Soldering Iron Tips

[Sublime]

I recently bought myself a Hakko FX-888D soldering station. However, I only have one tip: The chisel tip. I'd like to get more tips, and I've been wondering: where do I buy tips from and how? I noticed the Hakko website does not provide tips (at least not that I could find) and I'd like to buy some more tips... Can I just buy any old tip or must it be a tip made for my soldering station?

[IanB]

Where in the world are you?

How can anyone answer that question without knowing where you are?

[zapta]

I recently bought myself a Hakko FX-888D soldering station. However, I only have one tip: The chisel tip. I'd like to get more tips, and I've been wondering: where do I buy tips from and how? I noticed the Hakko website does not provide tips (at least not that I could find) and I'd like to buy some more tips... Can I just buy any old tip or must it be a tip made for my soldering station?

You need a to that matches you model. Hakko's site has a information about tips and compatibilities. Once you find one that you like, but from a reputable source to avoid getting a clone.  In general, eBay is not a good source for Hakko products.

[Fat]

I have been getting my tips from TEquipment.  I use them a filler on my order to get me to the point of free shipping.

I avoid ebay and amazon since I have a good chance at getting fake tips while paying for the genuine article. I used fake tips before on a fake Hakko 936 and, in my opinion, the genuine Hakko tips last longer and solder better. 

Fat

[GreyWoolfe]

I have been getting my tips from TEquipment.  I use them a filler on my order to get me to the point of free shipping.

I avoid ebay and amazon since I have a good chance at getting fake tips while paying for the genuine article. I used fake tips before on a fake Hakko 936 and, in my opinion, the genuine Hakko tips last longer and solder better. 

Fat

What he said.  Wherever you are located, use your Google Fu to find an authorized Hakko distributor and buy the real deal.

[nanofrog]

As per tip profiles, and what they're used for, Hakko has a Tip Selection Page that should be of use to you. 

For a bare minimum set of tips, you might want to consider the following:

• T18-D16 (1.6mm chisel)
• T18-D24 (2.4mm chisel)
• T18-D32 (3.6mm chisel)
• T18-BR02 (bent conical)
• 900M-T-3CM (cupped hoof/spoon shape designed for drag soldering)

Chisels can handle most any job, but the latter two are highly useful for soldering SMD IC's. There are more sizes & profiles of course (T18 series or 900M series will fit your station), but it's more cost effective to buy if/when needed using the above list as a starting point. 

[Muxr]

I personally find the Hakko T18-S7 Bevel - 1.2 mm/60? x 14.5 mm to be the best multipurpose tip. It has enough surface area for a decent heat transfer when you need it, as well as using the solder wick, and it's pointy enough for if you need precision. You just angle it differently for a different feature.

For SMD stuff I use the Hot Air Rework station.

[Fat]

I personally find the Hakko T18-S7 Bevel - 1.2 mm/60? x 14.5 mm to be the best multipurpose tip. It has enough surface area for a decent heat transfer when you need it, as well as using the solder wick, and it's pointy enough for if you need precision.

For SMD stuff I use the Hot Air Rework station.

I have a hot air rework station too, but there is just something satisfying about hand soldering a SMD chip.  For general use I use the 1.2mm chisel. I also like the 0.8mm chisel for finer work.  I bought some extra nuts and barrels so that I have three choices ready to go when I need them. Changing them when the iron has heated only takes a few seconds.

Fat

[Muxr]

I personally find the Hakko T18-S7 Bevel - 1.2 mm/60? x 14.5 mm to be the best multipurpose tip. It has enough surface area for a decent heat transfer when you need it, as well as using the solder wick, and it's pointy enough for if you need precision.

For SMD stuff I use the Hot Air Rework station.

I have a hot air rework station too, but there is just something satisfying about hand soldering a SMD chip.  For general use I use the 1.2mm chisel. I also like the 0.8mm chisel for finer work.  I bought some extra nuts and barrels so that I have three choices ready to go when I need them. Changing them when the iron has heated only takes a few seconds.

