[Elecraft] Hakko 808 Desoldering Tool

[Charles Greene]

Hi all,

On the adjustment, proceed with care.  I tried to adjust mine with a small 
screw driver.  It didn't move and I applied as turns out, too much force 
and the tabs broke off, and now the plastic below where the tabs used to be 
turns freely and it probably is broken off below as well.  It still works 
but I don't have any idea what the thing is set on.  I don't relish taking 
it apart to fix it, so I guess I'll just have to use it where it is.  The 
adjustment has a T type slot but a tool is not provided.  I would suggest 
that if the adjustment offers any resistance at all, stop.

At 09:04 AM 12/11/2002 -0800, J. Edward (Ed) Muns wrote:
>As a caution for anyone using the Hakko 808, be sure the temperature control
>is not set too high.  Mine came with the control (a small screwdriver
>adjustment on the handle) set at the maximum temperature.  I didn't realize
>this when I first used it and burned several pads off a KSB2 board, changing
>crystals.  Not only did the pads burn off, but some of the through-hole
>plating came out as well.  Moreover, the leads seemed to be more "stuck" in
>the holes than they should have been.
>
>I discovered the temperature control issue (thanks, Eric) and turned to the
>MINIMUM setting.  Now the tool works beautifully.  Not only is there no
>damage to the board, but the leads end up pretty much loose in the holes to
>where the component literally falls out of the board.
>
>This is a fantastic tool.  But, like any tool, you have to use it properly.
>In over 40 years of desoldering, I've never been able to do such a quick,
>quality job.  The PC board is undamaged and there is not a cloud of solder
>bits blown all over the board, as some manual solder suckers will produce.
>Expensive, yes, but cheap compared to ruined boards.
>
>73,
>Ed - W0YK


73, Chas, W1CG
K2 #462