Electronics > Beginners
Weller and Soldering Stations Questions
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MosherIV:

--- Quote --- The rumor is that Weller tips used to last forever and now they don't.
--- End quote ---

They definitly have never lasted forever. In my first industrial placement job, I did so many solder joints and repairs (desoldering) that I managed to wear out a tip. Once you wear throught the plating, the flux slowly eats through the copper core. I was finding it harder and harder to solder, my mentor took one look and told me that the tip was gone and needed replacing. Once replaced, back to happy soldering. This was way back in 1990, so it is definitley possible to wear them out and this happened long before production shifted to Mexico.

Are the tips made in Mexico inferior ? Do not know. Have not bought a new tip in ages.
My Weller TCPZ iron is not working, replaced with Metcal now.

Not sure where you are based, if USA try reputable dealer like Element14 or RS
Mr. Scram:

--- Quote from: Audioguru on March 05, 2018, 03:44:24 pm ---My Weller WTCP soldering iron is about 50 years old and still works fine. Its tip sets and controls its temperature so it does not have a useless temperature adjust knob that is always set wrong.
It is about 60W and its tip lasts for many years of heating all day long.

--- End quote ---
Dave doesn't recommend getting one of these. Get one with an electronically settable temperature.
MosherIV:

--- Quote ---Dave doesn't recommend getting one of these. Get one with an electronically settable temperature.
--- End quote ---
This is down to personel preference. Some people like the variable temp control and some do not.

I prefer Metcal so tecnically I do not prefer adjustable temperature. I can see that sometimes being able to set the temperature has its uses but not to overcome thermal mass.

Personalky, I think people should try both out and see which they prefer.
Electro Detective:

--- Quote from: Audioguru on March 05, 2018, 03:44:24 pm ---My Weller WTCP soldering iron is about 50 years old and still works fine. Its tip sets and controls its temperature so it does not have a useless temperature adjust knob that is always set wrong.
It is about 60W and its tip lasts for many years of heating all day long.

--- End quote ---

Oh yeah!   :-+ 


My old school Weller WTCP Series TC20? ceased being 'reliable' some years back (it either worked great or so-so intermittently) so I shelved it and used some others till I could find some brain time to sort it out

One day as I was considering to sell it off as parts and get some storage space back, I decided to pull the sucker apart and upon careful inspection found the two 'break thin' bare wires that go to the 240/24 volt transformer primary were loosely wrapped around the power switch contacts  :o   I purchased the unit brand new in the box from the local distributor btw  :-//

After a couple of tries (and 'heat/brittle breaks' and other adventures) I successfully soldered them on to some short stranded 'extension' wire leads and then used crimps to attach to the switch,
and noted on testing it was working better than it ever did, but... intermittently  |O


Almost gave up on it till I stumbled on the solder iron lead connector to the base station was mating loosely even though it had a bayonet style of 3 pin connector.


Fixed that issue and now the Weller is a 'go to' workhorse again, works like a champ  :clap:

I wonder how many other units with this set of problems are sitting in landfills ?   :--



BTW guys, not only do I have the general purpose PTA '7' 700F tips, but also '8' 800F which I may have bought for lead free crap solder use

and one engraved label '9' 900F (welding rod, LOL) which I must have bought for the occassional tight space chassis bond cooking scenario

 
Anyway, this Weller isn't going anywhere now and doesn't need a dial to play with temperature,
the 7 tips in conical and chisel point just about cover all bases with any size lead/flux solder,

and the 8 and 9 are there if I need to get medieval    >:D 

Mr. Scram:

--- Quote from: MosherIV on April 21, 2018, 11:28:13 pm ---
--- Quote ---Dave doesn't recommend getting one of these. Get one with an electronically settable temperature.
--- End quote ---
This is down to personel preference. Some people like the variable temp control and some do not.

I prefer Metcal so tecnically I do not prefer adjustable temperature. I can see that sometimes being able to set the temperature has its uses but not to overcome thermal mass.

Personalky, I think people should try both out and see which they prefer.

--- End quote ---
There doesn't seem to be a situation where having less control is to be preferred, especially since you aren't obligated to change the temperature on a variable station. The latter can do both, suiting both preferences.
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