What makes an Ersa soldering station better than the Hakko FX888D?
Summary:
- Shorter tip-to-grip distance, which gives you better control over the iron (always useful IMHO, but particularly so regarding SMD components).
- The iron itself is more ergonomic/comfortable, which will make longer work sessions a breeze. It's also very light (stated as 30g), which plays into this as well.
- Noticeably better performance (more efficient tip & element interface design + more power). You'll experience this in the form of shorter heat up times (9 - 10 second range from room temp to 350C), faster recovery between joints, and particularly as you get into situations when soldering on more layers and/or ground planes (i.e. situations where the FX-888D can't melt the solder while the Nano will make the joint for the same conditions).
- Additional features vs. the FX-888D (datasheet, catalog .pdfs). You'd have to create an account to download the manual at KurtzErsa. In particular, you'd get setback capabilities (drop to a lower temp for x minutes and/or auto-off as you wish) when the iron is inserted in the stand (or you're totally still long enough) via the motion sensor in the iron itself.
It truly is quite a bit better than the FX-888D (shame the Hakko isn't the bargain it is in North America
). Batterfly has improved matters in the EU regarding FX-888D pricing, but the I-Con Nano is still the best value in the EU market IMHO (price/performance ratio blows the FX-888D away).
I don't know too much about the brand Ersa, but believe it's a German quality brand like Weller?
Yes it's a German brand.
Some of their production is in China (Pico & RDS80;
source), but that's not exactly unheard of. Main issue would be if QC has slipped as a result, but this doesn't seem to be a problem with the Nano according to owners here in the forum. FWIW, the tips are German, and the quality is there (this is where quality matters most IME). Quality tips + the setback features + basic maintenance (tinning) can keep a tip usable for 10+ years, so very low consumables costs.
I can probably buy online from Germany, but with added shipping, import taxes etc. I'm not sure if it will be a "low cost" unit any longer and perhaps I could just as well buy it locally and enjoy warranty etc.
Here in Norway I can get an Ersa RDS-80 for around € 250/US$ 280 (I found a cheaper place than the price I quoted in an earlier posting) or an Ersa IC1300A ("I-con Pico" I think?) for around € 213/US$ 235 including shipping/taxes etc. Other models are more expensive as far as I know.
These prices are too high. Try Amazon.de recommended by
tooki (not sure about the EU, but here in the US, do watch for being shipped a return; they're notorious for that stunt here IME
). If for some reason that doesn't work, try directly from ersa's estore, or beta-estore last (all the previous links we provided).
By the way, why do some of the "quality" soldering irons come with stands that have cleaning sponges (Ersa, Weller etc.) while others (Hakko) use brass wool or whatever it is? I've read that cleaning a hot tip with a wet sponge is a big no-no as it will get "shocked" because of the temperature difference and eventually damage the tip, but those brand names must know what they're doing.... Also some stands seem to be made of plastic/rubber etc. (Ersa RDS-80, Hakko FX888D etc.) while others (Ersa IC1300A etc.) are of metal which seems to make more sense to me both for damage and safety (emission of fumes etc. when heating the plastic/rubber). Any need to be concerned?
The "shock" of a damp sponge is how it actually works (shock breaks up the oxide layer, which is then wiped off). Works very well for lead based alloys as the temperature difference between set point and after cleaning is low enough it doesn't fracture the iron plating on the tip, and the tip temperature is able to recover in the time between leaving the sponge and touching the next joint.
The issue with sponges are the result of the higher soldering temperatures associated with lead-free solder alloys. In this case, the temperature difference that occurs between set temp & after using a damp sponge is larger than before. So much so that it causes both a longer recovery time between cleaning and performing the next joint, as well as fracture the iron plating on the tip as well. Which is important, as it exposes the copper in the tip to molten solder, which will erode it out rather quickly, turning your tip to scrap (way shorter lifespan when this happens, and is expensive if you're replacing tips often).
Using the brass wool solves this issue, as it doesn't generate the large temperature difference at the higher working temperatures needed for lead-free alloys. Yet still does a fine job of cleaning the tip (abrades it off, but don't damage the tips, as brass is softer than iron; they're also covered in a dry flux). So you get faster recovery between cleanings and longer tip life. It also quite happily cleans lead based alloys as well, and you don't need to worry about keeping distilled/deionized water on hand for sponges.
As per why manufacturers include what they do in their sets (i.e. sponge only for any station sold in todays RoHS required world), that may be for cost reasons rather than technical ones. Brass wool may be offered as an option rather than included for example (some of Ersa's are pictured with sponges, such as the RDS80, while others only come with brass wool, aka dry sponge, such as the i-Con Nano). Weller does this too (I've dealt with this personally).
Although I have both on hand, I primarily use the brass wool (fits my lazy nature, as I don't have to mess with wetting the sponge
). If you get both, try both, and see which you like best (particularly if you're primarily soldering with lead based alloys as is generally recommended on the forum
). Otherwise, just use the brass wool that comes with the Nano (amazingly, the lowest end Hakko comes with both).
Either way, I wouldn't worry about it, as the wool really does do an excellent job with either.
The rubber/rubberized plastics used by the big name manufacturers for stands is proven as well. So I wouldn't be concerned over the stand supplied with the i-Con Nano.
Hope this mess helps.
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