[Elecraft] soldering station info

[Alexandra Carter]

I'll second all of that!! Good rundown on slobbering irons.

I deal in electronic surplus and see broken temp-adjustable irons all 
the time, at the same time there are tons of Magnetrol type Wellers out 
there, some as old as I am, still working fine. (Got the tuner, key, 
and first part of my KX1 done with my trusty Weller myself last night.) 
73 de Alex NS6Y

On Apr 15, 2006, at 6:55 AM, G. Beat wrote:

> Some comments, each station design has its strengths and weaknesses
>
> The Haako 936 uses ceramic heaters - some users swear by them other 
> swear at them.
> The true Haako replacement heaters are NOT cheap - and their are 
> already Chinese copies of poorer quality (users beware of future 
> "cheap" replacements.  IF you drop the iron - the ceramic can (and 
> does crack) - causing failures.
>
> The Weller "EC" series (EC1002, EC2002) was discontinued by Weller in 
> 2002. The Weller WES51 (WES50 earlier) was introduced around 1999 as a 
> direct competitor for the Haako 936.  The Pace ST-25 is also of this 
> same "class" of station
>
> The price points (~ $90 ) are virtually identical for the Haako 936 
> and WES51 (Fry's Electronics still has cheapest price for a walk-in 
> store purchase in US)  - both are temperature controlled (knob up 
> front) - as well as the Pace.
>
> The WES51 offers a magnetic wand to "set" or "lock" the temperature.  
> The replacement iron for the WES51 is $30 .. significantly less than 
> the Haako or its heater.
>
> The more expensive units (Hakko, OKI, Weller, Pace etc.) feature 
> temperature set-backs
>
> The Weller "TCP" series is still a tremendous bargain (and still made 
> after 40 years of production and 50 years after first patent filing.  
> Either used or new - any competent Elecraft builder can repair it !
> The surface mounted control board (knob and all) stations -- require 
> expensive control boards, thermostats or heater assemblies - and MUST 
> be properly calibrated for temperature - or the knob has NO meaning !!
>
> w9gb
>
>
> Sometime simplicity
> ============================
> Like you, I have a Hakko 936. The reason I like it over the Weller in 
> a $100
> soldering station is for the Hakko's front-panel temperature control 
> instead
> of changing tips to change temperatures. Of course Weller offers 
> front-panel
> temperature change too, but at substantially more money than the Hakko.
>
>
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