Big soldering irons don't run hotter?

[William P.N. Smith]

This is the Weller page for the UK
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/europe/spare_parts/weller/index.htm
but which iron in the drop down box is the best value?

Why are you looking in the spare parts index? IMHO, the "best" one is
the old standard
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/europe/electronics_products/weller/soldering/WTCP51.htm
which has been around forever, and is available used for very little
money.

 

[Smitty Two]

Why are you looking in the spare parts index? IMHO, the "best" one is
the old standard
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/europe/electronics_products/weller/soldering/WT
CP51.htm
which has been around forever, and is available used for very little
money.

Maybe if you solder for a few minutes a day, Weller will work for you.
We solder all day long every day, and the damn things are more trouble
than they're worth. They used to be good, maybe 20 years ago, but
they're s**t now. The cords go intermittent, the cord jacks go
intermittent, the fuses blow, the thermostats short out, the heaters go
open, the tips burn up in an hour, the metal sponge trays turn to piles
of rust. They're annoying as hell to fix because the idiot engineer who
designed them flunked third grade. That's why I finally put them in the
dumpster and bought a bunch of Edsyns.

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Maybe if you solder for a few minutes a day, Weller will work for you.
We solder all day long every day, and the damn things are more trouble
than they're worth. They used to be good, maybe 20 years ago, but
they're s**t now. The cords go intermittent, the cord jacks go
intermittent, the fuses blow, the thermostats short out, the heaters go
open, the tips burn up in an hour, the metal sponge trays turn to piles
of rust. They're annoying as hell to fix because the idiot engineer who
designed them flunked third grade. That's why I finally put them in the
dumpster and bought a bunch of Edsyns.

Edsyn rules! The tips are hard inside, and well plated outside.
The temp controller is fast response, and always accurate (as long as
nobody screws with the calibration pots), and they max out at
800degrees. They shouldn't be used at that temp for PCB assembly, but
there are times when a good high starting temp and a fat tip choice
comes in handy.

That is another good thing about these. The tip can be changed
quickly, and the array of tips available is wide. The operator can
keep several tips in the small front tray provided If one doesn't
like the sponges provided (or their price) one can buy just about any
sponge and cut it to size before applying the water for the first
time. The only thing I have ever seen go bad on them is the tip
retaining sheath. And those ONLY go bad on the user stations where the
idiot assembler keeps their station cranked up to the max all day.
If kept at the proper operating temp, they last practically forever.

The tips are so hard that instead of deteriorating, they form a
crust. Kester makes an "ammonium" block tip cleaning media that is
about a 2.5" x 2.5" block of ammonium. A hot tip, and a couple drops
of solder allow the tip to be restored to near new condition. The
block even has a certain friction that scrapes right through the
crust, and re-tins the tip perfectly. They work way better then the
small, lead filled acid cup style tip cleaners, and smoke far less. I
have one that has lasted for years and I am still on the first quarter
inch of media on only a few sides of the block. Edsyn IS the shit! and
they can even be found cheaper than retail at times. There are
several types available, but the dial controlled version is the best,
with the dial controlled version that even has two AC power outlets on
the front of the unit is fabulous.

 

[[email protected]]

I've been using a Weller at work for a couple of years now, and I've
used them in previous venues, and have never had any of these problems
with them. The only problem we had was the tips loosening because
someone was driving the iron into the cleaning sponge like Norman Bates
and pushing the heating element down into the handle. Once we educated
everyone on how not to break the iron, and replaced the handle, things
were back to normal.

I use a Metcal at home, because I like the short working distance. The
length of the Weller makes soldering feel more like jousting. They've
got an iron priced competitively with everyone else now (the PS-800 I
think).

 

[ampdoc]

Do you have a link for this product. I can't seem to locate it.

Is it available in the UK?

