[Elecraft] Hakko 808 (again)

[Tom Hammond]

Bob:

>Whilst the 808 topic is running, are there any recommendations on
>spares/consumables to hold for the Hakko 808 from more experienced 
>contributors to the list?

About the only consumable I've needed so far (in a couple years) was a 
supply of the white (ceramic paper) 2nd filter (part #A1033). I bought a 
bag of 10 and it will probably last me several years.

>I am a more recent convert to the 808 and have only a limited supply of
>consumable spares that came with the Hakko 808-19 kit purchased in the 
>USA. Spares are rather more difficult to obtain in Europe since the Hakko 
>808 was withdrawn from sale after changes to our now mandatory electrical 
>goods approval marking was introduced. The agent for Hakko in the UK still 
>holds spares for the 808, but there may be a problem with small orders 
>with minimum invoice values for many companies.

This is a general offer to our DX friends. If you EVER need anything in the 
way of spares or replacement consumables, for the Hakko 808, or the 936-x 
temp-controlled soldering stations, drop me a note. I do business with 
Electronics Supply of Kansas City (Missouri) (www.eskc.com) and they're 
usually VERY GOOD about maintaining a good supply of parts and accessories. 
They might even ship internationally. If they don't, I will... somehow. 
<G>  But PLEASE exhaust ALL local alternatives first.

>The original nozzle/tip and the cleaning tool supplied with the 808 is 1mm 
>(0.04in). Is this the optimum size for our normal usage?

Optimum? Yes. It will address 90% of your needs.

There are a couple other nozzles which might make life a bit easier eventually:

A1394 This is a long (0.434"), slender (0.090") nozzle which will
       allow you to get into places the fatter tips won't. It is
       particularly handy when you are working on PC boards which
       are pretty tightly packed AND which have some of their
       components mounted on the bottom of the PC board with the
       soldered pads in and among the tightly packed components on
       the top side. Because it is long and slender, this is a
       'delicate' nozzle, and probably NOT one you would want to
       leave on the desoldering tool when you do not need to use
       it.

A1396 This is a short/fat nozzle, similar to the nozzle provided
       with the Hakko 808 when it is originally purchased.
       However, this nozzle has a 0.091" inside diameter, so it
       will suffice for removing most, if not all, of the
       connectors used on most PC boards. Some of these connectors
       use flat lug-type leads, instead of wire leads, which can
       be particularly difficult to remove if you find you must
       remove the connector itself. Of course, it also works well
       on the larger diameter leads of big diodes, etc.

While I don't use these nozzles terribly often, they have 'saved my bacon' 
more than once. Especially the A1394.

Cheers,

Tom Hammond   N0SS