FixHub
Hardware
soldering station
SHOW HN2024
928points
405comments
#9of 3,515 in 2024
Top 1%of 2024 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
26 positive, 67 neutral or asking, 14 mixed, 80 critical, out of 187 comments about the project. Thread score -0.28.
Design: 7 for, 31 againstPricing: 2 for, 23 againstPerformance: 7 for, 8 againstIdea: 6 for, 7 againstExecution: 2 for, 6 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Fast heat-up and responsive 100W output
From 2 comments
After a quick look at the specs: Plus * 5 secs to temp. * Heat resistant, vented cap. * User can change auto idle and sleep times. Minus * Need iFixit power station or computer…
mrandish on HNWell done! I'm mostly a TS100 user, so I'm looking at it from that angle. Why no boost button (unless I missed it)? That's the one on-iron UI feature I'd be missing - very useful…
alnwlsn on HN
Heat-resistant storage cap is useful
From 2 comments
i literally just bought a pinecil and usb-c battery pack (with carry case) to make basically a DIY version of this three weeks ago, but would have gotten this one instead if it…
jareklupinski on HNYes! You need a way to pull the iron out and put it away quickly. Our cap is just a game changer there. You handle it more like a Sharpie than a soldering iron. Put the cap on…
kwiens on HN
Repairable design with schematics and parts
From 2 comments
Schematics are table stakes! https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iFixit_Soldering
kwiens on HNWe are, too! It didn't seem fair for us to rate it ourselves. Hackaday took theirs apart and seemed to like it. We're posting full service information and schematics here:…
kwiens on HN
Objections
Battery pack is expensive and uses a sealed pack instead of replaceable cells
From 2 comments
The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me. $110 cad for the soldering…
thesh4d0w on HNI'm going to go ahead and sling mud at iFixit for using a Battery pack instead of individual cells and springs. It also doesn't seem that this expensive power supply supports…
riversflow on HN
Temperature control needs the power station or web console
From 2 comments
Overall a great idea, though not a fan that you can’t directly change the temperature on the soldering iron without the power station.
syntaxing on HNAfter a quick look at the specs: Plus * 5 secs to temp. * Heat resistant, vented cap. * User can change auto idle and sleep times. Minus * Need iFixit power station or computer…
mrandish on HN
Automatic wake on pickup is unwanted
From 1 comment
> The accelerometer detects when you pick it up and heats it back up. I don't want this. I would rather push a button and wait for a light to turn on. Automatic off, fine, I…
BugsJustFindMe on HN
Requests
Mobile support, since Web Serial is Chromium-only
From 2 comments
I hear https://github.com/google/web-serial-polyfill gets used a fair amount on Android devices, so that might be one road you could go down. Additionally, I can't imagine it…
nightpool on HNWell done! I'm mostly a TS100 user, so I'm looking at it from that angle. Why no boost button (unless I missed it)? That's the one on-iron UI feature I'd be missing - very useful…
alnwlsn on HN
On-device temperature control or a dial
From 2 comments
After a quick look at the specs: Plus * 5 secs to temp. * Heat resistant, vented cap. * User can change auto idle and sleep times. Minus * Need iFixit power station or computer…
mrandish on HNWhat I'd really like somebody to do is just stick a field-replaceable 18650 or 21700 battery in the handle. If you want to get fancy, add a dial for temperature control.…
Zak on HN
Boost button for large thermal masses
From 1 comment
Well done! I'm mostly a TS100 user, so I'm looking at it from that angle. Why no boost button (unless I missed it)? That's the one on-iron UI feature I'd be missing - very useful…
alnwlsn on HN
Questions
Whether tips are compatible with Hakko or JBC or TS80 tips
From 2 comments
Unfortunate that they didn't make it compatible with genuine Hakko or JBC tips like many of the no-name knock-off soldering stations are, but I suppose being based in the US they…
jsheard on HNCan you comment on the compatibility with other 3.5mm tips like the TS80/TS80P? Will there be other tip shapes available? Is the tip design patented (and enforced) or will you…
bkanuka on HN
Why there is no boost button
From 1 comment
Well done! I'm mostly a TS100 user, so I'm looking at it from that angle. Why no boost button (unless I missed it)? That's the one on-iron UI feature I'd be missing - very useful…
alnwlsn on HN
Alternatives named
Pinecil
From 2 comments
Looks much like the pinecil [0] (which I love btw if I have no acess to decent equipment) but with Webinterface ?!? Love the look though. [0]…
riedel on HNi literally just bought a pinecil and usb-c battery pack (with carry case) to make basically a DIY version of this three weeks ago, but would have gotten this one instead if it…
jareklupinski on HN
Hakko FX888D and FX-951
From 2 comments
I paid ~$100 for my Hakko FX888D, and have had had that for almost 10 years. Looking on the Internet, the price hasn't gone up much. Not sure whether this (for $250 including the…
dlevine on HNNever buy cheap tools. It looks like a cool gadget, but is it actually useful for soldering? Does it maintain correct temperatures? How long the tips last and can you buy them…
varispeed on HN
JBC
From 1 comment
We'll have a range of tips. Hitting the high performance we wanted, with 100 Watt output in a small iron, required really optimizing the entire system. The heating element and…
kwiens on HN
Fanttik T1 Max
From 1 comment
Pretty cool, but it has to compete with the P80, and also with Fanttik's soldering iron, which has a battery and thus doesn't have the cable leash.…
fragmede on HN