Soldering Station

Hakko FX888D

https://www.testequipmentdepot...20Hakko%2520Products

I agree with Chuck. Hakko FX888D.  You'll be impressed and pleased with your choice. It's on Amazon among other online retailers.

Dale

Hakko is the only one I use at work and home.

I agree with the above. Just bought the Hakko a month ago, it’s great!

Hakko FX-888D sitting on my desk right now. It is amazing. Easy to change settings, heats up in 30 seconds, and consistent accurate heat. I used an infrared thermometer on it when I first got it and it was accurate within 1-2 degrees of the setting.

What temperature do you recommend?

I use 650 F most of the time.  I think some use a bit lower, but I like to get on and off fast when doing semiconductor chip leads, etc.

Hakko FX888D @ 650F

I also use the FX-888D, but I made one small mod.  If you read the reviews, one point is brought up a few times, and it got me as well a couple of times, that being the difference between setting the temperature and calibrating the temperature.

A simple mod solved that issue for me, I no longer press the wrong button to change the temperature.

I just got this portable solder sucking machine at work.  FR-301  running for about 250-300.00 It's by far much better than Hakko desoldering stations.  If you are doing a lot of rework I highly recommend this.  I'm going to get one for home.

Ok, so the Hakko FX-888D appears to be a favorite soldering station.  Hakko specs say to use T18 tips.

Please advise which conical and/or chisel tip styles/sizes are your 'go-to' tips for model train electrical work soldering.   When I view online T18 tips for the Hakko FX-888D, there are lots of choices.  Seems like a couple of small conical tips (e.g. T18BL) and a couple of small chisel tips (e.g. T18D16P) are candidates.

However, these are rather pricey.

So what couple of T18 tips do you use?   See Hakko suite of tip shapes/sizes ... https://www.hakko.com/english/...tion/series_t18.html

Tom

Well it's all trail by fire.  Get a large flat one for big jobs, a medium one for middle of the road wires 20-26 AWG, a real pointy one for smaller wires and PC work.

I recommend these

T18-C05 for PC work, surface mount

T18-BL

T18-D15

T18-D24

T18-S3

Will you use all those, maybe, maybe not but it doesn't hurt have a couple of these.

https://www.hakko.com/english/...tion/series_t18.html

This is kind of a good deal...

https://www.tequipment.net/Hak...Soldering-Equipment/

I find the tip assortments always have mostly stuff I'll never use.  I use mostly the fine tips, and I keep an extra wand around with a chisel tip in it for heavy work.

Thought about that too, but maybe for soldering track, a heavy tip is good to have in stock.

Well, for soldering track, I normally pull out the Weller 100/140W gun.   Since I have Gargraves and Ross with wooden ties, no melting issues and I can use pretty much all the heat I need for quick soldering.

Appreciate the several T18 tip types/size responses along with the TE Equipment and Hakko website links.   All are helpful.

Tom

Thanks all. Looks like I'll be ordering a Hakko Iron tomorrow.

New Hakko iron arrived this afternoon. Quick service from Amazon. Have to try it out tonight. Thanks again for the suggestion.