Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301

**jayjr1105** · 03-10-2022, 02:45 PM

I've been eyeing this thing up for years but could never justify the cost. I'm doing more console modding and repairs so I finally bit. I don't have it yet but wondering others opinions. I'll not be surprised to hear "you should have bought X instead". Unlike the hundreds of decent Hakko soldering iron clones, I didn't feel the chinese desoldering clones came anywhere near this unit.

**Per Hansson** · 03-10-2022, 03:29 PM

It's simply great!
I got one a while ago too, some jobs are just too easy now with it!

**jayjr1105** · 03-11-2022, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Per Hansson

It's simply great!
I got one a while ago too, some jobs are just too easy now with it!

Any tips? Usage or maintenance.

**Per Hansson** · 03-11-2022, 11:33 AM

It seems pretty simple, you do need to take care of the buildup of crud inside it.
But there are tools included with that, you will notice it because the vacuum becomes much less effective...

**jayjr1105** · 03-11-2022, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Per Hansson

It seems pretty simple, you do need to take care of the buildup of crud inside it.
But there are tools included with that, you will notice it because the vacuum becomes much less effective...

How about tips and filters? I thought about getting one of the larger tips in addition to the 1mm that comes with so I can do bigger ground lugs and such. Does it come with enough filters for a years worth of use or so?

**stj** · 03-11-2022, 01:18 PM

lol
all these companies kill you on the cost of filters.

make your own with A4 sheet material and a chinese leather punch of the correct diameter.

**Per Hansson** · 03-11-2022, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayjr1105

How about tips and filters? I thought about getting one of the larger tips in addition to the 1mm that comes with so I can do bigger ground lugs and such. Does it come with enough filters for a years worth of use or so?

There was a filter or two included I believe, whether that lasts for a year or not would depend allot on usage I'd say

Yea I did get the 4mm x 1mm tip (N61-16) as well, that is very useful for larger contacts.

**sam_sam_sam** · 03-11-2022, 03:14 PM

Tips and filter are the most two consumables are used on these devices and you should have them on hand also get in the habit of using the tube cleaning rod each time you are about to turn off the unit for the day this is extremely important to do on constantly base’s or you will have to drill open the suction tube if you do not do this every time before you turn it off for the day this has to with the flux in the solder

**stj** · 03-11-2022, 08:14 PM

one very important thing,
DO NOT ADD FLUX TO THE JOINTS.
the pump will pull it in and it will line and clog the tube and also mess up the filter.

**redwire** · 03-11-2022, 08:33 PM

They are susceptible to clogging with solder cooling down in the heating element's tube. You have to use the wire poker, especially with lead-free solders, as a habit.
A few times I've taken out the filter cartridge and poked in reverse, at the vacuum side to push out a broken pin that got pulled in.

If it doesn't work well, your technique needs to change or improve:
Some people hold the vacuum on for too short a time period, leaving some solder in the tube, not long enough to suck it into the filter.
Some people hit the vacuum too soon, before the solder joint is heated up and flowed through to the PC board's other side.
I've seen people wiggle the tip too much and trash the pads. Or not hold the tip flush with the board, so you get a tiny vacuum leak because it's crooked.
If a board has too little factory solder, not enough to really desolder then add solder to the pins first.
For boards with DIP IC's sometimes I put a soldering iron tip on the ICs pins on the top side of the board to melt top layer solder, with the Hakko on the other side of the board I hit the vacuum. When you need a lot of heat for the power pins.

**sam_sam_sam** · 03-12-2022, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redwire

They are susceptible to clogging with solder cooling down in the heating element's tube. You have to use the wire poker, especially with lead-free solders, as a habit.
A few times I've taken out the filter cartridge and poked in reverse, at the vacuum side to push out a broken pin that got pulled in.

If it doesn't work well, your technique needs to change or improve:
Some people hold the vacuum on for too short a time period, leaving some solder in the tube, not long enough to suck it into the filter.
Some people hit the vacuum too soon, before the solder joint is heated up and flowed through to the PC board's other side.
I've seen people wiggle the tip too much and trash the pads. Or not hold the tip flush with the board, so you get a tiny vacuum leak because it's crooked.
If a board has too little factory solder, not enough to really desolder then add solder to the pins first.
For boards with DIP IC's sometimes I put a soldering iron tip on the ICs pins on the top side of the board to melt top layer solder, with the Hakko on the other side of the board I hit the vacuum. When you need a lot of heat for the power pins.

