[Boatanchors] Weller Iron Frustrations

[Bill Cromwell]

On 05/15/2013 02:25 AM, Drew P. wrote:
> 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
>

Hi,

I have been living a blessed life with my Weller soldering gun. It has 
the nuts on the barrels. A long time ago I burned out a tip and wasn't 
finished working. No hardware stores available (middle of the night). I 
made a new tip from a scrap 12 gage Romex and have been using those ever 
since (never found the time to actually go to the store to buy a "real" 
one. I do have to reset the nuts but only about once every three or four 
days of use. Since I don't use it *every* day that may be a week of two. 
Parts are smaller these days and the Weller iron gets more use than the gun.

73,

Bill  KU8H