FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko vs Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart
When comparing FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko vs Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart, the Slant community recommends Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart for most people. In the question“What's the best soldering iron for small electronics?” Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart is ranked 1st while FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Pro32 Intelligent Mini Soldering Iron by SainSmart is:
The temperature settings allow you to choose from 212 up to 752 °F of heat. Having that much control, you can use this soldering iron for tasks that demand precision - like working with very small objects.
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 Well-suited for tasks that demand precise temperature
The temperature settings allow you to choose from 212 up to 752 °F of heat. Having that much control, you can use this soldering iron for tasks that demand precision - like working with very small objects.
Pro Heats up and cools down very quickly
It can take up to 5 minutes for a regular soldering iron to reach 500 °F. The Pro32 will take only 11 seconds. Cooling down is a matter of seconds as well.
Pro You can change all settings by connecting the iron to your PC
There is a micro-USB port on the rear of the housing that lets you connect the soldering iron to your laptop. This way you can change settings, such as displaying temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius, the default working temperature, and the sleep mode temperature.
Pro Suited for heavy-duty use
The high wattage allows this soldering iron to give consistent heat for long periods of time. It is very well suited for working on big, resource-hungry projects.
Pro Economical to use and maintain
The automatic sleep mode kicks in after 2 minutes of inactivity and decreases temperature of the tip to save power. The soldering iron reheats automatically once you pick it up. Moreover, to warn you about over-heating of the device, there is a special LED indicator.
Pro Very compact design
Most soldering stations with comparable functionality will take up about 8x6 inches of space, while this soldering iron is just 7 inches long and extremely thin. It weighs a fraction of the mass of its alternatives - just a little over 10 ounces, compared to the average of 1.5 lbs of other soldering irons.
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 Uncomfortable grip
Because there is no cushion or indentation on the handle, the pencil slips forwards when you hold it, so you have to be careful not to burn your fingers.