Soldering station for home? Hakko?

[Bobthearch]

What sort of soldering stations do you guys have for home use? Specifically, is anyone familiar with Hakko products, like the FX-888?

At work I use a OKI and I've been around the Metcal stations, but I don't want to spend that much for occasional home use.

 

[kyeakel]

I bought the Aoyue 701A+ solder/desolder station. It was much cheaper than the Hakko and after 4 months I've had no problems or disappointments. Good for home use, I'd probably get the Hakko for anything that required constant use.

http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Function-Soldering-Desoldering-Station/dp/B000KSRS9S

Kipp

 

[glitch]

I've got a Hexacon Select-o-trac. Great irons, I highly recommend them. They're also cheaply available used on eBay. Mine came from an eBay lot purchased by my boss...I think we got 6 guaranteed working irons (some without sleeves) for less than $50. I've got a huge stock of tips (thousands, measured in tens of pounds) from a surplus buy if anyone gets a Hexacon and needs cheap tips!

 

[Chuck(G)]

Hakkos are fine; Xytronics are fine and Web-tronics has some of their own house brand stuff that's very good if you want to save a few bucks.

 

[Maverick1978]

I have a Hakko 936 solder station. Workhorse unit... There are local manufacturing plants that have used these models for 20 years w/o a hitch. I also have a Gordak SMD rework station picked up quite cheaply and quite new from eBay for $60, surprisingly. It's a Hakko clone, and from the reviews I read around on Google, no one had any complaints about them - and kudos that they use Hakko tips and elements since that's what I already had.

FWIW, when I was researching what soldering station to purchase a few years ago, Aoyue always received high praise.

 

[pearce_jj]

I use a simple unit similar to one of the ones posted by Chuck above, had it for years and seems to work well for what I need it for. Have to say I'm a bit of a laggard and only use 0.7mm 60:40 with it.

 

[Bobthearch]

Thanks for the input. I'm probably buying a Hakko based on the comments here and at another forum.