Soldering iron upgrade from Hakko 888?

[Mp3]

Hello all,

Ive been using the same Hakko 888 (non-digital) for almost 10 years. I've already replaced the iron component itself because the wires always start breaking on the inside, so the unit cuts power on and off, i go to solder and find the tips gone cold, etc...

Now it's time to replace the iron again and i am wondering if i should give up on the 888 and get something else.

What iron at least as good as the 888 would people recommend?

Or is there a more durable iron component i could get somewhere since the 888 itself isn't really the problem?

[FotatoPotato]

I would highly recommend the Pace ADS200, I used to have the FX888D and it was great until I got the ADS200. I will never go back to an iron that doesn't have an integrated heating element in the tip, its just so much better at delivering the heat and its very noticeable.

I know the ADS200 is expensive and the tips are also a bit more expensive than a Hakko's tips bit, in my opinion, it is well worth it.

Link: https://paceworldwide.com/ADS200/

[Mp3]

I would highly recommend the Pace ADS200, I used to have the FX888D and it was great until I got the ADS200. I will never go back to an iron that doesn't have an integrated heating element in the tip, its just so much better at delivering the heat and its very noticeable.

I know the ADS200 is expensive and the tips are also a bit more expensive than a Hakko's tips bit, in my opinion, it is well worth it.

Link: https://paceworldwide.com/ADS200/

Thanks for the suggestion, i think after all the money ive spent on the 888 handles alone i was expecting a MUCH worse price when you said the ADS200 is expensive 

Will await a few other suggestions or endorsements of the ads200 since i dont need it yesterday exactly but i am getting sick of fixing the 888 iron's cable.

[Shock]

Yes you should get a Pace ADS200, I think it's best on the market in that price bracket and you're unlikely to need anything better in a hurry.

Most people go for the instant setback version which includes a cable that signals the station that the iron is in or out of the that stand. Good idea to pickup a few cart tips with the station at the same time to save on shipping later.

Tequipment.net does a 6% discount for Eevblog members and since they do free shipping ~$220 for the ADS200 with instant setback will probably be the best deal around. Request the code if you don't have it already from this thread here.

I did a bit of a write up on the ADS200 which you can read here.

[GreyWoolfe]

2 other options are the Hakko FX-951 and a used Metcal MX-500.  That is what I have.

[Aztlanpz]

I have the Hakko FX-951 and I love it.

[eugenenine]

+1 more for the 951

[FotatoPotato]

My take on the ADS200 vs the FX951 is that it comes down to personal preference. I have used both irons and personally, I like the ADS200 more but they are both fantastic Irons and worthy upgrades to the FX888. In my opinion, the tips for the ADS200 are better but again, Its really up to personal preference.

[Shock]

My take on the ADS200 vs the FX951 is that it comes down to personal preference. I have used both irons and personally, I like the ADS200 more but they are both fantastic Irons and worthy upgrades to the FX888. In my opinion, the tips for the ADS200 are better but again, Its really up to personal preference.

Pace also has currently one of the best mini tweezers on the market, so when the new ADS200 aluminum tweezers are finally out they will have almost the same power as the FX951 iron but on each "tweeze".

Neither stations are perfect, just the ADS200 solved a lot of the nuances the last generation of stations had which happened to include the FX951. I resisted temptation for years on a FX951, fortunately the price over here helped with that. To be fair Hakko is still the best thing going at $100 US, just not the best thing going at $200 US anymore due to the ADS200.

Paces design for a while has been very simple, I like em. I was initially looking at the Metcal, Thermaltronics and Paces older iron came up in that. When you do a comparison the Hakko starts to look a bit clunky with it's dependence on a tip holder. I'm fairly sure this was done to avoid heat issues which thankfully Pace has solved for their own stations.

Not that Pace have said this but I think the reason they went blue is they planned to replace their older plastic iron (top right) with the near identical looking silver anodized version soon after the ADS200 came out. Been soldering almost 40 years and aluminum with contoured silicon grip is a great combination if not the best I've come across.

[FotatoPotato]

Couldn't agree more with you 

[sambonator]

You might consider a combo workstation if you don't already have a hot air rework station for SMD work. 

[Shock]

You might consider a combo workstation if you don't already have a hot air rework station for SMD work.

As long as it's not a Chinese combo station, they mostly use the Chinese clone 907 irons so this is a backwards step if you currently own a genuine Hakko FX888.

A separate Chinese clone 858D hot air station ~$45 as far as I can tell is the best bang for buck before something like a Quick 861DW hot air station ~$240 shipped from China.

[sambonator]

You might consider a combo workstation if you don't already have a hot air rework station for SMD work.

As long as it's not a Chinese combo station, they mostly use the Chinese clone 907 irons so this is a backwards step if you currently own a genuine Hakko FX888.

A separate Chinese clone 858D hot air station ~$45 as far as I can tell is the best bang for buck before something like a Quick 861DW hot air station ~$240 shipped from China.

Yes you're right, I don't see any reasonably priced combo workstations from top brands. 

[mohammed al jamal]

thanx

[GreyWoolfe]

You might consider a combo workstation if you don't already have a hot air rework station for SMD work.

As long as it's not a Chinese combo station, they mostly use the Chinese clone 907 irons so this is a backwards step if you currently own a genuine Hakko FX888.

A separate Chinese clone 858D hot air station ~$45 as far as I can tell is the best bang for buck before something like a Quick 861DW hot air station ~$240 shipped from China.

I had a Yihua 858D that I have since given to a fellow blogger.  I have the Quick 957DW which can be had for $95 USD.  Much better, though the hose is a bit stiff.

[Shock]

I had a Yihua 858D that I have since given to a fellow blogger.  I have the Quick 957DW which can be had for $95 USD.  Much better, though the hose is a bit stiff.

I've seen BGA laptop rework on an 858D (but yeah I know what you mean). I think the Quick 861DW is a bit of an overkill anyway if you are using preheating, this is probably why most manufacturers are not trying to make hot air stations as powerful as heat guns. Speaking of heat guns you can get variable flow/heat models, forget 1000W lets try 2000W! Or how about this video, you don't even need to own hot air using this method.