When comparing FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko vs WLC100 Soldering Station by Weller, the Slant community recommends FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko for most people. In the question“What's the best soldering iron for small electronics?” FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko is ranked 2nd while WLC100 Soldering Station by Weller is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko is:
The high wattage and high-quality ceramic heating element enables this soldering iron to heat up quickly. It reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit in under 1 minute, and heats consistently for long periods. This makes it well-suited for big projects that require extended soldering.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Suited for heavy-duty use
The high wattage and high-quality ceramic heating element enables this soldering iron to heat up quickly. It reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit in under 1 minute, and heats consistently for long periods. This makes it well-suited for big projects that require extended soldering.
Pro Well suited for tasks that demand precision
Temperature is displayed on a digital monitor, and the powerful heating element keeps it constant regardless of how long or how intensely the soldering iron is used.
Pro You can choose how the temperature is displayed
You can pick whether the temperature on the screen is displayed in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.
Pro Brass tip cleaner saves time and power
Besides the wet sponge that most soldering irons are equipped with, this one also has brass wiring. It easily cleans the pencil tip from extra solder and, unlike the wet sponge, doesn't cool it down . This saves extra power and time that are needed to heat it back up to the original temperature.
Pro Great value
Considering the decent power and thoughtful design, this soldering station is very affordable compared to most of its alternatives on the market which can sometimes cost hundreds of dollars.
Pro Robust design
It is often the case that soldering iron tips have to be replaced due to corrosion just after several month of using them. However, tips of this Weller are tougher than average and will serve you up to three years.
Pro Convenient to use and store
While some soldering stations take up as much as 10x7 inches of space, this one has dimensions of 8x6 inches. It won't take up a large area on the desk or the shelf.
Pro Comfortable even for long stretches of time
This iron is equipped with a soft foam grip that prevents your fingers from slipping and makes using it very comfortable.
Pro Hardy stainless steel pencil stand
The stainless steel spring stand lets you conveniently rest the pencil when you're not using it.
Pro You can choose the power output
By choosing power output from 5 to 40 W, you can find the heating mode that suits your needs best for the work you're doing.
Cons
Con Displayed temperature is sometimes off
The lack of a sensor on the tip of the soldering pencil mean that temperature displayed on the screen isn't always accurate, which can make noticing changes in heat output difficult.
Con Unintuitive controls
Switching between all the settings and modes is realized by pressing the only two buttons on the housing in a plethora of different combinations. This means that using this soldering station can be confusing. To explore all the features you will have to rely heavily on the manual.
Con Rigid cord makes using the station less convenient
The power cord of this soldering station isn't flexible, which takes away from the convenience of using it and carries a high risk of eventually breaking the cord.
Con Not suited for precise soldering
While the power can be switched, there is no direct way to control temperature. You can't really ensure a constant heat output. This makes this soldering station ill-suited for tasks that demand high precision.