Hakko FX888D-23BY Soldering Station - What else do I need?

[spotco2]

Almost 20 years ago I was working on circuit boards on a daily basis. I had an old Weller station, an 8200 and a couple of old butane irons. I packed all that up and somehow managed to misplace the box.

Recently I have had a few projects to work on and the only thing I could find was an old Buffalo gun (wrapped with duct tape to both hold it together and help keep from blistering your hand while using) and a 23 watt Weller iron that I didn't even know I had. I also managed to find a couple of random rolls of solder and one 60/40 rosin core roll that is .06, some wick and my old vacuum for desoldering.

I need to replace the caps on a couple of late model TV power supplies and build a wire harness for an old tractor.

I just ordered a Hakko FX888D station and a couple of chisel and flat round tips. For those that have these stations, that other accessories can you think of that I need to put on my shopping list? I've never had a Hakko station but have read a lot of great things about them. I've also been out of the game for a long time, so I'm having to refresh my memory on a lot of this.

 

[pbr333]

Nice Tool! High Tech next to my soldering equipment. Let us know on it's functionality , I'm curious if it does everything better.

If it was me, super magnifying on magnified glasses would be a must!

 

[Hemlock]

The metal shaving style top cleaner instead of a sponge is nice. Works well, doesn't cool the tip.

 

[Stuey]

A new roll of solder with fresh rosin?

 

[spotco2]

A new roll of solder with fresh rosin?

What, no sense of adventure? This roll can't be any more than 20-25 years old at the most. I bet I could pinch the end off and wipe off the oxidation and it'd be good as new!

 

[Trey T]

No accessory but few other tools to go with you Hakko.

Solder sucker/vacuum - EDSYN DS017
Helping Hands - Radioshack GCB-695 <eBay has one running at $24

 

[Davefr]

What, no sense of adventure? This roll can't be any more than 20-25 years old at the most. I bet I could pinch the end off and wipe off the oxidation and it'd be good as new!

The roll I'm using is so old I bet it came over on the Mayflower. It performs as good as new. (maybe even better). This 5 lb roll was in the dollar pile at a G-sale.

 

[cheechi]

I've only had my Hakko for a short time, haven't needed any other accessories specific to it, but of course extra tips eventually wouldn't hurt.

The HF helping hands doesn't ****. I was disappointed by the radioshack one that I had, replaced it with the HF.

I would get extra sponges, the one that comes with the hakko isn't terrible but doesn't last forever.

I like to keep a hook/pick set at my soldering station, radioshack makes a set of double sided ones with a clip heatsink that is pretty good. What's really good in it is a wire 'broom' shaped brush. great odd tool for working with any splatter (yours or cleaning up sloppy manufacturing) as you've got things heated and they start to congeal. I use it in conjunction with the wick in those situations.

 

[Durka]

The roll I'm using is so old I bet it came over on the Mayflower. It performs as good as new. (maybe even better). This 5 lb roll was in the dollar pile at a G-sale.

Mayflower

I believe shelf life for Kester is 2 years isn't it ? *****, -Kester isn't cheap. I think I still have a couple large old rolls 5lbs or better, if you want it. Yea ,fresh rosin is always best IMO, - specially with that resistance picky work.

 

[royesses]

A Hakko 808 De-soldering gun.

 

[beamrider]

I look at it like this: Kester shelf life might only be 2 years, but I can add flux from a squeeze bottle if I need to. Nothing like good ole Kester 66. Old Chem-Wick is another story tho, I like that as fresh as I can get it.

 

[bareass172]

Highly recommend the brass wire tip cleaner:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005C789EU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FZPGDLA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I can't believe I didn't get one sooner. I also just bought a Lisle 55000 set of helping hands:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C6NJOA/?tag=atomicindus08-20
If you work on anything metal that you can stick it to, I find it much more useful than the others I've used. I do most of my work not at a bench though, so being able to move around and stick it to stuff is really useful.

 

[0.511MeV]

1) magnifier lamp
2) bottle of isopropyl alcohol
3) small dish or pump bottle to easily dispense alcohol
4) liquid or paste rosin flux
5) acid brushes
6) acid brushes that have the bristles cut down to about 1/4" long. These then have very stiff bristles that are used to clean rosin out of the joint, but aren't damaging.
7) kimwipes or other non-lint wipers to wipe everything down, including solder
8) solder wick. Lots of it.
9) kapton tape to mask areas on the PCBs
10) a "lead measuring card". Not sure what the proper name is, but it is useful for determining where to bend thru hole component leads
11) round nose pliers for bending leads
12) flush cutters to trim solder and component leads
13) ideal stripmaster strippers
14) panavise or other small holder.

I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but that should be enough to get back into the swing of things.

 

[0.511MeV]

15) antistatic mat and ground wire
16) antistatic wrist strap

I knew I was forgetting things.

 

[rjwilliams]

1) magnifier lamp
2) bottle of isopropyl alcohol
3) small dish or pump bottle to easily dispense alcohol
4) liquid or paste rosin flux
5) acid brushes
6) acid brushes that have the bristles cut down to about 1/4" long. These then have very stiff bristles that are used to clean rosin out of the joint, but aren't damaging.
7) kimwipes or other non-lint wipers to wipe everything down, including solder
8) solder wick. Lots of it.
9) kapton tape to mask areas on the PCBs
10) a "lead measuring card". Not sure what the proper name is, but it is useful for determining where to bend thru hole component leads
11) round nose pliers for bending leads
12) flush cutters to trim solder and component leads
13) ideal stripmaster strippers
14) panavise or other small holder.

I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but that should be enough to get back into the swing of things.

Spoken like a 2M tech, Navy or Coast Guard?

 

[Davefr]

15) antistatic mat and ground wire
16) antistatic wrist strap

I knew I was forgetting things.

17) Hemostat or flat jaw alligator clips to serve as heat sinks for soldering delicate components

 

[Steinmetz]

18) Anti-wicking tweezers.

 

[0.511MeV]

Spoken like a 2M tech, Navy or Coast Guard?

I'm nowhere near as talented and skilled as those guys, but I've worked several places that hired lots of ex-military. I've had the privilege of learning from some great techs.

 

[spotco2]

Good list of stuff folks. I know I've got a lot of that stuff in a box somewhere but who knows where. I'll probably find it after I go buy all new stuff.

 

[sharkytm]

Flux pen, I don't know how I ever soldered without it. It makes everything easier and better.

Oh yeah, and a good selection of iron tips. Ditch the round/conical ones, and go with chisel-type. I like a small, medium, and large chisel at a minimum. If I'm doing through-hole components, I like a notched chisel too.