[morzh]

Yeah, I remember these, They work very unwell.

I have

- Hakko FR-301

   

- X-TRONIC 9010 Pro (they put it on sale when it was just introduced, I could not resist at that price. It works well, though I have not used it alot)

   


- And a handsucker, when all else fails

   

[DaleHCook]

I've never had anything for field work in the class of a Hakko. From what I have seen they seem to be the best of the all-in-one handheld desoldering tools.

Your X-Tronic is functionally somewhat similar to my Metcal, but somewhat more sophisticated, and therefore better.

My Metcal mainly lives in the shop. It goes into the field only for a major project. I haven't had one of those since early 2022.

[Arran]

I've actually been thinking of either making a solder socker, or modifying an existing one, so that it has a curved tip on it, as 99% are undoubtedly made for printed circuit board work, not point to point wiring under a metal box chassis. I've just sort of made due with what I had, and made them work, and they usually do after two or three tries.
Regards
Arran

[radiorich]

Hello mike,
Very nice !
Far as the Hakko FR-301 I was thinking of getting a unit like that X-TRONIC 9010 Pro
I still am considering Fr-301 thou it's cheaper .

Sincerely Richard

[DaleHCook]

... so that it has a curved tip on it, as 99% are undoubtedly made for printed circuit board work, not point to point wiring under a metal box chassis.

I don't have any problem using my Metcal on a chassis mounted on my chassis stand. One reaon why may be that, unlike a Hakko or the X-Tronic, I am not trying to manouver something somewhat bulky and pistol-shaped. The handle on my Metcal is much smaller.

[Image: https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radi...Image2.jpg]

[radiorich]

Hello Dale,
Yes that Metcal looks nice and small !
I used to have a hakko many years ago .

Sincerely Richard

[morzh]

Metcal is a very good system. At one of my jobs every solder station was Metcal (it is OKi today). They were the first to employ their patented RF solder tip heating, "Smartheat", which brings the tip to the solder melting point within a very few seconds (regular irons take at least a minute and older classic ones took a few minutes).

I noticed Hakko also uses something similar, as their todays sucker, like the FR-301, also heat up very fast.


I bought the Hakko when it was some huge sale a few years ago. I thought, the chances of that happening soon again were small, so I grabbed it.

[RFtech53]

After 25 years at Collins Radio / Aerospace, after I retired I wanted Metcal equipment at home. But oh ... the prices. 

I ended up buying Hakko for home use.  And I'm satisfied with it.

[DaleHCook]

Unfortunately Metcal discontinued the SP440 some years before OKi, which has made finding replacement parts more difficult. I have been able to find almost everything I need at auction. I have spares of the first two of the three filters (the paper and felt filters in the handle). I haven't seen the larger felt filter just ahead of the vacuum pump inlet. Mine is very clean, but I need to find the right felt stock at a hobby store to make my own replacements. I have a good assortment of tip cartridges and a spare coil assembly. I even have some NOS sponges (with the hole in the center). My local parts jobber had some (sold by Weller or Ungar) so I zeroed them.

[jarroyo]

I appreciate the discussion and advice. As recommended, I upgraded my soldering station to 100W and that has made a huge difference.

Thank you

[morzh]

100W is the power to recon with.
Use it wisely (I am being serious now, even if tongu-in-cheek).
Congrats!