Electronics > Beginners
Hakko 888D upgrade to Micro Pencil FM2032 ? Comparison
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Reprobyte:
Hi people, my first post but I've read through for a good while, love the forum!

I have the Hakko 888D standard iron but even with the T18-BR02  and D1.2 tips I struggle to work on some smaller projects eg tiny stuff like changing microscopic size fuses etc, too clunky to get in there easily

Does anyone have a side by side comparison of the 888D iron to the FM2032 micro pencil so I can check the size diff and see if it would really be worth the upgrade to a 951 and 2032

Any help appreciated

thanks!!  :D
KL27x:
You can see all the different tip shapes on Hakko website.

The 2032 will give you a more limited tip selection at over 3x the price.

The main reason to spend money for 2032 is shorter tip to grip distance and smaller, lighter pencil. Nothing to do with tips.

If you want to improve your SMD soldering and make your life easier:
1. buy and use liquid flux
2. improve your lighting
3. buy CF tips for your iron. T18 CF(1-3)
4. buy a stereo microscope.
in that order.

If you want to buy a new soldering iron:
1.buy a new soldering iron.

Smaller and finer tips are the solution you might think you need, but the shape of the tip and learning how solder behaves when fully fluxed are what get you to the end game. Fine pitch SMD soldering isn't miniature thru-hole soldering. The efficiency of small SMD parts is achieved by a different strategy and relies on the effects of surface tension of and gravity on de-oxidized solder, and the shape of the wettable surface of the iron and the pcb pads.
Reprobyte:
Thanks so much for taking the time to write a detailed reply, I will take all your points into consideration and especially look into the tips! Do want a stereo microscope at some point too, but I don't know my microscope brands well enough.
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