Serious question, has anyone else hit 1000 hours on a single soldering iron tip?

I just checked my log and my main Hakko FX-888D tip crossed 1000 hours of actual use this morning. That number hit me like a brick. I bought this tip three years ago for a specific Raspberry Pi project and just never stopped using it. I do everything with it, from tiny SMD work on old game consoles to heavy gauge wire on speaker repairs. I clean it with brass wool after every single joint and keep the temp at 700 degrees for most jobs. People always say tips wear out fast, but I think that's a myth if you take care of your gear. This one tip has saved me probably over $200 in replacements. What's the most hours you've ever gotten out of a basic piece of kit before it truly died?

3 comments

3 Comments

uma_webb2826d ago

Nah, that's just luck. Tips absolutely do wear out, especially at 700 degrees all the time. You're probably not seeing the corrosion and pitting that's gonna kill it soon.

kimg5717d ago

Yeah, that hidden pitting is the worst. Feels like the tip just gives up without warning.

the_william26d ago

My old station at the auto shop had a cheap iron that ran way too hot. I went through three tips in a year before I figured it out. @uma_webb28 is right about the hidden damage you don't always see right away. That constant high heat just eats away at the metal over time, even if it still works today. It's not really about luck, it's more like the tip is on borrowed time. You'll get a sudden cold joint or poor flow when that pitting gets bad enough.