Hakko FX601-02 Adjustable Temperature Controlled Soldering Iron, 67 Watts

This is a high-quality soldering iron that is far superior to any of the low-cost hobby soldering irons available at your local hardware store. However, please keep in mind that The FX601 has a large tip designed for big jobs, not circuit boards, automobiles, or anything else small. It also uses T19 tips, which are unique to this iron and for which I couldn't find any (or very few) other options. The other FX600 model uses T18 size tips, which have a plethora of options (though it is a slightly lower wattage model). So you can get the FX600 or the Hakko part B3730 to change the tip holder on this FX601 to the T18 style, which will give you a lot more tip options.

Alvaro McGrath

| Dec 04, 2021

I bought this soldering iron to use with stained glass after reading several reviews that said it was the best, and I'm pretty happy with it. It rapidly heats up and cools down. I've used it to make a number of large glass sculptures. foil projects, and everything went according to plan. It is not, however, ergonomic. The holding area is quite large and can be a little difficult to grip. This is made worse by the stiffness of the cord. The stiff cord causes the unit to rotate in my hand, changing the angle of the flat tip. (This is better than my previous no-name soldering iron. ) I'll try to rotate the tip to the desired position, but perhaps a soft rubber grip area, or a more flexible cord, would solve the problem. Don't get me wrong: I'm a big fan of bbr>br>br>br>br>br>br>b It appeals to my tastes. But only time will tell if this is truly the "best. ".

Paulina Glass

| Aug 12, 2021

I bought it because I was working on two panels with an old Weller on a temperature controller that was finicky about maintaining a constant temperature. Plug in, wait for it to heat up, solder, wipe, wait, and repeat the process with stained glass. Except that waiting for it to warm up took longer and longer, even when I used a dry bronze wool pad instead of a wet sponge to clean it. It would sometimes just take a break without announcing itself, so I'd have to put it aside and admire my unfinished work for a while until it decided it was ready to work again. Sure, it's most likely 20-plus years old. I'm thirty years old, but all I wanted was some consistency in my life. br>br>I purchased this at the end of the project and it is an excellent soldering iron. The Hakko is a light, portable soldering iron with a temperature controller on the handle. It heats up quickly and maintains its temperature so you can get more work done and bead solder better and easier. The ceramic core maintains a consistent temperature, and even when wiping down with a damp sponge, it quickly returns to normal temperature, so you don't miss a beat. br>br>I've known a lot of stained-glass artists who went through a process of buying iron after iron until they found one that made their soldering look good. Finding an iron with a constant temperature and the ability to recover from the cleaning process was always a challenge. Some people never quite figured out how to listen to the iron's rhythms. And as their irons grew older, they became a little more finicky about getting and staying hot. This could be the answer they've been looking for all along. Certainly, the old Weller will be relegated to the back of my closet in favor of this petite beauty. Treat her with care, and use the old temperature controller as a dimmer switch on a lamp while you're at it. This is an iron that is well worth the money, and it is likely to be the only one you will ever need. Get one iron to begin with, and make it this one.

Mack Benton

| May 10, 2021

When we first got it, everyone insisted on using it instead of the larger tipped Weller 80 units. It has a much lighter feel to it, and it warms up quickly. It solders beautifully, and the temperature can be adjusted with a simple knob on the handle, so it's suitable for even heavy wire or zinc framing. However, there are a few nagging flaws:
1. The power cable for it is stiff and heavy, and it always seems to catch on the corner of the table or your board, or, if you're not careful, knocks over flux containers. It would be a huge improvement to switch to a lighter cord. The heavy cord stands in stark contrast to the iron's light weight.
2. The temperature control knob is too flat and difficult to grip on the handle. When you want to adjust the temperature, this, combined with the fact that it's difficult to turn, is an annoyance.
3. I'm not sure the temperature settings have been calibrated consistently. We purchased a 360-degree C setting with the first unit. That setting worked fine for soldering foil, but it barely melted the solder on the second one. Regardless of the problems, it is still the iron of choice for our group.

Delaney Lloyd

| Nov 04, 2021

I'm glad I took the chance! The FX-Hakko is a Hakko product that can be used in Compared to the yucky old irons I used in my beginner class, 601 makes soldering a breeze. This iron heats up quickly, keeps a near-perfectly even temperature, and makes me look good in general.

Malakai CHARLTON

| Feb 27, 2021

However, I found the Weller to be heavy and inefficient in terms of heat distribution. After reading the Hakko FX-100's reviews, I decided to purchase one. 601, I decided that upgrading was worth it. The only regret I have is that I did not do it sooner! It heats evenly, maintains its temperature, and is significantly lighter and more comfortable to handle. Because it kept temperature and allowed me to move more freely, my solder lines improved dramatically after the first use. I've read that the thick cord bothers some people, but I don't mind it. You can see how much more control you have because of the length of the tip and where you hold it. Also, I'm pretty sure the reviews that say it looks like the tip has been used are just the result of the manufacturer looking at it that way. Mine had a small area that looked like solder (but no discoloration), but it was also very clear that it was brand new. I'm sure there's some sort of quality control procedure in place to make it look like that. In any case, I am extremely pleased with this purchase and would recommend it to both experienced solderers and those who are just getting started. It has a significant impact!.

Joseph French

| Jan 05, 2022