Recommendations for a Soldering Station

My 20+-year-old Weller WTCP iron was once a great unit but is now falling apart, and the replacement heater assemblies seem to be getting progressively worse. I just put a new one in a couple of months ago, and within 2 weeks it appeared to have shorted and was turning red-hot.... so in order to do any work without burning stuff up, I have to cycle it on and off by hand every minute or so. I think it's about time this thing was laid to rest. I don't want to replace it with another Weller because the quality of their products is not what it used to be. I'm leaning either towards Pace or Hakko, probably Hakko because they're less expensive and easier to find. Which would be the better unit? I want something that will last a long time and not require too much maintenance, but I also have to be able to get replacement tips and parts without too much trouble. Thanks for any advice.

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Reply to
Chris F.
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It's almost certain the magnastat has seized shut, causing the element to stay on all the time. Replace the magnastat and it should sort out the problem. If the element was shorting out and overheating, the magnastat would just cut out more often to compensate as it would still try and maintain temperature.

I still use Weller TCP stations and feel they are one of the finest ever made in their price range. Simple but very effective and reliable. A new magnastat would be far cheaper than a whole new station, (about £15 here in the UK IIRC) assuming they are still readily available as spares- it's been some years since I had to replace one.

Morse

Reply to
Morse

I agree. My main workhorse iron, which is powered for 16 hours a day, is a magnastat controlled TCP, and my desolder station is also a Weller. I keep both fully maintained, and would not want to change either. I too would be looking at the magnastat switch itself, or possibly the suppression cap across it. The magnastat assembly is currently just over £16 + VAT at Farnell.

Arfa

Reply to
Arfa Daily

I've had a spare element for a recent Pace de-solder handpiece on order for over 3 months here in the UK. One did arrive promptly, but was smashed. It will be the second replacement on a device only switched on when needed. The element in my different make soldering iron has never been replaced in many years of use.

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    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
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Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

falling

and

red-hot.... so in

and off

laid to

of

Pace or

find.

long time

get

I have used the Weller WTCP both professionally in industry and privately at home since the 1970's, and I find them to be extremely reliable. I have also used Hakko soldering stations and they are excellent. My current desoldering machine is a Hakko 474.

Reply to
Ross Herbert

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