HAKKO FX-888/FF-888D - Where to buy genuine?

[xZero]

Hi, I finally want to buy soldering station for hobby/professional use, so I watched which one Dave recommends, and found that is Hakko FX-888 but nowadays FX-888 is discontinued  and FX-888D is successor.
Which one to buy? Personalty I think that analog one is better.

And main question - where to buy genuine? I do not wanna clone or counterfeit. I do not wanna go above 130USD.
I given Ebay a try and found this set, however seller claims that product is not genuine but OEM version. Any ideas?
I also seen some on AliExpress and DealExtreme but I'm afraid of counterfeits.

I am from Sweden, so I cannot use Amazon or so.

Thanks

[wraper]

In another tread they sweared to be genuine stuff and getting them directly from Hakko.
http://www.semicom.lv/Instrumenti_Ra%C5%BE_iek%C4%81rtas/Lod%C4%81muri_piederumi/Lod%C4%93%C5%A1anas_stacijas/Genuine_HAKKO_FX_888D_soldering_station_with_iron_holder_sponge_and_brass_wool_1965536_707.html

Which one to buy? Personalty I think that analog one is better.

But genuine analog 888 are not sold for a long time, therefore only fakes are available.
There is no chance to get genuine Hakko from China.
Alhough I would recommend Ersa I-con Nano or Pico (not ESD safe, otherwise almost as Nano) over Hakko 888D. Price including VAT, shipping to Sweden will cost EUR 13,80.
http://www.ersa-shop.com/ersa-icon-nano-elektronisch-geregelte-l%C3%B6tstation-standby-antistatisch-p-364.html
http://www.ersa-shop.com/ersa-icon-pico-elektronisch-geregelte-l%C3%B6tstation-zeitstandby-p-8705.html

[xZero]

Woah, bad news, really, and I almost bought one of those shits for price of genuine
WelL I'll rather stick with Hakko, even if it is FX-888D (is it  that bad?) but still I have no idea where to order it? Are your alternatives better than FX-888D and how?



I'm quite limited with money at the moment, but I need decent soldering station as soon as possible. With shipping I can go as maximum as 120USD or even lower if possible.

[wraper]

Woah, bad news, really, and I almost bought one of those shits for price of genuine
Are your alternatives better than FX-888D and how?

Better in almost every possible way, more powerful and much smaller. Accesories are easy to get in EU. No counterfeits exist. Really lazy to explain all the things, you could search for some older treads here.

WelL I'll rather stick with Hakko, even if it is FX-888D (is it  that bad?) but still I have no idea where to order it?

In EU you have not many choices. The usual answer is Batterfly (Italy). Though recently appeared that Semicom (located a few kilometers away from me) sells them too. Really hard to buy genuine Hakko stuff in this part of the earth.

[aon]

Woah, bad news, really, and I almost bought one of those shits for price of genuine
WelL I'll rather stick with Hakko, even if it is FX-888D (is it  that bad?) but still I have no idea where to order it? Are your alternatives better than FX-888D and how?



I'm quite limited with money at the moment, but I need decent soldering station as soon as possible. With shipping I can go as maximum as 120USD or even lower if possible.

Would you consider a second-hand FX-888D? I have one that's a bit over a year old and no need for it. I think I could do 80€ including shipping to Sweden (which is a bit over 20€). Comes with a used T18-D12 tip attached and two unused tips (T18-C1 and T18-B).

PM me if you're interested.

EDIT: more reasonable price.

[zapta]

I am from Sweden, so I cannot use Amazon or so.

Somebody mentioned once a reasonably priced legit European Hakko dealer called Butterfly.

[Eartoot]

I am from Sweden, so I cannot use Amazon or so.

Somebody mentioned once a reasonably priced legit European Hakko dealer called Butterfly.

Most likely Batterfly as suggested by wraper. Link here: http://www.batterfly.com/shop/hakko

I've bought from Batterfly in the past with no issues. Italy has a strange codice fiscale personal tax code thing they use for online shopping which can seem daunting but the people at Batterfly helped me sort all that out.

