Weller tips (which) + hot air station

[simonlasnier]

Hi

I've got a Weller WTCP-S iron which needs new tips. I'm probably going to buy a Weller PU-81 (I found one second-hand with the iron as well) since it is temperature controllable.
On my current tips it seems to say "PT-something" (it's hard to read), so I guess I should buy the PT type? There are ET, PT, RT, MT LT... Why do they make this so complicated 

I also need a hot air station (I have been doing a LOT of desoldering with iron and wick... so yea it is time), I found something called Toolcraft ZD-8908 which is affordable, or a second-hand one called Atten ST-862D. The Weller ones are pretty much all over $1000.


My questions:
1- How to know which Weller tip fit which Weller iron?
2- Is the iron dependent/different for each Weller power unit? F.ex. the PU-81 and WTCP clearly have different plugs - do their iron fit different tips then?
3- any feedback on the hot air stations?


Thank you!
Simon

PS: Just rewatched Dave's series about soldering equipment (here: )
I also realized this video series is now 11 years old, so when Dave says "oh it's like $100" I thought "great!"... Ha ha yea prices have changed

[2N3055]

Hi

I've got a Weller WTCP-S iron which needs new tips. I'm probably going to buy a Weller PU-81 (I found one second-hand with the iron as well) since it is temperature controllable.
On my current tips it seems to say "PT-something" (it's hard to read), so I guess I should buy the PT type? There are ET, PT, RT, MT LT... Why do they make this so complicated 

I also need a hot air station (I have been doing a LOT of desoldering with iron and wick... so yea it is time), I found something called Toolcraft ZD-8908 which is affordable, or a second-hand one called Atten ST-862D. The Weller ones are pretty much all over $1000.


My questions:
1- How to know which Weller tip fit which Weller iron?
2- Is the iron dependent/different for each Weller power unit? F.ex. the PU-81 and WTCP clearly have different plugs - do their iron fit different tips then?
3- any feedback on the hot air stations?


Thank you!
Simon

PS: Just rewatched Dave's series about soldering equipment (here: )
I also realized this video series is now 11 years old, so when Dave says "oh it's like $100" I thought "great!"... Ha ha yea prices have changed

Go find Weller catalog (online or paper) and search through it.
All the irons, stations, are different. There is some compatibility.

I gave my WD1000 as present to a friend and moved on.
Weler is a former great company... 

[simonlasnier]

Ha ha interesting thoughts
So which brands of irons do you recommend then?

[pcprogrammer]

I bought myself a JBC clone. https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/4000073506197.html

There are others and with a bit of searching cheaper, but I like it very much. Also have a weller with temperature control. Looks like the one on your photo, but with a control knob on it. Now only use it when something really coarse needs to be soldered. The Jabe works great. Heats up quick, changing the tip is easy and allows a wide range of temperature to be set.

For a hot air station I have this one. https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32818030316.html

Works very well for the stuff I do, which is hobby related electronics, not full time (re)work.

[simonlasnier]

Thanks Peter for the insights. I think I'll get the second hand stuff, it worked out pretty well before.
And it seems the PT tips fit my current WTCP and the LT tips fit the PU-81.