Soldering Irons: Good vs Bad

[Night Blitz]

Hi, i was wondering what is some of the best soldering irons in the $100-$200 range i have found a few can anyone tell me if these are any good?

      Hakko FX888D

      X-Tronic 4010 XTS

      Weller WES51

 From the reviews ive heard the Hakko is a good one and the weller as well but i'm not sure about the x-tronic one also i haven't really heard of that brand anywhere.
Any advice is welcome! Thanks.

[Legion]

I have the WES51. It's been good so far. Heats up fast. Can't say I have any complaints.

[nanofrog]

You'd be fine with either the Hakko or Weller. Depending on your location, one may be a lot easier to obtain and find consumables (i.e. Hakko is easy to get in the US, but much harder and expensive in Europe for example, so Weller would be more common, and may win out on availability and cost).

Hakko does make better tips though (last longer due to thicker plating). Just make sure you get genuine ones, as there's a LOT of fakes out there, even the stations themselves (order from a distributor or Hakko directly, not eBay = problem solved).

[Zero999]

I got an FX888D off ebay and it works perfectly. I live in the UK and it's a 120V model so I run it from a transformer but it's not too much of a problem, since I put the transformer under the workbench.

[nanofrog]

I got an FX888D off ebay and it works perfectly. I live in the UK and it's a 120V model so I run it from a transformer but it's not too much of a problem, since I put the transformer under the workbench.

Purchased from NEI by chance?

I ask, as they are authorized retailers in the US.

[harry h]

I have had the Xtronic 4000 series hot air rework station for over a year and very happy with it.  What is nice is that their headquarters are in the US and you can reach them easily if necessary.  I spoke to the owner before I bought it and was impressed with his customer service.  Price was great.

Harry

[GreyWoolfe]

I have a real Hakko 936 and am very happy with it, so naturally, I would give my vote to the FX-888D.

[T3sl4co1l]

I prefer the FX-888 slightly over the WES51 (give or take the "D" in either model).  But that's just me.  It probably comes down more to tips and solder; as long as the tip is hot, it's more or less what you do with it that matters.

I've also used a few of those hot-shit thin instrumented irons, there's an upscale Weller out there that's not too bad, or if you want to go all Bentley on it, the Metcals, and I don't know how many others.  Thin tip, light handle, very fast (heats up in seconds), very powerful.  The cheaper of these sorts aren't too bad I think, but the price goes up steeply from there!  If you're doing professional assembly all day every day, by all means get one.

Tim

[mayor]

Happy with my Fx888. I imagine the others are equally good choices. Just make sure you get genuine tips. Cheap ones tend to oxidize.

[Zero999]

I got an FX888D off ebay and it works perfectly. I live in the UK and it's a 120V model so I run it from a transformer but it's not too much of a problem, since I put the transformer under the workbench.

Purchased from NEI by chance?

I ask, as they are authorized retailers in the US.

http://www.bdent.com/

[T3sl4co1l]

I got an FX888D off ebay and it works perfectly. I live in the UK and it's a 120V model so I run it from a transformer but it's not too much of a problem, since I put the transformer under the workbench.

Purchased from NEI by chance?

I ask, as they are authorized retailers in the US.

http://www.bdent.com/

Hmm, I got mine (now-discontinued analog model) from them as well, I think.  They're on eBay and Amazon, that I know of.

Tim