[Boatanchors] Weller Iron Frustrations

[Drew P.]

David Stinson wrote:
[snipped]

"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."

Experiencing this problem on my old design Weller gun (uses the nuts and the tips bent 90 degrees), I noted that the contact area between tip and barrel would get very hot due to high resistance there.  Loosening and retightening the nuts would cure the problem for only a joint or two.  At the hot spot between tip and barrel, with trigger pulled, I flowed a little solder into the hole, whereupon the hot spot cooled, and the business end got hot.  I have had no problem since then, although tip changes require use of a torch.

Drew