[Boatanchors] Weller Iron Frustrations

[Dave Harmon]

Hi Roger.....
I apologize....my Weller is the 260/200 watt and DOES have the straight in
set screw attachment....I was thinking about the older style.
All I can tell you is that I have never had that problem with mine....I
tighten the set screws pretty tight....crank them tight...mine have no sign
of stripping out.
I've used them for many years without a problem....in fact, I bought a new
one in 68' when I was putting up a quad....
I dropped it and broke the plastic pretty badly last year but it still
worked....I got the 260/200 new to replace it.
It is not to only soldering iron I use....but it works well for me...
In spite of what others say.

Is the thread of the set screw stripping or the hex??

Dave Harmon
K6XYZ[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Sperry, Ok.


-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Roger Shultz
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:47 AM
To: 'David Stinson'; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Weller Iron Frustrations

Hi Dave,

As I read your message, you have the newer Weller design with the set screws
on the tip compared to the older design with the nuts which required bending
the actual tip 90 degrees and inserting it in the holes in the barrel stubs
before tightening the nuts.

Unfortunately, the newer design is difficult to get good contact. The set
screws strip and never seem to stay tight enough to make as good of a
connection as the older design.

My solution has been to pick up a couple of the older designs and pitch the
new ones. 

Weller generally makes high quality tools but not in this case.

As others mentioned you may find some chemical compound to make it a bit
better but not for long.

73, Roger, NJ2R

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David Stinson
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:48 AM
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Boatanchors] Weller Iron Frustrations

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.

Ideas?

73 Dave S.

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