Big soldering irons don't run hotter?

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.

On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 19:01:28 -0800, Smitty Two Gave us:

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.

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).

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.

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.

Lovely picture but no price!

Seems it only came out last spring.

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

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.

On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:18:44 +0100, David Peters Gave us:

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.

On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:19:42 +0100, David Peters Gave us:

Digi-key

Mouser

well heres mine with a few extras i have that isn't in the picture

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