48 replies to this topic

[Bill from NH]

Newark ads for this iron have been appearing on multiple internet sites the past couple weeks.

[Don Weaver]

I have a new pair of 3mm and 6mm tips for an Inland iron if anyone is interested.

 

Don

[Jim Difalco]

Yes, I just have to unwrap it

[Jim Difalco]

Ok, here is my review of the Multicomp digital iron. Ergonomics are good on the Multi. The handle area is a bit longer on the Multicomp but once you include the strain relief area, which is longer on the Hakko, they are about the same overall length. The digital buttons on the Multi make it easier to drop the temp than the little dial on the Hakko. The Multi has 9 different temperature settings.

 

Performance. I tested both on heavy 10 ga wires. First crimping then soldering the alligator clips to the wires. Then tinning the ends and soldering the wires to my heatsink circuit board relays. My Hakko instantly vaporized the solder with excellent heat transfer to the wires and clips or relay. Only loosing a bit of heat in the tip when I got to the 10th wire out of the 14 I was testing.

 

The Multicomp was definitely not as hot as the Hakko at the start. It took longer to melt the .062" solder and clips together and the heat went away from the tip maybe a bit faster than the Hakko.

 

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give the Hakko a 9 and the Multicomp a 7 for features and performance. The Hakko tip I was using already had 2 months of heavy use on it against the brand new Multicomp. While it may draw 150 watts it is not getting the heat to the tip. The Multi has a ceramic heating unit that fits loosely into the tip which is probably hurting the heat transfer. The Hakko has a tight fitting metal sleeve on the smaller ceramic heater then has another metal sleeve that fits inside the Hakko tip which all fits nice and snug over the first ceramic sleeve. I thought the thick tip on the Multi would hold heat better but it did not. The Hakko is rated at 67 watts and is more efficient than the 150 watt Multi. The Multi is rated at 480 celsius while the Hakko is 540 degrees celsius.

 

Now if Hakko only had a more flexible cord it would be perfect.

[Jay Guard]

Great review Jim.  I don't have the "Multi" so I can't put my 2 cents in on that but you nailed the review of the Hakko, especially that #@&*%! stiff cord.  Apparently the guy who spec'd the cord on the Hakko never tried soldering with it. 

 

You didn't mention the cord in your review of the Multi, hopefully it is at least a bit softer?

[slotcarone]

Jim I too felt the cord problem on the Hakko. I did make a change that helped a lot. About 3 inches from where the cord exits the iron I removed the insulation for about 6 inches and then wrapped it with good quality thin 3M tape. It is much easier to work with after that modification. Give it a try.

[Danny Zona]

I use the FX-600 at the track.

It's the 50w version and doesn't have a stiff cord.

I have no problem soldering in motors and etc.

[MSwiss]

I've mentioned this before.

 

3 or 4 years ago,  I took the 2-3 minutes to do this after I saw our local wing guru, Michael lga, with his completely stripped,(including the fabric) with thin pcs of electrical tape, every 6 inches, or so.

 

Once I decide if I'm in slot racing for the long haul, I'll probably also strip the rest.

 

[Bill from NH]

I bought a Hakko 455 before they were sold through the slot car market. The cord on that thing is as stiff as a board too, I haven't used it in 20 years. I'll have to try the cord modification.

[Jim Difalco]

Swiss did give me that tip before. I have some expandable mesh that I have been wanting to try first. I might have to cut off the plug and replace it but it will be worth it. When you have an iron in your hands everyday the stiffness and even the weight of the jacket on the Hakko gets annoying.

[Mr. M]

What’s this about in it for the long haul Mike?

[MSwiss]

When I add my 19 years as Koford GM, 18 years as a raceway owner, 9 years as a young "civilian" slot racer, from 65-74, and 4 more civilian years from 81-85, then do some fancy cyphering , and come up with approximately 50 years total, I'll go out on a limb and guess I was being sarcastic. 

[NSwanberg]

You?

[Mr. M]

Mike, I thought so, but wanted to call you on it just in case there was a hidden message there. I remember your sarcasm well being around at some of the big races in the 80s and 90s, golden era of the new wave of pro racing.

[MSwiss]

Looks like I'm committed to this God forsaken business for a little longer. Lol

 

While I had the iron unplugged from it's heat control, to use for a quick job away from my workbench, I decided to spend the 30-40 minutes to strip off the rest of the stiff jacket, and the intertwined cloth.

 

It was a tedious job, but not real difficult.

 

I used a single edge razor blade and scored about 2-3 inches at a time and peeled it off.

 

The razor blade is real sharp, but being small, you really don't get enough leverage to cut all the way through the jacket, where you could nick the wires.

 

[team burrito]

You can just swap it out with another cord - it would a lot easier.

[MSwiss]

Take the handle apart?

 

Not for me. 

 

Regardless, the cord now is ultra flexible. More flexible than any jacketed cord someone could buy.

[team burrito]

surely, you can easily take it apart & reassemble it. as far as the cord, there are woven cords on some power strips that are far more flexible than your standard hakko cord. it's not the cheapest alternate, but certainly better than nothing. another way to do it is to make a new cord with regular 2-cond line wire from your local hardware store - you really don't need the ground wire.

[NSwanberg]

Swiss knows the only way to re-can a can of worms is to get a bigger can,

[Greg Erskine]

Mike,

 

I will pay for a new soldering iron for you, if you promise to cut the wire into small pieces and throw everything away.

 

regards

Greg

[MSwiss]

Mike,

 

I will pay for a new soldering iron for you, if you promise to cut the wire into small pieces and throw everything away.

 

regards

Greg

????

[Greg Erskine]

I think removing the insulation could be considered dangerous, but did not want to argue about it.

 

Thought you may jump at the offer. 

[MSwiss]

Probably not a problem unless one has a pet beaver that hangs around the work bench. Lol

 

One of my racers has used his Hakko, this way, for 3-4 years.

[Racer36]

When I add my 19 years as Koford GM, 18 years as a raceway owner, 9 years as a young "civilian" slot racer, from 65-74, and 4 more civilian years from 81-85, then do some fancy cyphering , and come up with approximately 50 years total, I'll go out on a limb and guess I was being sarcastic. 

Sarcasm? In Westmont? I can’t imagine……