Today, I bought myself a Hakko 633-01 soldering iron stand from Amazon, and I will be reviewing the device based on my personal experience using it, and others like it.
Introduction
Being in need of another soldering iron stand in the workshop, I thought I would buy the Hakko 633, a stylish soldering iron stand that I have wanted for quite some time, which also includes the Hakko 599B wire wool tip cleaner. In this review, I will be critiquing this tool on four main aspects: Price, Stability, Quality, and other Beneficial Features.
Cheapest Option (£10)
The cheapest option that I found is the spring-like variant. These tend to fetch around £6 to £10 online and are often included free with soldering irons and other starter kits. These are suitable for people who just need something to get started, such as for doing odd jobs or a new beginner.
The main advantages of this design are:
Cheap - Oftern free with kits
Universal - Accommodates a wide range of iron styles
Comes apart - Can be stored in a pouch or toolbox for transport
However, there are some disadvantages too:
Unsturdy and lightweight
Can come loose
Soldering irons can stick
It can get hot with the iron
Holds the iron by the hot end
Intermediate Option (£15)
The next option is the slightly more expensive "flat base" option, as I like to call it. They are made of a more sturdy pre-built construction, costing between £10 and £15. This option is great for people who do soldering often and a better option to buy than the spring type if your kit does not have a holder supplied.
The main advantages:
A sturdy option.
Comfortable placing and lifting action.
Upgraded sponge tip cleaner.
Holds the iron by the handle
A low-down form.
Disadvantages:
May not be compatible with all soldering iron styles.
Does not detach for easy travelling.
The More Expensive Option (£25)
At a higher pricepoint than the other example, but by no means the most expensive option found online is the Hakko 663 soldering stand. Coming in at about £25, with the included wire wool tip cleaner, this option has a more professional look and feel with outstanding quality. I would recommend this to someone who solders on a daily basis and is looking for something with a bit of style. This device is also good for those who prefer the wire wool cleaning method but do not want the extra clutter of an external cleaning tool.
Advantages:
All the same as the last design.
Includes a wire wool tip cleaner
More sturdy iron holder
Disadvantages:
All the same as the last design
Holds the iron angled higher (personal choice)
A larger and taller device.
A Closer Look
So far, I have gone over each design's main pros and cons based on my personal experience. Now, for those who want more of an in-depth review, this is the section for you.
Sturdiness
I found that the sturdiness of the Hakko's base matched that of the flat bottom stand. I had expected it to perhaps be worse due to the lack of material on the bottom, but I found no noticeable difference when trying to move, tilt or knock over the device on the workbench or an uneven concrete floor. In my opinion, the base not being completely flat may have even helped prevent it from sliding around on the rough floor, which would make sense, but it was hard to tell for sure.
This is, of course, vastly better than the spring-type holder. Though the spring type has the ability to come apart, a space-saving advantage the other types do not have, it also means it is susceptible to coming loose. The tops of the spring-type holders can come loose if the bolt is not sufficiently tightened or if it becomes undone with constant use. This can cause the holder to twist when removing the iron or even topple over with a heavy iron installed. To overcome this, the bolt can be cranked much tighter with a spanner, but this will remove the portability advantage.
Safety
The Hakko has features contributing to safety that I really like. For one, its solid construction stops it from twisting like the spring type. Additionally, the latter stands hold the iron by the handle grip, not the hot end. This has three safety benefits that I found boosting its quality.
Firstly, the iron's handle does not protrude through the holder, preventing it from catching on the ridges of the springs. This is very advantageous as it makes it safer to place and remove the iron, with less likelihood of the iron getting stuck or taking the stand with it when you try to pick it up. This style of holder is much more comfortable when needing to repeatedly place and remove the iron throughout constant use. When the irons protrude too far, the tip can also become exposed; this is not an issue with the Hakko and flat base.
Secondly, when using the latter holders, the iron's tip is suspended, not in contact with the stand. The spring-style stand, however, holds the iron by the hot end resting against the side, pivoting by the handle. This keeps the iron in place but also acts as a large heatsink. The heat generated from the iron can become drawn away from the tip, warming up the stand instead. Heat leaving the iron prevents the tip from maintaining its temperature between soldering joints, with you needing to let it warm up more before continuing. More significantly, if the iron is left holstered for a long period, the stand can warm too much, presenting a danger to a user if they touch it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I very much like this stand, with it becoming my favourite for use when repairing cars with my electric iron.
Though this stand is more expensive than the intermediate example, I believe its quality, style and other advantages justify the price. I found it easy to use and comfortable when working on the floor, needing something to hold the iron when not in use. I also prefer its style over the other options and feel that it is a good suit for my digital soldering station.
