[Boatanchors] Weller Iron Frustrations

[Jim Wilhite]

Use an anti-seize compound on your tips, be they irons or guns.  That helps 
stop that oxidation and subsequent heat loss.  Also makes changing tips much 
easier because the nuts or screws don't gall.

You can probably find a suitable small tube of the stuff at your 
neighborhood car parts store in the form-a-gasket section.

Jim
W5JO


----- Original Message ----- 



> Re:  Weller Iron Frustrations
>
> We've discussed this before, but I'm hoping some new ideas have evolved.
>
> Weller soldering irons with the copper tips make me want to pull my hair 
> out- both of them.
> The copper tips will make about two joints before they go
> Hi-Z at the tip connection points.  I have to either
> tap the tip several times or re-tighten the tip mounting set screws to 
> break the oxide barrier and get decent heat.
>
> Is there some kind of compound I can put on a new tip to
> prevent this?  I've thought of maybe stuffing the tip sockets with 
> solderwick or something.... anything... to keep decent contact
> for more than two or three joints.
> Gotta get two more kids raised before a hot-air station is
> realistic and I don't think it works all that spiffy on our
> kind of joints, anyway.
>