Hakko 808 - I wish I'd bought this 10 years ago!

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I used my new Hakko 808 desoldering gun to depopulate a rectifier board tonight. Wow, what a huge difference! I love having a free hand, instead of having to juggle the soldapult and the iron. Now I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to buy one.
 
I'm pretty speedy with my soldapult, but was considering getting an 808 for the heck of it. How/where do you eject the solder when you're done? Does it disassemble for cleaning? Just curious, I vaguely recall a post where someone said theirs would clog.

LeChuck
 
was considering getting

get one

love mine. paid too much because the local place had one in the case and i wanted one for a long time so i just went for it

think you can get one for under a hundred with shipping if i remember right
 
Yes, it does need regular maintenance such as cleaning out the tip and glass vial. Checking the cotton filter every so often.

I'm glad I got one. It has really helped out on those Williams WPC pinball boards.
 
You'll spend more time cleaning it and trying to unclog it then using it which is why mine is just collecting dust.
 
I used my new Hakko 808 desoldering gun to depopulate a rectifier board tonight. Wow, what a huge difference! I love having a free hand, instead of having to juggle the soldapult and the iron. Now I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to buy one.

I keep one in my car for service trips (which I do many). I have a bench top
station in the shop.

I love the portable 808. I think it's far easier to keep clean than the
bench unit with that little coil springy thing.

JD
 
I hadn't heard that from my 2 friends who have one. I'm thinking that letting it warm up for 5 minutes is important. Cleaning it is pretty easy - I think of it this way: with the soldapult you have to clean it (eject solder) after every pin. The Hakko lets you wait until you're all done.

You'll spend more time cleaning it and trying to unclog it then using it which is why mine is just collecting dust.
 
You'll spend more time cleaning it and trying to unclog it then using it which is why mine is just collecting dust.


Cleaning is quick and easy. I only ever see clogs when the person using it doesn't know what they are doing. Here are a few basics that really should be common sense but, apparently, are not:

The area you are desoldering should be somewhat clean. If it is covered with hair and twenty years of dust then the nozzle can and likely will clog. It is not designed to be a vaccuum used for cleaning the board. A quick wipe down is more than good enough.

Don't hold it on the board so long that you lift the trace. A lifted trace can be sucked up into the nozzle and cause clogs.

Clean the collector tube. If the collector tube becomes full it weakens the vaccuum action and this will cause poor flow. Poor flow can lead to clogs. Usually cleaning the tube is as simple as removing it and tapping it on a table to dislodge the accumulated solder. Occasionally you will have to push the solder out if it is sticking to the walls of the collector tube. Always ensure the metal plate designed to catch the solder is in place and replace it if worn.

Every time I pull the collector I check the cloth filter. It gets saturated over time and clogs as well. Replace it before it becomes too dirty to allow air to easily pass through.
 
Cheapest I've seen is like $175 shipped. If you know of one cheaper than that please find the link :)

Yeah, I don't think you can get a real Hakko 808 for much less than that. I bought a Chinese knockoff of the 808 a few years ago. It worked great the few times I used it. Then one day it just wouldn't heat up anymore... I'm guessing the heating element died, but I never bothered to look into it (I have a Pace station now). If anyone wants it just shoot me an offer and it's yours. I believe all the parts are interchangeable with the real 808, so even if you can't fix it you'll at least have some useful parts (tips, filters, tools, etc).

Edit: To clarify... by "shoot me an offer" I mean just give me a reason to go to the post office rather than the dump. ;)
 
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I bought an Hakko 808 a few years ago that was a refurb unit at our local electronics store.

They are amazing but you'll have to get used to maintaining them, especially when removing old components that have crusty brown flux residue that tends to clog the 808. I noticed the reed valves in mine getting a yellow powder residue that also clogged up the plastic T fitting on the vacuum lines.

Having a clearing pin and a matching numbered drill bit in a pin vise handle will keep the nozzle free to do it's job.

Take care of the 808 and it will be one of your favorite board-work tools.
 
I keep one in my car for service trips (which I do many). I have a bench top
station in the shop.

I love the portable 808. I think it's far easier to keep clean than the
bench unit with that little coil springy thing.

JD

I have one of the Aoyue benchtop ones, and it is a pain to clean. I have never figured out how to clean the springy thing without destroying it. I am trying to find them in bulk so I can just replace them, so I can actually use the thing again. I will have to get a Hakko 808 someday, but I don't have as much need anymore. I bought a real soldapult about a year ago, and it works very well. They work way better than the cheap knockoffs. I am noticing a trend. A knockoff is usually fine if it only has to heat or spin. If it is more advanced than that, it is probably best to get the real thing.
 
I have one of the Aoyue benchtop ones, and it is a pain to clean. I have never figured out how to clean the springy thing without destroying it. I am trying to find them in bulk so I can just replace them, so I can actually use the thing again. I will have to get a Hakko 808 someday, but I don't have as much need anymore. I bought a real soldapult about a year ago, and it works very well. They work way better than the cheap knockoffs. I am noticing a trend. A knockoff is usually fine if it only has to heat or spin. If it is more advanced than that, it is probably best to get the real thing.

I used to have trouble getting the springy thing stuck in the 808, it's because the old flux forms a hard crust on the inside of the heated tip and transfer tube.

Once you get the right size drill bit in a hand held pencil vise, you can clear that crust and the springy tool will slide right through.
 
Does the Hakko 808 come with any sort of stand? Looks like it would fit into the 633 series stands, but I can't tell if it comes with one already.

LeChuck
 
No, it does not come with any kind of stand. If you want a stand/holder, that is an accessory item which must be purchased seperately.
 
Does the Hakko 808 come with any sort of stand? Looks like it would fit into the 633 series stands, but I can't tell if it comes with one already.

LeChuck

I recommend the Hakko Iron Holder 633-01. No plastic to melt!
 
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