Spent $200 on a fancy soldering station and it totally let me down

I picked up a Hakko FX-888D clone off a deal site for $200 last month. First few boards it was fine, but then the tip temp started jumping around like crazy. I had a guy tell me I should have just stuck with my old Weller for half the price. Now I'm debating if the name brand is worth the extra cash or if I just got a lemon. What do you all think, has buying cheap ever actually worked out for anyone here?

2 comments

2 Comments

tessa3687d ago

Tip temp started jumping around like crazy" - sounds like you got a lemon that's possessed by the ghost of cheap manufacturing. I've had decent luck with mid-range stuff but $200 on a clone is basically gambling with your peace of mind. Maybe next time just save for the real deal or grab a used one from someone who actually takes care of their gear.

diana_king7d ago

Blame the manufacturer not the tech.