Fat

I solder a lot of SMD parts as well. But when I am desoldering or working with TQFP parts with a lot of pins then HARS is the only tool for the job. No need for specialized tips for that.

[Sublime]

Where in the world are you?

How can anyone answer that question without knowing where you are?

My apologies - I'm in the US - More specifically, Virginia.

I have been getting my tips from TEquipment.  I use them a filler on my order to get me to the point of free shipping.

I avoid ebay and amazon since I have a good chance at getting fake tips while paying for the genuine article. I used fake tips before on a fake Hakko 936 and, in my opinion, the genuine Hakko tips last longer and solder better. 

Fat

Unfortunately, I got this soldering station from e-Bay. I keep hearing the "reputable source" but how do I know if they're a reputable source? Second, from what I've gotten, I can not just go and buy any old random tip as a replacement for this, it must be that specific model's tip. Correct? Also, as I've said before, I went looking for tips for this model, but I really struggled to find much of anything that's not from ebay or Amazon.

EDIT: I managed to find the actual Hakko website which did provide the tips (the other one I looked at, hakko.com didn't have tips) http://www.hakkousa.com/detail.asp?CID=&PID=4800&Page=5 - out of these tips, which would be the most useful? I realize chisel tips are the most useful, and I already have a chisel tip, but what else should I have in stock with me? I'm on a budget, so I'm trying to get the bare essentials first - I'll build up from there once I've gotten the essentials.

EDIT 2: Nevermind, didn't see Nanofrog's very helpful post! Thanks a bunch Nanofrog!!!!

[Shock]

Examples of reputable sellers of Hakko:

Hakko Japan
Hakko USA
Large distributor  (normally listed on manufacturers website)
Reseller or retail chain of stores
Specialist stores

Examples of non reputable sellers of Hakko:

Ebay
Amazon

Some sellers are legitimate but you have a chance of buying counterfeit goods and almost certainly will buy counterfeit if you buy Hakko from China. If you sample Amazon enough you will find it there as well. There is also a chance buying secondhand locally or over Ebay when they realize they brought a fake.

[Simon]

I recently bought myself a Hakko FX-888D soldering station. However, I only have one tip: The chisel tip. I'd like to get more tips, and I've been wondering: where do I buy tips from and how? I noticed the Hakko website does not provide tips (at least not that I could find) and I'd like to buy some more tips... Can I just buy any old tip or must it be a tip made for my soldering station?

You need a to that matches you model. Hakko's site has a information about tips and compatibilities. Once you find one that you like, but from a reputable source to avoid getting a clone.  In general, eBay is not a good source for Hakko products.

Hakko live in the dark ages and will not allow their products to be sold on ebay, I spoke to one of the condemned resellers. It's a miracle hakko still exist.

[nanofrog]

EDIT 2: Nevermind, didn't see Nanofrog's very helpful post! Thanks a bunch Nanofrog!!!!

You're welcome. 

Since you're in the US, you might want to take a look at TEquipment.net.

For convenience:

• T18 Chisels (all of them)
• T18-BR02 Bent Conical
• 900M-T-3CM Drag Tip

PM sent.

Out of curiosity, who did you buy the station from on eBay?
I ask, as there are a lot of counterfeit Hakko products sold there.

BTW, if you go into your user profile and set your country, the flag will display beneath your userID.  Makes things a lot easier for everyone if you do this. 

[Simon]

I don't know about the US but in the UK there are only two authorized distributors and they are not allowed to sell on ebay at the cost of loosing the deal with hakko who are control freaks.

[GreyWoolfe]

I'm sure that this is going to be a stupid question, but I see people recommend getting bent conical tips.  If regular conical tips suck, why would I want a bent one?  I actually bought a SMD conical tip for my 936 and it sucks, my .8mm chisel tip works much better. 

[IanB]

I'm sure that this is going to be a stupid question, but I see people recommend getting bent conical tips.  If regular conical tips suck, why would I want a bent one?  I actually bought a SMD conical tip for my 936 and it sucks, my .8mm chisel tip works much better.

