[Elecraft] Soldering Stations Question

[Alexandra Carter]

This is why you need to get a Weller WTCPT which still uses real  
copper, iron-clad tips and is made in the USA. I swear by my Weller,  
life is too short for junky irons! 73 de Alex NS6Y.

On Jul 21, 2006, at 11:55 AM, W7is at aol.com wrote:

> I recently purchased a Xytronic 379 Auto-Temp soldering station.
> I also purchased several optional tips.    I was mainly  interested in
> the XY-B03 fine tip for circuit boards with tiny pads such as the K2
> SSB board.    I've found the long Xy-B03 fine tip to be  worthless  
> due to it
> being
> made out of hollow steel that wont hold the heat.   The all  steel  
> tip that
> came
> with the iron is just fine if your careful in tight areas.
>
> So my question is:   Do any of the soldering stations currently   
> being sold
> come with real brass or copper tips?   I'm not talking about the   
> soldering
> stations purchased 10 yrs ago.   I mean the current production  irons.
> Most - if not all - of todays offerings appear to be made in China  
> and  my
> guess
>  is all them have gone to 100% steel  tips.
> The irons I have used previously from 25 yrs ago had brass or   
> copper alloy
> which have a protective layer of iron on the tip.      And they  
> hold the
> heat perfectly, unlike these new all steel tips.      Even though this
> Xytronic 379
> has auto temp control,  it cant keep up with the heat loss of the  
> B03  hollow
> tip
> and I've found it completely useless for even a tinniest of  pads.