HAKKO T18-S4 Soldering Tip S4 for FX-600/FX-8801/FX-8803

We have a Metcal MX-500 and a bunch or Weller WTCPT stations at work with the finest tips available for both. I use this tip on my Pro'sKit SS-2007 when I work from home, and it actually does a better job. Today I was building boards that had mainly 0201 resistors and capacitors, in addition to SOT-883 transistors and SOD-923 diodes. I was able to solder them (under my AM Scope binocular stereo microscope) with ease. The key is using a good liquid flux and fine solder.The tip accumulates carbon, but doesn't disintegrate like the tips on the Weller. Quick wipe and then a dip in tip tinner and it's back to new. It holds the lead better than the ultrafine tip we have for the Metcal. I've been using the same tip for long time. Not every day, but once or twice a week for day long soldering sessions and am only now replacing it.

I've slowly been getting into more and more SMD work, and (for me, anyway) I've noticed that most times a fine tip on the soldering iron does the best job for SMDs. However, a long, thin tip often needs to be cranked up to 400C in order to get the 325C or so to the point. This tip solves that problem. It is thick enough to hold heat but has a very fine point. If I'm hand-soldering SMDs, this has become my go-to iron tip. It is a great value for the money and a fantastic time saver!I nicknamed it 'The Hulk' because of the beefy build. Today, I was using a long, fine point tip to remove wires from a very small circuit board. The board was originally soldered with lead-free solder, which has a higher melting point (god, I hate that stuff!) I was having no luck, so I said out loud, "Time to bring out The Hulk!" My fiance laughed, but in a few seconds, the wires were off. As you can tell, I really love this soldering tip!

I bought one of these years ago and loved it. However, when I got a new soldering station, I sold it with my old one because the new one came with tips. None of those came anywhere close to as good as this though, so I had to buy another.

Works great! This is my first attempt doing surface mount soldering, but using this tip, a Hakko FX888-D soldering iron (Digital FX888D & CHP170 bundle, includes FREE CHP170 cutter), and some 0.015" diam. solder, I successfully soldered two TSSOP-14 Surface Mount Technology (SMT) chips to a breakout board. It took me close to 1 hr. per board, because I am brand new at this, but the tutorials on Adafruit (Google "adafruit guide to excellent soldering") and (Google "adafruit smt manufacturing"), and Sparkfun (Google "sparkfun through-hole soldering") were really a great help!Update: 21 July 2014: I have been doing more surface-mount soldering (TSSOP-16 & SOT-3 packages), and am now successfully using larger 0.032" diameter 60/40 solder (from Radio Shack) to solder these small packages, rather than the tiny 0.015" diameter solder. The 0.032" solder is a more universal size for general-purpose electronics work, and can be successfully used on stuff this small too.

I found this tip to be useful for soldering fine-pitch ICs, but it doesn't get much heat into parts if there is a big heat sink (ground connection on PCB). It was also good for 0402 sized parts.

I have used knock off solder tips on my Hakko iron and I always find myself coming back home to Hakko tips. Durable, even heating, no surprises. Good stuff. Recommend.

Bought to solder small devices and surface mount, but the very tip...the whole purpose of this attachment...does not hold solder. The 1st 1mm is useless. I have tinned it, added flux, no joy

I got this tip because I was having trouble soldering wires onto the tiny button pads in 808 keychain cameras. The pads are so small, I was studying the situation under the microscope. The tip that came with the soldering station is just too big for accuracy (me being new to this type of soldering).This tip is perfect for those tiny spots surrounded by other little parts in close proximity. I was astonished at the ease with which the whole thing went without a hitch. I'm starting to believe I might be able to use SMD parts.I'll be buying more tips from this supplier.