[nanofrog]

Batterfly sells the FX-888D for 98EUR + VAT & shipping (linky).  FWIW, this is one of, if not the lowest price in Europe ATM.

[6581]

I do second Batterfly. Got FX888d just recently. Delivery (to Finland) time wasn't very quick, over two weeks.

[GreyWoolfe]

I would take aon's deal.  His price is very fair and is giving 3 tips, which is a savings in itself.

[6581]

Didn't notice aon's second hand offer above. Yeah, should definitely consider that. And FX888D is not awful at all, sure the ui could be better (damn give us just one more button!) but it's just fine. It's a nice compact unit. Cord is not removable. What plug does aon's have?

[aon]

Didn't notice aon's second hand offer above. Yeah, should definitely consider that. And FX888D is not awful at all, sure the ui could be better (damn give us just one more button!) but it's just fine. It's a nice compact unit. Cord is not removable. What plug does aon's have?

I'm in Finland so Schuko.

[TheBay]

Tell me about the UI, my FX-951 is AWFUL to adjust, and that BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! when it goes in and out of the holder.

Didn't notice aon's second hand offer above. Yeah, should definitely consider that. And FX888D is not awful at all, sure the ui could be better (damn give us just one more button!) but it's just fine. It's a nice compact unit. Cord is not removable. What plug does aon's have?

[GreyWoolfe]

Tell me about the UI, my FX-951 is AWFUL to adjust, and that BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! when it goes in and out of the holder.

The beep in and out of the cradle means the auto sleep is set to zero minutes, change it to 5 or 10 and the beep won't be constant.  Also open it up and put a piece of electrical tape over the piezo buzzer, that will mute it to a nice level.  I don't adjust the temp on mine much so the UI isn't bad at all.

[6581]

Tell me about the UI, my FX-951 is AWFUL to adjust, and that BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! when it goes in and out of the holder.

Setting temperature:
https://youtu.be/xcUWOUJIalM

How to setup "preset mode" (after which you can use preset temps):
https://youtu.be/H5ymGXuowU8

Selecting preset temperature:
https://youtu.be/r1pl61mbhOo

The fail of this user interface is that by default, if you press up-button for couple seconds and select a temperature - guess what? You just used "adjust mode" to calibrate your soldering station - (edit:) the fail part in my opinion is that usually to set a temperature you press enter-button for couple seconds - this adjust mode shouldn't be so easy to mix with setting a temperature:
https://youtu.be/OvWxNlxVWUY

But going to settings, turning on preset mode and setting a password for adjust mode, the device is just fine to use (IMHO).

[neslekkim]

and when you f**k it up, here is the reset procedure:

[xZero]

I like how this thread goes, many useful things come up.
I considering second-hand Hakko from aon, would be nice to get it, but I'll first consider Batterfly as an option as new is new.

[neslekkim]

I would buy the used one, and save the money for something else
€80 including tips and shipping is cheap, depending on how much use it had.

[6581]

For comparison, my Hakko FX888d was 98€ (before taxes) , 5 tips 29€, shipping 18.80€, tax 32€, total approx 178€. I think 80€ with three tips is a bargain.

[neslekkim]

at current exchange rate, I paid €190 for my 888d, no tips, but at the rate that time it was like €230.
packed it away, switched to an JBC, far better, but for starters, I think it's more than enough

[xZero]

Ok guys, you won! I will buy the used one. Going to contact aon, hopefully he didn't sold it yet.

I just wondering does it work on 230V?

[neslekkim]

He said it's shucko connector, 220, 230, same same..

[xZero]

Yeah, I didn't noticed that before. Can't wait to get it!

[xZero]

Just got HAKKO FX-888D from aon. Everything was smooth, item is in great condition. Pleasure to do business with.

[6581]

Great purchase! Time to heat some solder... :-)