When comparing VTSS4NU Adjustable Soldering Station by Velleman vs FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station by Hakko, 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 VTSS4NU Adjustable Soldering Station by Velleman is ranked 9th. 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 Great value
Considering other devices with comparable power and functionality that sell for up to $100, this soldering station comes cheaply. Great option for amateurs and hobbyists.
Pro Convenient to use and store
The lightweight, compact 7.7 x 4 x 3.5 inch design make this soldering iron great for taking along and doing small repairments. It doesn't take a lot of space on the desk.
Pro Hardy stainless steel pencil stand
The spring stand made out of stainless steel lets you conveniently rest the pencil when you're not using it.
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.
Cons
Con Not suited for precise soldering
The temperature of the tip is not adjustable, which isn't necessarily required by most hobbyists. However it makes this soldering iron a bad choice if your work demands a lot of precision, consistent heat output, and a display to monitor the temperature.
Con Long heating time
Metal alloy heating element heats up slower than a more modern ceramic one.
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.