Here is a link to the Mfr's site and they have a new model, 936 I keyed in
my model incorrectly also, it is a 935, though it seems that the two are
almost identical. I've had my old unit for going on 8 yrs now. When I bought
mine it was $86.00 US. Looking around I found a couple of points of contact
for you in the UK who may be able to point you to a retailer.

http://www.hakkousa.com/products.asp?PID=936-12&page=1

GROSVENOR

PRIORY TEC PARK, SAXON WAY, HESSLE, EAST YORKSHIRE, HU13
9PB, UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +44-1482-627327 FAX: +44-1482-627328
E-mail: sales_AT_grosvenor-group.com

(remove _AT_ and you have the correct email)

DANCAP ELECTRONICS.

24 TRENT CRESCENT, THATCHAM, NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, RG18 3DN. UNITED KINGDOM.
TEL: +44-1635-866394 FAX: +44-1635-869589


Hope this helps.

 

[David Peters]

I use a Metcal at home, because I like the short working
distance. The length of the Weller makes soldering feel more
like jousting. They've got an iron priced competitively with
everyone else now (the PS-800 I think).

Lovely picture but no price!

http://www.solderconnection.com/metcal_ps800.php

Seems it only came out last spring.

 

[David Peters]

Why are you looking in the spare parts index? IMHO, the "best"
one is the old standard
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/europe/electronics_products/weller
/soldering/WTCP51.htm which has been around forever, and is
available used for very little money.

Who sells these. I am looking for a UK vendor who actually lists
prices!

 

[[email protected]]

Lovely picture but no price!

http://www.solderconnection.com/metcal_ps800.php

Seems it only came out last spring.

Metcal has been priced in the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it"
bracket for a very long time. The PS800 is indeed brand-new and costs
around $200-$250. It's different from their other pencil irons in that
the heating element and tip are two pieces.

I also find the Pace Worldwide HW/TW irons intriguing. They're very
similar in construction, but I've never actually used one, and at the
time I bought my Metcal the prices were very close.

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Lovely picture but no price!

http://www.solderconnection.com/metcal_ps800.php

Seems it only came out last spring.

Metcal units are the tops, but are VERY expensive. Hundreds of
dollars.

Edsyn is the best for the consumer level, as well as most commercial
settings where folks actually have less than mil contract paid
budgets.

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Who sells these. I am looking for a UK vendor who actually lists
prices!

Digi-key

Mouser

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

is there something wrong with my English?, first
it rules, then it is the shits?

If someone says "that's shit" or "that is a piece of shit" THEN you
can assume you read it right, but that is not what I said.

The colloquialism "That is the shit" (not plural)

Means that the referred to item is the best around. So yes, you don't
have it right... yet.

 

[Jamie]

Edsyn rules! The tips are hard inside, and well plated outside. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The temp controller is fast response, and always accurate (as long as
nobody screws with the calibration pots), and they max out at
800degrees. They shouldn't be used at that temp for PCB assembly, but
there are times when a good high starting temp and a fat tip choice
comes in handy.

That is another good thing about these. The tip can be changed
quickly, and the array of tips available is wide. The operator can
keep several tips in the small front tray provided If one doesn't
like the sponges provided (or their price) one can buy just about any
sponge and cut it to size before applying the water for the first
time. The only thing I have ever seen go bad on them is the tip
retaining sheath. And those ONLY go bad on the user stations where the
idiot assembler keeps their station cranked up to the max all day.
If kept at the proper operating temp, they last practically forever.

The tips are so hard that instead of deteriorating, they form a
crust. Kester makes an "ammonium" block tip cleaning media that is
about a 2.5" x 2.5" block of ammonium. A hot tip, and a couple drops
of solder allow the tip to be restored to near new condition. The
block even has a certain friction that scrapes right through the
crust, and re-tins the tip perfectly. They work way better then the
small, lead filled acid cup style tip cleaners, and smoke far less. I
have one that has lasted for years and I am still on the first quarter
inch of media on only a few sides of the block. Edsyn IS the shit! and ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

they can even be found cheaper than retail at times. There are
several types available, but the dial controlled version is the best,
with the dial controlled version that even has two AC power outlets on
the front of the unit is fabulous.

is there something wrong with my English?, first
it rules, then it is the shits?

 

[Jamie]

Who sells these. I am looking for a UK vendor who actually lists
prices!

well heres mine with a few extras i have that isn't in the
picture
http://www.engineeringlab.com/solderingiron.html