I think it is because the bent tip may help you to reach round corners and get into hard to reach places (perhaps when trying to rework a fully populated board with bigger components or heat sinks in the way).

[nanofrog]

I'm sure that this is going to be a stupid question, but I see people recommend getting bent conical tips.  If regular conical tips suck, why would I want a bent one?  I actually bought a SMD conical tip for my 936 and it sucks, my .8mm chisel tip works much better.

It's good for SMD work (drag soldering, pulling bridges, or even passives). Take a look at the illustrations on Hakko's page (here). 

Also useful for tacking corners prior to drag soldering, as well as fine AWG flying leads (dead bug & bodge wires).

[Sublime]

EDIT 2: Nevermind, didn't see Nanofrog's very helpful post! Thanks a bunch Nanofrog!!!!

You're welcome. 

Since you're in the US, you might want to take a look at TEquipment.net.

For convenience:

• T18 Chisels (all of them)
• T18-BR02 Bent Conical
• 900M-T-3CM Drag Tip

PM sent.

Out of curiosity, who did you buy the station from on eBay?
I ask, as there are a lot of counterfeit Hakko products sold there.

BTW, if you go into your user profile and set your country, the flag will display beneath your userID.  Makes things a lot easier for everyone if you do this. 

Once again, thank you! Very helpful links!

I bought it from niosales ( http://www.ebay.com/usr/niosales?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 )

Thanks, I will set my country!

[GreyWoolfe]

Ian and nano, I appreciate the explanation.  Is there a particular size you would recommend?  When I get my TEquipment.net gift card, I might have to pick one up.  Would say a .3mm bevel with indent http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko/T15-BCM3/Tips/  also be of use?  Here is a bent conical I found http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko/T15-JS02/ 

[Simon]

The problem with conical is that you never get much contact because the whole things is round. I suppose a bent one makes contact slightly easier.

[nanofrog]

Ian and nano, I appreciate the explanation.  Is there a particular size you would recommend?  When I get my TEquipment.net gift card, I might have to pick one up.  Would say a .3mm bevel with indent http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko/T15-BCM3/Tips/  also be of use?  Here is a bent conical I found http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko/T15-JS02/

The drag tip is perfect IMHO, as find myself using larger ones most of the time (bevel w/ indent).  And there is a smaller one should you need it. 

But for the bent conical, I think you'd be better with the T15-J02 instead (check the dimensions on the image). More copper, which helps, and it's more suited for working with IC's IME (can get in tight spaces), and wider bent portion is better suited to larger passives, say 0603 & larger. Besides, if you find it's too wide, just grab a suitable chisel.   

The problem with conical is that you never get much contact because the whole things is round. I suppose a bent one makes contact slightly easier.

It does, and you end up with thermal transfer similar to a small chisel IME.

[IanB]

Beware, the T15 series is not compatible with the FX888(D). For that you need the T18 series.

[nanofrog]

Beware, the T15 series is not compatible with the FX888(D). For that you need the T18 series.

FWIW, I previously mentioned to OP that the FX-888D uses T18 series as well as the 900M series (900M-T-3CM). So hopefully there won't be any confusion. 

GreyWoolfe has recently purchased an FX-951, hence the mention of the T15 series P/N's. Now I'm hoping for a nice review thread with plenty of photos.

[zapta]

My apologies - I'm in the US - More specifically, Virginia.

All Spec is a very good source in the US. Wide selection and reasonable prices.

[Fat]

I bought a "Hakko compatible" iron the other day off Amazon to use in a project I'm working on.  When it arrived yesterday I was amazed at how great it looked.  The fonts were very close on the lettering, the Hakko seal was slightly off and the resistance was pretty close.  I stripped it and the one from my FX-888D and took a few photos.  On close examination you can see the differences.  First picture shows the connector, it's all bent out of shape, the real Hakko is not.

Second shows the soldering on the real Hakko circuit board, sorry, it's blurry.

Third shows the soldering and jumper wire on the fake Hakko circuit board.

Overall, very similar, but on inspection you can see the difference in quality.  That's why I like the real Hakko tips.

Fat