Where to get 900S (Small tip)handle for Hakko936 (or eqiv.) iron?

[TT_Vert]

I have the circuit specialties version of the Hakko 936 and am looking for the small pencil type handle (900S) for it.  I cannot seem to find it anywhere and given the mass quantity of knock off items for the 936 and it's components I'm shocked to find nothing in the 900S form factor.   Has anyone had any luck getting a pencil type handle for the 936 that isn't $100?  I'm open to other alternatives as well but I need something much smaller for certain fine SMD reworking.

Thanks much,

Dave

[KL27x]

Not shocked, at all.

Those tips aren't any smaller, really, except for the knife tip. You can get all of the others in the better thermal performance T18. Conicals, bevels, and chisels, all just as small as the 900S. For really fine work, under a microscope, all you are going to see is the very tip of the iron, anyhow. Not the width/diameter of the barrel/base, which is going to be miles away from the action.

Many of the clone 900M handles have poor thermal performance, putting a lot of heat into the handle. I don't think they are going to have much luck getting a 900S pencil to work adequately without melting, using the same cheap materials.

Good luck finding your pencil, though. If you want short tip to grip, then consider buying cheap T12 clone, maybe. Or in the EU, you can get an Ersa? But "smaller tip" you don't need to do anything but order the right one for the 936. They go just as small.

[TT_Vert]

Funny you mentioned that.   This query directed me towards the STM32 based OLED irons from China.  I got one earlier w/ the T12 knockoff FX-9501 handle.  This should probably suit my needs.  It seems these T12s are much better then the 900 series handle I had so maybe I'll be switching irons or keeping the ESD 936 as a backup.  Funny how things snowball.

Dave

[Shock]

The 936 is a discontinued product. You can get plenty of fine tips on the T18 series which replace the older 900M series, they just aren't for a slim handle/element. I have a T18-S4 and T18-D08 but you could get something like the T18-BL which is a slightly narrower profile than those tips.

[KL27x]

TT-Vert:
The blue and yellow FM2027/8 clone handles for the T12/15 tips has a much shorter tip to grip. But it depends on your hand, maybe. I find it doesn't make much difference for most situations. Probably because the handle and the tip are so much lighter. There's also some significant play in this handle.

I keep a T12 clone on a shelf for when I want switch between 2 irons, frequently, but I have reverted to my 888. After the first few months of newness wore off, I found I simply prefer the 888. Tip selection and performance are nearly identical in everything I do.* But my own personal preference is for the weight, ergos, and reach of the 888/936 handpiece. And I like the tip change/storage of the small T18 tips vs the long T12/15.

*That said, the 888 has about 17% more power than a genuine 936.

[TT_Vert]

Thanks the the good info guys.  We'll see how this cheapy OLED one treats me.  It's sort of a kit so if nothing else it's something fun to do.