These are very good tips about how to avoid clogging up the tip

**CapLeaker** · 03-12-2022, 10:26 AM

I've got one of the FR-301 desoldering guns for quite a few years now. Still works like a champ and besides changing a filter here and there everything original. Very good product.

**stj** · 03-12-2022, 12:54 PM

as the owner of a pump-in-base type,
a couple of questions i'v wondered for a while.
1: is it heavy?
2: does it vibrate in your hand to a degree that would be an issue with prolonged use?

**jayjr1105** · 03-12-2022, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stj

as the owner of a pump-in-base type,
a couple of questions i'v wondered for a while.
1: is it heavy?
2: does it vibrate in your hand to a degree that would be an issue with prolonged use?

1. surprisingly no
2. not really

**eccerr0r** · 03-12-2022, 10:06 PM

TBH I'd rather pull the trigger than bite the bullet.

Sorry had to make this comment...

**clearchris** · 03-23-2022, 09:12 PM

I have a chinese one, and I love it. Takes some time to heat up, but once it hits temp it works well. Sometimes you need to add a bit of pb solder to the joint, but when you pull the trigger and hear the slurp... nothing better than that.

**redwire** · 03-23-2022, 09:21 PM

I think the long hose/base desoldering stations make up for the pressure drop with the larger vac pump and extra vacuum solenoid valve for crisp suction.
My Hakko 470 is amazing for heat, it's rated 50W but I use it for soldering too lol.
Really makes the T12 and 888 look bad, now that I know what good heat is like.
My fav is the tip with 1mm hole, fits most caps.

**clearchris** · 03-23-2022, 09:42 PM

Yeah, it has been years since I opened up my desoldering gun base, but the pump is about fist sized. It's not small, and I have no lack of suction. The base is a bit oversized for what's in there, but I'm pretty sure the same housing fits a desolder gun / soldering iron combo station also.

03-10-2022, 03:29 PM	#2
Per Hansson Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 City & State: ---- My Country: Sweden Line Voltage: 230v 50Hz I'm a: Knowledge Seeker Posts: 5,059	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 It's simply great! I got one a while ago too, some jobs are just too easy now with it! __________________ "The one who says it cannot be done should never interrupt the one who is doing it."

03-11-2022, 11:33 AM	#4
Per Hansson Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 City & State: ---- My Country: Sweden Line Voltage: 230v 50Hz I'm a: Knowledge Seeker Posts: 5,059	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 It seems pretty simple, you do need to take care of the buildup of crud inside it. But there are tools included with that, you will notice it because the vacuum becomes much less effective...

03-11-2022, 01:18 PM	#6
stj Great Sage 齊天大聖 Join Date: Dec 2009 City & State: Europe My Country: some shithole run by Israeli agents I'm a: Professional Tech Posts: 26,425	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 lol all these companies kill you on the cost of filters. make your own with A4 sheet material and a chinese leather punch of the correct diameter.

03-11-2022, 03:14 PM	#8
sam_sam_sam Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Jul 2011 City & State: Some times Sunny Jacksonville FL My Country: USA Line Voltage: 120 Volts 60 HZ I'm a: Knowledge Seeker Posts: 3,475	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 Tips and filter are the most two consumables are used on these devices and you should have them on hand also get in the habit of using the tube cleaning rod each time you are about to turn off the unit for the day this is extremely important to do on constantly base’s or you will have to drill open the suction tube if you do not do this every time before you turn it off for the day this has to with the flux in the solder __________________ 9 PC LCD Monitor 6 LCD Flat Screen TV 30 Desk Top Switching Power Supply 10 Battery Charger Switching Power Supply for Power Tool 6 18v Lithium Battery Power Boards for Tool Battery Packs 1 XBox 360 Switching Power Supply and M Board 25 Servo Drives 220/460 3 Phase 6 De-soldering Station Switching Power Supply 1 Power Supply 1 Dell Mother Board 15 Computer Power Supply 1 HP Printer Supply & Control Board * lighting finished it * These two repairs where found with a ESR meter...> Temp at 50F then at 90F the ESR reading more than 10% 1 Over Head Crane Current Sensing Board ( VFD Failure Five Years Later ) 2 Hem Saw Computer Stack Board All of these had CAPs POOF All of the mosfet that are taken out by bad caps

