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Reviews For: Hakko 808 Desoldering Station

Category: Tools & Test Equipment for the amateur radio work bench

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Review Summary For : Hakko 808 Desoldering Station
Reviews: 15MSRP: 175.52 from tequipment.net
Description:
High-end desoldering tool for any serious builder
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko808.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00154.9
W6SDW Rating: 2022-10-14
Replaced by the Hakko FR-300 Series... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Yes, the 808 was/still is a great desolder tool - Alas long since discontinued - available replacement parts pretty much dried up... Fear Not - The Hakko FR-300 series
( I purchased the FR-301 ) is a worthy option, with some nice added features. Adjustable temp, easily capable of dealing with lead-free solder. There is a LED indicator showing it is powered up. Wide range of tips, which BTW are easy to change out.
Yes, it is more expensive - Isn't everything?? For me it was worth the long-term investment.
KO0B Rating: 2022-10-14
Excellent tool, but discontinued since 2014. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a wonderful tool. Unfortunately Hakko discontinued it in 2014, and as of 2022 many parts to keep it running are no longer available. So don't buy a used one unless it is 100% working and you can get it for a song. Then care for it lovingly.

One challenge with this tool is that it doesn't really fit in any generic iron holder/rest due to it's size and far rearward CG. Lacking that there is no great way to rest it on a workbench when it isn't in your hand, which is a real problem considering how hot the business end runs. Hakko makes a holder (C-1100) that is supposed to work, but it doesn't look that great for the 30-odd dollars they cost. It really aught to support the gun back toward the trigger as well as protecting the hot bits.

Homebrewing up a holder/rest solution is one of those many things I haven't gotten around to yet....Due to the temperature involved, it isn't trivial.
W5KVV Rating: 2016-08-25
PERFECT Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Does everything it should. Makes desoldering a breeze compared to soldering wick. Very fast heat up time. Numerous tip sizes to choose from and they're dang near bulletproof.

They're NLA, so look for a gently used one and get it. You won't be disappointed.
W6MK Rating: 2013-01-20
Amusing Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Yes, desoldering can be easy and, actually, quite amusing.
K6HOM Rating: 2012-01-20
Wow, Wished That I Bought One Sooner! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Repairing and building electronic gadgets has been a hobby for 40+ years. Used many different types of vacuum devices as well as old-fashioned copper braid for countless de-soldering needs. Heard about the Hakko 808 through eHam.net reviews, received a generous eBay gift card for a birthday present and decided to buy one of these gems.

The first project that I tried it on was my K1EL K42 CW keyboard upgrade, which replaces the original LCD with a back-lit unit. Significant de-soldering is required to remove old pins from the PCB and to clean up these solder pads/holes for installing the new display pins. First time use and without any prior practice, I was done with this de-soldering job in less than 3 minutes for 16 pads! And all of the pads looked like new with their perfectly clean holes! The Old Fashioned Way would have taken many times longer with the probability of some pad destruction (and I am pretty good at de-soldering).

Someone mentioned the need for a stand or holder for this unit when in repetitive use. I have pegboard as a backsplash on my workbench and found that bending a couple of 6" long pegboard hook/supports made a great horizontal holder. I just put the Hakko on this holder during periods of repetitive use and work without worry.

The Hakko is a terrific invention and, to me, worth its price. If you do regular de-soldering, Highly Recommended!


W1RIK Rating: 2012-01-02
Works very well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wish I could give this a 4.5 but I don't want to mess up the great ratings. This unit works very well, better than anything I've used to this point. I use this mostly on point to point wiring and it cleans off the terminals completely. It's easy to clean and warms up quickly.
I do have two gripes though. I wish it had a power indicator so I know when it's on, AND THE POWER CORD IS A PAIN IN THE NECK. IT'S VERY STIFF AND ALWAYS IN THE WAY!
KB9R Rating: 2010-02-28
Hakko 808 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Why did I struggle for so long? This is a great desoldering tool. It is such a pleasure to use. It works better than any other desoldering tool I have owned for personal use. As others have said, make sure you clean it after you are done and it will treat you well. The only negative that I can see is that there is no light to indicate that it is on, and so don't forget it and walk away. I connect it to my lit power strip on the bench that gets shut off when I finish working there, so that is my safeguard. If I had to do it over again, I would purchase another in a heart beat! Joe - KB9R
WM9V Rating: 2009-01-02
product of the decade Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i own three of these and when i tell you ive been there and done that with soldering equipment i mean it ...throw out everything else you own now and buy anything hako
it lasts... you can get parts for it.. and it is quality made
i wish they had been around 20 years ago
if i had the time i put instructional videos on u tube demonstrating the superior product this is and how much of everyone elses product ive thrown out
the gun itself will need cleaning in the valves so make sure you keep the tip clean
get larger nozzles for larger lead diameters
get extra kits with filters in them and replace regularly
a phillips screwdriver will facilitate disassembling the valve assembly and be nice to the valve ...its kinda like the gasket assembly on these newer briggs carbs
this is a deal for 150 bucks and will pay for itself many times over
K2YO Rating: 2008-06-10
Great tool, don't desolder without one. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I'm just piling on at this point. I got mine on the recommondation of the guys at M3 Electronics. I got it from the soldering station vendor out in the flea market at Dayton. I recently had to replace a pc board mounted N connector. It was both electrically connected and had physical connections to releave stress. Zip, zip, zip and the thing fell off the board.

If your frustrated with hand pump desolder tools or brade, it's time to upgrade to a desoldering tool and I recommend the Hakko 808 as an easy way to get desoldering without breaking the bank. A quick price check shows them at $175 plus shipping on 6/10/08.
KE7ISJ Rating: 2007-02-09
Nice! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just bought this desolder gun and I am impressed with it's performance. I desoldered a 15 pin connector in about one minute the first time I used it. No burning or damage to the board. It is light so weight is not a factor. I have used a Weller/Ungar 4624 system for many years and I believe this out performs that unit hands down! I would highly recommend this unit.