Hakko FR 301 Desoldering Tool Review

I don't really need it but have always wanted one for my home lab. Thru-hole components are pretty rare these days, so they really should have a bigger tab for power connections, as that's what you'll find most useful on modern boards, and having to immediately grab another part right out of the box is a bad thing. I wanted good quality even though I don't plan to use them much. I have a regular white Hakko stand for it so it doesn't have to live in the case that comes with it, it doesn't quite

Wow, this tool is awesome. Makes my job of soldering components much easier. Instead of fighting the components, this pistol just lets them fall out. If the component is difficult to remove, use a tool to add additional solder to the joint to make heat transfer more efficient. The cleaning isn't that bad. I keep a clincher handy to clean the nozzle. Sometimes the tool clogs at the front of the solder pot. Remove, unclog and away you go. At the back of the solder collector is a plate into which…

I've been using Aoyue's fairly cheap desoldering station for a while and it has never worked very well and has always had to be cleaned with PITA. The weapon is quite crudely designed and manufactured. But I digress. I recently had a mission to upgrade my electronic desk to Hakko products. I have a Hakko FX-951 (fantasy), a real Hakko FG-100 and now a Hakko FR-301. I was amazed at how well the FR-301 soaked up the solder - a second or two on medium heat in a small area or through-hole and the…