[Boatanchors] WELLER SOLDERING GUN

[Bill and Liz]

I tried the Weller tips from Newark and Mouser and had all sorts of bad experiences with them.  I now use much less expensive tips from Radio Shack and have had NO problems in either my 150 or 250 watt guns in the past few years.

On the big gun the tightening screws stripped after only a few months use so I re-tapped the holes and now use larger bolts with a wrench head on them.  Ugly but it works!  I check the tightness before every session, particularly if I am working outside in cold weather.  This gun was used to install thousands of PL-259 connectors during my days as a 2-way service tech.  After the modification, problems disappeared and I see smoke rising every time I pull the trigger

I too had a Wen gun back in the 50s and wish I had never sold it....awesome piece of kit but unforgiving plastic case when dropped!  Newer is not always better.

Bill VE3NH