Checked out a new repair shop in Phoenix and the soldering station setup was a real eye-opener

Honestly, I was at a place called Circuit Fix on 7th Ave last Friday. They had four Hakko FX-888D stations all lined up, but every single tip was completely oxidized and black. Tbh, it looked like they never cleaned them, just cranked the heat to max for every job. Ngl, I watched a tech there try to reflow a connector on a laptop board and it was a real struggle. Has anyone else seen a shop let their basic gear get that bad, and how do you even bring it up without sounding like a jerk?

3 comments

3 Comments

morganmartinez4d ago

Oxidized tips are a huge red flag for their whole process. If they can't keep basic tools clean, I'd worry about hidden problems like cold joints or lifted pads. You could ask what temperature they run for different jobs, which points to the issue without directly calling them out.

maxl934d ago

I used to ignore oxidized tips as just a visual thing until a tech I trust showed me a board he reworked. The cold joints under some chips were crazy, all from a crusty iron running way too cold. Now that oxidized look makes me ask about their temp control right away. It really is a sign of bigger sloppy habits.

anthonynelson4d ago

Yeah, that's such a good point about it hinting at bigger sloppy habits. It's like seeing a dirty stove in a restaurant kitchen, you just know other stuff is being overlooked. I've had to fix so many boards where the real issue was just a badly kept iron, all cold and crusty. Asking about their temp is a smart way to feel it out without starting a fight.