Soldering station: Weller vs. Hakko?

by brionic , Wednesday, June 11, 2014, 22:25 (3760 days ago)

I've decided (finally) to jump the curb and get a soldering station.

Any experience relative to the merits of Weller WES51 vs. Hakko FX888? Both are thermostatically controlled; the Weller is hecho en Mexico and available without blinky digital lights; Japanese Hakko is digital only, and is really purple, which bewilders but doesn't frighten. Random non-objective online comments praise both, generally.

Either runs about $90 delivered and is, hopefully, a lifer.

My crackling, scratchy, and semi-functional amplifiers thank you for your advice.