Hakko’s FX-901 is a cordless soldering iron that is powered by (4) common AA-sized batteries and can operate at in excess of 600°F.
Hakko says that you can expect for an output of at least 600°F (or >300°C) for up to 60 minutes. Runtime can be extended to 120 minutes with the use of rechargeable batteries (2150 mAh) – a Hakko fact sheet recommends nickel hydrogen batteries, USA product descriptions recommend NiMH batteries.
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The soldering iron works with no flame, doesn’t require butane or any fuel, is built with an on/off switch, and the tip is user-replaceable. For added convenience, the entire battery cartridge is removable for when you need to swap batteries.
I have yet to try any cordless soldering irons, mainly because I don’t like messing around with butane if I don’t have to, and I’ve never heard of a good battery-powered model.
Remember the “Cold Heat” battery-powered soldering irons that were heavily advertised on TV and then near-universally complained about? That really biased me towards battery-powered soldering irons.
The Hakko FX-901 seems to have good reviews, and Hakko’s claims seems to be quite modest. This isn’t a do-all soldering iron, it’s what you could use for casual use, field work, and in places where AC outlets are inaccessible and butane soldering irons aren’t permitted.
I’ll probably give this a try, and am eager to hear if you own or have tried an FX-901 before. It seems like a handy tool, and with a $32-$35 price tag, it’s not too expensive as a quick-and-easy or portable soldering iron.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
More Info(via Hakko)
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One thing that Hakko doesn’t talk about is how fast it heats up and cools down, but it looks like the included cap could help with quick heat dissipation. At the very least, the cap should protect the tip against inadvertent damage.
Rascally
Probably a good unit. Back when I soldered everyday, I used ISO-TIP products. Their cordless products are quick launch and cool down, with easily interchanged tips. Then on the road, I continue to use the Weller Portasol brand of Butane Irons. Works great as I don’t have to wonder if it is charged, like a cordless that isn’t used often. Plus it has a great micro torch, and a hot knife if needed. It has a pinpoint flame which is good for heat shrink tubing. http://www.amazon.com/PSI100K-Super-Pro-Self-Igniting-Cordless-Soldering/dp/B000ICGN38/
But it's me!
Being Hakko, I would expect it to work as advertised. I have an FX-888 that has certainly raised my soldering skills from downright ugly to borderline OK. Had I need for a portable, it would definitely be of interest (see below).
The cold heat solder guns also scared me off of cordless soldering, too. Equated it with cold fusion!
Justin Mitchell
Really cool… Hakko makes great stuff. I wish this iron used the same tips as their other irons though. I’m not sure that you can get a fine tip for this iron.
Richard
I’ve owned more than 1 battery-powered soldering iron, and not one has worked well outside where I needed it to. Now, as far as Hakko goes, I’m willing to try out a new brand if the other comments here are accurate.
I switched to butane, and have never looked back… maybe it’s time to try it out again.
Nathan
so is it 600 degrees C or F? both numbers were mentioned. 600 C seems rather high for something that uses 2 AA batteries.
Stuart
Sorry about that. It is rated as being able to sustain temperatures of 600°F. Hakko also mentions 300°C.
I looked a temperature vs. time chart, and it looked like the peak temperature was 600°C with fresh alkaline batteries, but it seems that’s for the older model. With the new model, higher temperatures can be reached initially with fresh batteries as well, but not quite as high as 600°C.
At the 30-minute, or halfway mark, when alkaline batteries are used, the output temperature is shown to be at or a little above 400°C, which is about 750°F.
Runtime might be greater than 60 minutes, but Hakko only specifies 600°F temperatures for 60 minutes using fresh alkaline batteries.
I corrected the post, as the initial 600°C mention was drawn from their temp. vs. time chart trace of their previous tool.
Also, the soldering iron requires (4) AA batteries, not (2).
Nathan
even with 4 I have to say that’s impressive.
fred
When I was almost still a kid working for an old school plumber (can you say oakum and caulked joints, lead bends, lead and copper shower pans etc.) we had lots of “cordless” soldering irons – wooden handles – steel shaft and a copper “iron” that weighed anywhere from 4 ounces up to 8 pounds. They were used in pairs – one in use and one in the iron furnace or being heated with an acetylene torch fitted for the purpose. You had roll or bar solder, a sal ammoniac block to clean the irons, soldering fluid (flux) that you heated up to activate (nasty when hot – OK when cold). Roofers used some of the same sorts of tools – but plumbers added other leadworking tools to shape and fit lead bends mostly for wc’s and to caulk cast-iron bell and spigot joints. As a helper you got to do all of the nice jobs like hauling the molten lead pot around, beating dimples out of a lead bend with what we called a lead egg, shaping the bend with a wooden dresser (and stearine candle flux and lubricant), shave hook and lead rasp. Later on, I had my blood tested for lead levels and found that I had somehow missed out on that added “benefit” – probably because my mentor was scrupulous about washing up (hands and work clothes) and not easing drinking or smoking around lead work.
glenn
Very similar to the Weller cordless soldering iron.
https://www.masters.com.au/product/902465417/weller-battery-powered-soldering-iron-bp860mpa.jsp
I have one of the above and rate it as “emergency only” with perhaps some light soldering duties and that is with the proviso that you run it on rechargeable NiMih’s
Stuart
Weller rebranded the Cold Heat soldering iron at one point. I wouldn’t ever touch a Weller cordless soldering iron because of this. Maybe they have newer models that aren’t based on the much-disliked Cold Heat tech, but I’d place more trust in Hakko.
