[Boatanchors] Weller Iron Frustrations

[Sandy Blaize]

I have a VERY old Weller WD-135 dual heat gun that I had for over 50 years! 
I HAD to retire it unfortunately as Weller quit making the cast housing 
halves for it.  It was the most reliable gun I EVER had.  I got a new one 
and it has been nothing but trouble.  Didn't have any trouble with the tip 
problem, but did have continual trouble with the dual heat trigger switch. 
It is built much more chinsy than the old ones and replacements are about 
$15 and they don't last very long before going intermittant.  Don't know 
what happenned to Weller guns but they are total CRAP in my book now.

Anyone have and WD-135 housing halves?

73,

Sandy W5TVW

-----Original Message----- 
From: Roger Shultz
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:46 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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