saturation
- Joined Dec 21, 2008
- 22
Hakko is widely counterfeited, particularly in China.
My real Hakko 936, bought from Hakko USA, is made in Japan, older models are also made in Singapore. Most Hakko goods sold from China must be considered counterfeit until proven otherwise, and this includes accessories, such as tips. Tips of the past few years for the different series handles are individually model numbered and bear a Hakko logo. Unfortunately, there are no distinct identifying marks on older stock tips, and the plastic containers and bar codes are easy copied. Each tip cost about $5-8 each. Original ones are wrapped individually even if bought in packs; it doesn't sell for less or come packaged in bulk of 10, bulk packing is often counterfeit.
What can go wrong if you use a counterfeit tip on a real iron is the fake iron alloy formulation may wear prematurely, shortening its life [ not such a bad thing since counterfeit tips are far cheaper than the real ones], the heat will not be evenly distributed or incorrectly because true tips have a strict tolerance for the gap between the ceramic heater and the copper jacket of the tip, worse if expansion of the counterfeit tip during heating is not to tolerance, it will trap or crack the ceramic heater potentially destroying it prematurely [ a real one is $30+ and normally can last many years.]
Hakko discontinued the 936 design and reincarnated it as the FX 888, but incorporated more features that make it more difficult to copy. They've also established a legal office in China to pursue counterfeiters. The Hakko website has more info about who makes them, including some websites that sell the knock offs.
If you buy the real McCoy for the benefits of its soldering technology, the whole station is a working unit, and any weakness in it by replacing a authentic station unknowingly with a counterfeit part, from the spare parts, tips, or pencil, will not provide you with what you purchased in the first place. You're better off buying a copy and know its a copy and realistically do not expect it to live up to the 936, nor pay as much for it either.
http://www.hakko.com/english/company/ip/index.html
http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko936-12Spin.html
My real Hakko 936, bought from Hakko USA, is made in Japan, older models are also made in Singapore. Most Hakko goods sold from China must be considered counterfeit until proven otherwise, and this includes accessories, such as tips. Tips of the past few years for the different series handles are individually model numbered and bear a Hakko logo. Unfortunately, there are no distinct identifying marks on older stock tips, and the plastic containers and bar codes are easy copied. Each tip cost about $5-8 each. Original ones are wrapped individually even if bought in packs; it doesn't sell for less or come packaged in bulk of 10, bulk packing is often counterfeit.
What can go wrong if you use a counterfeit tip on a real iron is the fake iron alloy formulation may wear prematurely, shortening its life [ not such a bad thing since counterfeit tips are far cheaper than the real ones], the heat will not be evenly distributed or incorrectly because true tips have a strict tolerance for the gap between the ceramic heater and the copper jacket of the tip, worse if expansion of the counterfeit tip during heating is not to tolerance, it will trap or crack the ceramic heater potentially destroying it prematurely [ a real one is $30+ and normally can last many years.]
Hakko discontinued the 936 design and reincarnated it as the FX 888, but incorporated more features that make it more difficult to copy. They've also established a legal office in China to pursue counterfeiters. The Hakko website has more info about who makes them, including some websites that sell the knock offs.
If you buy the real McCoy for the benefits of its soldering technology, the whole station is a working unit, and any weakness in it by replacing a authentic station unknowingly with a counterfeit part, from the spare parts, tips, or pencil, will not provide you with what you purchased in the first place. You're better off buying a copy and know its a copy and realistically do not expect it to live up to the 936, nor pay as much for it either.
http://www.hakko.com/english/company/ip/index.html
http://www.tequipment.net/Hakko936-12Spin.html
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