It takes a while to heat up, but at this price I can live with that. This soldering iron works well and does the job. As soon as I have room for a dedicated workstation and can upgrade it, I will keep it handy as a backup. I particularly appreciated the free solder wick that was included. The one I bought came with a spare spring, but finding springs to buy is more difficult and expensive than necessary. I got lucky and found two original Hakko 502 t/p tips at my local micro center for the price of one at Revain. Also, from what I've seen online, only one top form is available. I definitely plan on getting the FX-888D because it's easier to buy accessories and there's a greater variety of accessory shapes. I wasn't expecting all the bells and whistles when I got this; From what I understand it's a fifth of the price of the 888 and is intended for hobbyists and students. But some variety would be nice.