03-11-2022, 08:14 PM	#9
stj Great Sage 齊天大聖 Join Date: Dec 2009 City & State: Europe My Country: some shithole run by Israeli agents I'm a: Professional Tech Posts: 26,425	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 one very important thing, DO NOT ADD FLUX TO THE JOINTS. the pump will pull it in and it will line and clog the tube and also mess up the filter.

03-11-2022, 08:33 PM	#10
redwire Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2010 City & State: Alberta My Country: Canada Posts: 2,467	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 They are susceptible to clogging with solder cooling down in the heating element's tube. You have to use the wire poker, especially with lead-free solders, as a habit. A few times I've taken out the filter cartridge and poked in reverse, at the vacuum side to push out a broken pin that got pulled in. If it doesn't work well, your technique needs to change or improve: Some people hold the vacuum on for too short a time period, leaving some solder in the tube, not long enough to suck it into the filter. Some people hit the vacuum too soon, before the solder joint is heated up and flowed through to the PC board's other side. I've seen people wiggle the tip too much and trash the pads. Or not hold the tip flush with the board, so you get a tiny vacuum leak because it's crooked. If a board has too little factory solder, not enough to really desolder then add solder to the pins first. For boards with DIP IC's sometimes I put a soldering iron tip on the ICs pins on the top side of the board to melt top layer solder, with the Hakko on the other side of the board I hit the vacuum. When you need a lot of heat for the power pins.

03-12-2022, 10:26 AM	#12
CapLeaker Leaking Member Join Date: Dec 2014 City & State: Atlantic Canada My Country: Canada Line Voltage: Ground, 0Hz I'm a: Hobbyist Tech Posts: 5,062	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 I've got one of the FR-301 desoldering guns for quite a few years now. Still works like a champ and besides changing a filter here and there everything original. Very good product.

03-12-2022, 12:54 PM	#13
stj Great Sage 齊天大聖 Join Date: Dec 2009 City & State: Europe My Country: some shithole run by Israeli agents I'm a: Professional Tech Posts: 26,425	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 as the owner of a pump-in-base type, a couple of questions i'v wondered for a while. 1: is it heavy? 2: does it vibrate in your hand to a degree that would be an issue with prolonged use?

03-12-2022, 10:06 PM	#15
eccerr0r Solder Sloth Join Date: Nov 2012 City & State: CO My Country: USA Line Voltage: 120VAC 60Hz I'm a: Hobbyist Tech Posts: 7,086	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 TBH I'd rather pull the trigger than bite the bullet. Sorry had to make this comment...

03-23-2022, 09:12 PM	#16
clearchris Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2013 City & State: San Antonio My Country: United States Line Voltage: 120v 60hz / 240v 60hz I'm a: Hardcore Geek Posts: 582	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 I have a chinese one, and I love it. Takes some time to heat up, but once it hits temp it works well. Sometimes you need to add a bit of pb solder to the joint, but when you pull the trigger and hear the slurp... nothing better than that.

03-23-2022, 09:21 PM	#17
redwire Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2010 City & State: Alberta My Country: Canada Posts: 2,467	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 I think the long hose/base desoldering stations make up for the pressure drop with the larger vac pump and extra vacuum solenoid valve for crisp suction. My Hakko 470 is amazing for heat, it's rated 50W but I use it for soldering too lol. Really makes the T12 and 888 look bad, now that I know what good heat is like. My fav is the tip with 1mm hole, fits most caps.

03-23-2022, 09:42 PM	#18
clearchris Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Dec 2013 City & State: San Antonio My Country: United States Line Voltage: 120v 60hz / 240v 60hz I'm a: Hardcore Geek Posts: 582	Re: Finally bit the bullet on the Hakko FR301 Yeah, it has been years since I opened up my desoldering gun base, but the pump is about fist sized. It's not small, and I have no lack of suction. The base is a bit oversized for what's in there, but I'm pretty sure the same housing fits a desolder gun / soldering iron combo station also.