Jerry
Seller makes a couple cordless irons. Two look similar to the Hakko, and the model 865MP looks identical to the Hakko, and has the same customer rating, making me wonder if It isn’t a rebranded Hakko.
glenn
Stuart, as far as I an tell, the one I linked above, to as well as the two Weller irons I own are not related to the Cold Heat brand.
Weller is a brand that has been sold here for over 40 years. I have a 30+ year old Weller soldering iron and it has been an outstanding bit of gear.
My other iron is like the one in the link below. I
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1340440&cp=2568443.2568450.2628094.2629278.2629347
glenn
Sorry, I hit send before correcting.
Stuart
I’m familiar with Weller. Their consumer soldering irons are okay, and I wouldn’t hesitate to consider their more professional and industrial products, although I do have a personal preference for Hakko.
But as far as cordless soldering irons go, no way. That they rebranded the Cold Heat tech turned me off. Looking at reviews of their current cordless irons, I’m even more inclined to stay away.
Look at some of the reviews on Amazon. Opinions of the BP860MP are overwhelmingly negative.
As an aside, the cordless Hakko and Weller models are too different in appearance to have come from the same production line. The Weller does not look to be a rebranded Hakko.
glenn
Yes, agreed, the current Weller is not very good.
Many years back I had A Weller nicad cordlees iron, and it was pretty decent.
Any of the butane irons on the market now are far superior to any of the AA powered irons..
Perhaps a 10.8v or 18v version though?
glenn
I should have added that Hakko is not a brand that is known over here.
Jerry
Did you check out the #865?
Mike
I’ve used many Hakko products in the past and still use their self-contained desoldering gun. They’ve all been high quality and have worked very well. Their desoldering gun still outclasses anything made before or since.
But what the heck is with their lineup the last few years? Everything looks like it’s been made by Fisher-Price. I’m normally not one to let aesthetics guide my tool choices, but even I have passed them over due to their looks. When we were replacing a few rework stations last year the company didn’t even consider them because they look like toys. They look distinctive sitting on a bench but not in a good way.
Hang Fire
Stuart, please explain “Runtime can be extended to 120 minutes with the use of rechargeable batteries (2150 mAh) “. Are they comparing to carbon zinc batteries? Fresh name-brand Alkaline AA’s have 2400-2500mAh. Are Alkalines not allowed because of too low internal resistance?
Mike
Alkalines will have a shorter runtime because of HIGHER internal resistance. As their capacity it used up, the batteries develop internal resistance. High current draws then drop the output voltage below a usable level. This happens pretty quickly with alkaline batteries in devices which require relatively high power. You see this phenomenon in all kinds of devices that can take standard batteries such as cameras, two-way radios, motorized devices, etc.
Stuart
As Mike mentioned, high-drain devices, such as high powered flashlights and tools like this one drain alkalines much quicker than NiMH rechargeable or lithium batteries. The field levels out when talking about lower power devices.
Hang Fire
Well I went to the Hakko link provided and answered one of my questions, and one of yours. It takes Alkaline batteries and it takes 40 seconds for initial warm-up. Still confused about the 120 minute thing, though.
Farid
Wattage is just as important as temperature rating. At first glance, I thought this might be great for our field service techs, but then I looked at the power ratings. It appears it only consumes a maximum of 6 Watts – that’s one low power soldering iron. While it can reach a temperature much higher than is required for soldering, the the ability to bring the item being soldered to that temperature quickly and maintain long enough for proper solder flow is questionable. I even question the ability to properly solder some the larger items they show in the photos in the data sheet. In electronics, it is important to raise the temperature quickly to the proper level as to minimize the possibility of damage to the connected devices, and low power soldering iron means very slow heating.
I do have an 11-watt precision soldering iron (Antek), and that is just enough for small components (chip devices, ICs, low power resistors, caps, etc), but most of the time it is not enough for switches, terminals and such.
I would label this for emergency use and for very fine wire (perhaps 20 gauge max), or for soldering a pin on a small trace on a PCB. Most of the stuff our techs encounter would in the 14 gauge and larger or on thick copper traces, and this won’t cut it.
firefly
I will definitely add this to my list of thing to get. A battery soldering gun definitely remind me of the ColdHeat. Yes I got suckered and got one too, sadly :(.
I have one of the older weller butane iron that I got from sears a long while back and it hasn’t failed me.
Joe
Tempting new toy. I do some car audio tinkering myself here and there and a lot of the times my work station is too crowded to have things right next to the soldering station plus I picture using one in the residential HVAC industry if it has enough juice.
Lets pitch in to send one to EEVblog from youtube so he can take it apart lol he would be able to explain how the thing works. I’m no expert just a weekend warrior but he says stuff that makes sence.
Joe
Speaking about EEVblog, he got some nice looking tools recently by a fan brand Hazet. http://youtu.be/4hHPeNIU6ls?t=29m10s
Did a search on your site and you have reviewed two of their tool boxes.
I did a quick search on amazon, their tools are pricey.