronics Micron stations, for example:
http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=T2416

Some Dick Smith stores still have the T2200 station:
http://www.dicksmith.com.au/tools-hobbyist/temperature-controlled-soldering-station-dsau-t2200

it's an old design, but still going strong after almost 30 years.

[amyk]

I ended up cancelling my order from DX this afternoon... the order hadn't progressed at all...

Typical of DX; wait times can be rather unpredictable.

[Psi]

I got mine from someone on aliexpress, seems genuine and works really well.
No problems at all.

I have noticed some of the yellow plastic is rubbing off where the iron touches the holder though.
Be interested to know if anyone else has noticed that on genuine units bought from official resellers.

[baljemmett]

I have noticed some of the yellow plastic is rubbing off where the iron touches the holder though.
Be interested to know if anyone else has noticed that on genuine units bought from official resellers.

The yellow section of my genuine holder is showing signs of use, in the form of some chipping I think - haven't noticed the colour rubbing off onto the iron, though.  Will try and remember to take a comparison photo this evening...

[birdie]

Ok Element14 seems to be the cheapest for known genuine that I can find at $187... is that the cheapest for a genuine 220/240V FX-888?

How does the Hakko compare to the Altronics, and DSE stations? I did have the basic $50 Jaycar station for a little while but it only has one tip available for it which is a standard conical tip...

[birdie]

Ok I've discovered http://www.oritech.com.au/ has them for $174.90inc GST... Element14 has them listed for $170 but thats ex GST so sneakily that ends up being $187... Oritech also does free postage...

I'm thinking that it probably is worth just buying a genuine one, the ones on eBay are about $120 so for extra $50 I can get a 100% genuine one from Australia...

[Guppzor]

How does the Hakko compare to the Altronics, and DSE stations? I did have the basic $50 Jaycar station for a little while but it only has one tip available for it which is a standard conical tip...

The DSE T2200 was my first temperature controlled iron and it served me well for a number of years. It was also the iron in use at the TV and radio repair shop I used to do some part time work at. This was because they were cheap but reliable and fairly hard to break.

I moved to the Hakko because I liked the form factor and had some cash spare at the time It was certainly worth it. The temperature is more stable and it does a better job then the T2200 when soldering to large copper pours. That's not saying the T2200 couldn't do it, but the Hakko just feels easier. If you were strapped for cash the T2200 would work well. I would offer mine for a good price but it is my backup iron and the iron I let others use if I'm doing a bit of instructional work

If you did go that route I would suggest getting some spare tips just in case DSE decide to discontinue everything associated with DIY and electronics other than consumer stuff

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

[Psi]

The digital version T-2250 was also good, mine still works well.
But i doubt you can get it any more.

[birdie]

Hmm ok, I think I will stick with the Hakko... at least it should be supported for a bit longer, and being an international brand, a large range of tips and parts should be much easier to source...
Everyone seems happy with Hakko, and Dave recommends it... so must be good

I want to get a wedge tip as well as per Dave's recommendation... which tip to go with? 1.6mm or 2.6mm (I think thats the correct sizes)?

[Psi]

go with 2.4mm for general use

[ivan747]

I have noticed some of the yellow plastic is rubbing off where the iron touches the holder though.
Be interested to know if anyone else has noticed that on genuine units bought from official resellers.

Absolutely, mine was bought from Tequipment.net and it has the same problem. I an guessing this would be hard to copy by someone faking the iron, so we could take this as a sign of authenticity.

[nanofrog]

Absolutely, mine was bought from Tequipment.net and it has the same problem. I an guessing this would be hard to copy by someone faking the iron, so we could take this as a sign of authenticity.

Might just be that Hakko decided to source cheap paint as well (tight manufacturing budget).   

[ivan747]

Absolutely, mine was bought from Tequipment.net and it has the same problem. I an guessing this would be hard to copy by someone faking the iron, so we could take this as a sign of authenticity.

Might just be that Hakko decided to source cheap paint as well (tight manufacturing budget).   

Well maybe their cheap paint is unique 

[Psi]

Thanks, that's good to know.
Everything else about my ebay/aliexpress hakko 888 says "genuine", but the paint issue did had me wondering.

[Grayfox]

I need a new iron.

My duratech one from jaycar(basic $50 one) is having issues.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=TS1620

I can only run it at full power.
If i turn it down to a lower heat the power LED turns off or flickers other wise it has been a nice iron.
Running it at max heat is also killing the tips faster too, it is also annoying that you can only get one tip for it and it is a basic conical one.

I would like a FX-888 since it has a nice amount of tips to choose from.

[birdie]

I was having a similar issue with my Jaycar Iron and it was only about 3 weeks old... except mine I could fiddle with the knob then it would switch on... so i got rid of it...

I've ordered a FX-888 from Oritech... got the station and the 2.4mm Wedge tip for $183.13 including free postage... was the cheapest I could find for genuine in Australia...

[birdie]

It arrived a week ago, and I managed to scored the FX-888D for FX-888 price... the FX-888 has been discontinued so they sent me a 888D for the same price very happy with Oritech

[Psi]

It arrived a week ago, and I managed to scored the FX-888D for FX-888 price... the FX-888 has been discontinued so they sent me a 888D for the same price very happy with Oritech

Nice.

[nishaon]

It arrived a week ago, and I managed to scored the FX-888D for FX-888 price... the FX-888 has been discontinued so they sent me a 888D for the same price very happy with Oritech

That's great!

I am also thinking of getting a HAKKO FX-888D. Do you suggest me to get it from Oritech?
You have got one from them, how is it performing, is it genuine 220 volt with Australian plug?

Your valuable advice is badly needed.
Thanks.

[kyle]

At least here in US Fry's (http://www.frys.com) has Hakko FX-888D for $69.99USD from time to time, good deal, I bought one locally, store can be found locally and one is 25 mile from me, this has become my favorite soldering iron.

[birdie]

It arrived a week ago, and I managed to scored the FX-888D for FX-888 price... the FX-888 has been discontinued so they sent me a 888D for the same price very happy with Oritech

That's great!

I am also thinking of getting a HAKKO FX-888D. Do you suggest me to get it from Oritech?
You have got one from them, how is it performing, is it genuine 220 volt with Australian plug?

Your valuable advice is badly needed.
Thanks.

Yeah I'd recommend Oritech... there are other Aussie suppliers but they were the cheapest when I bought mine... I haven't had much time to use it since being back at my day job, but I used it again today and its such a pleasure to use compared to all my previous irons... Yeah its genuine 240V with the Aussie plug...

[nishaon]

It arrived a week ago, and I managed to scored the FX-888D for FX-888 price... the FX-888 has been discontinued so they sent me a 888D for the same price very happy with Oritech

That's great!

I am also thinking of getting a HAKKO FX-888D. Do you suggest me to get it from Oritech?
You have got one from them, how is it performing, is it genuine 220 volt with Australian plug?

Your valuable advice is badly needed.
Thanks.

Yeah I'd recommend Oritech... there are other Aussie suppliers but they were the cheapest when I bought mine... I haven't had much time to use it since being back at my day job, but I used it again today and its such a pleasure to use compared to all my previous irons... Yeah its genuine 240V with the Aussie plug...

Thank you so much. I am really excited to use that!