Hakko FX-951 Review

[jwrtiger]

Here is a video I just did on the Hakko FX-951 soldering station.  Hope it is helpful for those considering this soldering station.
https://youtu.be/YYZs_pewRd4

John

[GreyWoolfe]

Excellent video.  Much better than my poor attempt at a review.  I just used text for mine as I didn't want to subject anyone to my accent-Jersey boy with Brooklyn accent  .  I hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine.

For anyone thinking of getting one, get it through TEquipment.net.  They offer an EEVBlog discount and I bought the station, 5 tips and 4 holders plus an extra brass curls for about $287 USD.

[jwrtiger]

GreyWoolfe, glad you liked the video and I agree I bought mine through TEquipment.net with the EEVBlog discount.

John

[nanofrog]

Definitely well done. 

The only additions I'd request would be a demonstration of shifting through the presets (i.e. likely most used feature that requires buttons to be pressed), and added the UI as a con.   But that last bit may just be me.   

Should help a lot of people understand how good this station is, especially in terms of the value it offers vs. the competition.  Common profile T15 series tips are inexpensive as well, particularly for cartridge tips.  Do note that the T30 series tips for the FM-2032 only offer 6 shapes thus far, and run ~$36 - 40 each (FM-2032 Kit only runs ~$174). 

To put things in to perspective cost wise, a JBC CD-1BE runs ~ $460 from Janel (compact station, not separates; you can add a T210 iron though seems the connectors on the compact stations may be different, unlike the separate systems - warrants further investigation), and Weller being ~$400 for a WD1002 + WDH10T from TEquipment* (the WDH10T is required to add full sleep functionality <adds a micro switch>). Weller does give you a single 2.4mm, and JBC includes two; a 2.4mm chisel and a 1.2mm long conical. So at least either of these will work OTB. 

FWIW, the Weller has the most tools that will work with it (3 irons, hot tweezers, a hot plate, and a solder pot), including a micro iron (WP65). It will work in the WDH10T stand, so you'd only need the iron + tips; the WSP80 or WP80 will also work in the WDH20T stand, which is cheaper right now by ~$22). Puts it at $374.16 before the discount (~$352 shipped w/ discount), so still more expensive than the FX-951.

For disclosure, I do own a WD1, WDH20T switched stand, WSP80 iron, and a WMP iron (discontinued micro iron). It works extremely well, particularly for using simple plated tips, but it's not the value the Hakko is (bought it before the FX-951 was even announced, & cartridge tips from JBC & Weller were horrendous in price at that time). The LT series tips from Bosnia have had a high QC defect rate at ~30%; those from the US, Germany, or Japan have been fine (there are also 3rd party tips available; i.e. Plato). The UI is much nicer to use than the Hakko though (extremely intuitive).

Not worth an extra ~$100 intuitive though, hence the request to show how to use the presets on the FX951. 

BTW, none of these 3 stations stack, so they all fall short on this feature for those that need it.

* Before applying the EEVBlog discount. Applying the discount will shave it down to $372.55 w/ free shipping.

[jwrtiger]

Nanofrog.... Wow thanks for the great information I only have a few inexpensive soldering irons to compare to the Hakko FX-951.  I really appreciate the feedback and that you also like the video. I really enjoy making videos and I am very happy when others appreciate them. 

John