My FR-300 gun constantly cloggs up. Sometimes the cleaning is successful with a small drill, but often this just ends up with the drill breaking, after which I'm left with replacing the nozzle. So I set aside to buy some Hakko cleaning parts. Being from Europe this isn't as simple as I would have hoped, but getting fresh nozzles and cleaning pins wasn't too bad. Since they're on the accessories list I figured I might as well get the hakko drill bits too.... Until I found that you can only buy them 10pcs at a time, for no less than $40.
Now ideally I'd want them in 0.8, 1.0 and 1.3mm so that'd total $120 for some damn drills. Is this price anywhere near justified? Are the drills really really good (I guess not... why else would they sell in packs of 10)? Or am I better off finding a more friendly priced kind of drill that doesn't break as easily?
I have the same problem with my ERSA desoldering tool.
For cleaning the nozzles i use drilled jigsaw blades which are flexible and won't break.
Best regards
Frank
Hi,
Have a look for a 'welding tip cleaner'. This is a bunch of stiff stainless wires that can be used to clean de-soldering irons.
Regards,
Jay_Diddy_B
1mm drill bits cost peanuts in your friendly metal or electronics shop. I paid ca. 3€ in Poland for 10.
I do not drill Hakko tips when they clog up. I use a hammer with a drill bit. You break the bit but it is much faster than drilling.