Hakko FX-888D Soldering Station Unboxing and Review 

Sponge broke already.

So far, except for the sponge, it has been a good soldering station. The tip selection is a bit strange. I have done everything from surface mount to soldering grounds on potentiometers. The heat recovery is really good, as the other reviews had said. The sponge tore, as I thought it would. Also it's fussy to use. The standard general purpose tip is just a bit larger than the old Weller station, I used.

The element diameter has some clearance around the tip. It has to because they expand at different rates. I'm still happy with the soldering station, but I have no idea why they cut up the sponge.

@@BrendaEM Thanks! About the cuts on the sponge, what I've heard is that it let's you wipe the tip on an edge

Heats up faster in celsius 🤦‍♂️😂

Yep, I learned my lesson about the sponge. I used it a bunch with an old Weller iron and a brand new tip literally wore through and broke off after about 6 hours of use where I was sponge cleaning between solder joints.

@@HansCampbell the iron I was using was about 40 years old. I suspect that the stat on it was bad and it was running too hot. The tip was a genuine Weller OEM part.

I don't find it difficult to use at all , as a matter of fact I never touched the buttons at all , I just switch it on and go to work, it always heats up to the factory set 750 degrees .

The TS100 is very popular. They seem capable and svelte. If I seek and can afford a portable soldering iron, I may get one someday. Though, the saying goes "fear sells," and with me, that speaks loudly. I took a gamble that the Hakko would be more durable. I just bought a water-resistant Fluke multimeter that can take a 12-foot drop. My last computer build lasted for 8 years. I usually buy Thinkpad computers for the same reason. Comparing them, there is no foam grip on the TS100, nor a fire-and-forget stand. For long hours, these are two features I wanted. When working on surface-mount stuff, I ended up using a binocular microscope. For me, it was a benefit to know where the hot soldering iron was.

@@BrendaEM I bought one. It is *very* powerful, but annoying to use and feels very flimsy. The ergonomics are not good either - I kept pressing the buttons accidentally while using it, and it also makes a concerning crackling sound when heating up if I run at 24v. The TS80 might be more robust, but the 100 doesn't feel like it will last long. I'm probably going to resell it; overall I wish I'd bought something more substantial. I don't really need direct heat tips so may get an 888D. For the price the TS100 is great, and its power is really amazing (on 24v), but that's it. Not for me.

@@krnlg Thanks for the info. Perhaps the crackling is just expansion?

@@BrendaEM You might be right - I opened it up and couldn't see anything wrong!

Brenda, you are correct about the ts100. Mine failed on me after about 20 hrs with a "sensor error". I shouldn't have wasted money on it.

I was about to make similar comment, re: the semi-cylindrical sponges. They transfer water from the reservoir to keep the main sponge moist for longer.