Review on 🔧 Hakko 611 1 Solder Reel Stand: Streamlining Your Soldering Process by Montez Vazquez

I'm usually a big fan of the Hakko brand. For many years I have exclusively used Hakko irons, vacuum demolition pumps, wire cutters, pliers and various other tools. Most of the time, the Hakko name can be trusted simply because it sets itself apart from everyone else. However, this is not one of them. It just doesn't perform as well as the other options for a few very simple reasons: 1. The stand itself is a bit flimsy. I just wish there was something heavier that stayed in place. With a full spool of solder it's not a problem, but you'll notice it in the end.2. The solder "lead" is even thinner and loosely attached to the base. It's coming out soon. It would be very easy to make the guide a bit more solid and attach it to the main base. Also, he doesn't really need to have as much freedom of movement as he does - it would be better if he stood still. I will most likely super glue it or weld it to the base.3. The path you move the solder roller is too horizontal. If you're not working on a flat surface, this can be a problem. Several times I have attempted to place this stand on top of the item I was working on or to lift it up to move it and the plumb reel just rolled off the stand and onto the floor. Again, it would be nice if it was fixed.4. It lacks a comfortable grip. It's not a deal breaker, but it's handy. Lifting all of this up increases the chances of the solder spool popping out, as I mentioned above. So these are not serious issues and the average person is probably very concerned. You might think I'm picky, but when you use one of these day in and day out, the irritation factor can really add up. The whole point of this stand is to make life easier, and it's a little disappointing that the Hakko design team didn't think this through. IMHO it's more expensive because it carries the Hakko name, but that doesn't mean the increase in quality and value that the Hakko brand usually represents. Apparently, someone else felt the same way about Hakko's limitations as Delcast SL-RL. it's basically Hakko without the problems I mentioned above. It's also $6 less than Hakko at the time of writing, and imho it offers a superior product for less. So, for my money I would go with the Delcast SL-RL here: Delcast SL-RL Reel Dispenser Reel Sorry Hakko! Take a step forward!