[Lowfer] EAR mid day and soldering irons

Wed Jan 16 14:06:28 EST 2013

Hi All:  EAR at mid gain here, visual gain set a bit too high.....

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag19/wa3tts/EARJ1613_zpsc763b34f.jpg

I picked up an Antex C 15 a few years ago in the $25 range on ebay, it's the 
first iron I reach for now
unless I'm soldering sheet metal or connectors with my 40W Weller. Well 
made, light and thin profile makes it
easier to see and solder small detail work.  Uses interchangeable tips held 
in place with a compression clamp
that is a bit awkward to remove/replace, but works well enough (no siezed 
lock screws). I usually
 keep the 2.3mm tip in service, but have several smaller tips down to a 
.17mm conical for SMD
 work.   If I were to buy another one, the CS18 would be my choice as there 
are more interesting
tip options  for it (especially for SMD work)  and the slightly higher 
wattage which they claim works
 like a 25W conventional iron.   When the C 15 is shy of heat for a task I 
give the 2.3mm tip a
 thermal boost with 15~20 seconds of applied butane mini torch heat. That 
works well as the initial
 heat boost gets solder flowing but then the heat dissipates quickly enough 
not to cook a board
 or component.  For the few times I need adjustable temperature, I put my 
small variac into service.

73  Mike wa3tts

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lowfer-request at mailman.qth.net>
To: <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 12:00 PM
Subject: Lowfer Digest, Vol 95, Issue 33

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Re: EAR in TN (John Bruce McCreath)
>   2. OT: Soldering Iron (JJ)
>   3. Re: OT: Soldering Iron (Stan, W1LE)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:35:40 -0500
> From: John Bruce McCreath <weazle at hurontel.on.ca>
> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, &amp; UK) and MedFer
> bands" <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] EAR in TN
> Message-ID: <0643623B-F337-444A-B503-E81837EC3DDC at hurontel.on.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Hi Doug, Lowfers,
>
> Thanks for the report and capture of beacon EAR!  Reports like yours and
> the others that I receive is why I leave it pluggin' away 24/7/52.
>
> 73, J.B., VE3EAR
>
> LowFER Beacon "EAR"
> 188.830 kHz. QRSS30
> EN93dr
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:48:21 -0500
> From: JJ <jhjesse at verizon.net>
> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, &amp; UK) and MedFer
> bands" <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [Lowfer] OT: Soldering Iron
> Message-ID: <50F6BDB5.9010804 at verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hey everyone,
> Sorry for the OT post but what better place to ask this.
> My almost 30 yr old Weller WP25 may need to be replaced.  The original
> conical tip needs to be replaced.  The knurled locking nut is seized.  I
> have put some penetrating oil on hoping I can break it free.  I see that
> Weller does have a replacement heating element but the price with
> shipping and a new tip nears the cost of a new iron.
> If I need to replace the iron does anyone have any recommendations? I'm
> hedging to staying with a new WP25.
>
> Thanks,
> Jon WS1K
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:21:48 -0500
> From: "Stan, W1LE" <stanw1le at verizon.net>
> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer \(US, European, &amp; UK\) and MedFer
> bands" <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] OT: Soldering Iron
> Message-ID: <50F6D39C.4010403 at verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hello Jon,
>
> Consider looking at the Marlin P. Jones website for soldering irons
>
> One model has a variety of optional tips, adjustable heat with indicator,
> and an accessory tweezer to allow removing surface mounted stuff.
>
> Mine is a model: ZD-929a but I do not know the part number.
>
> It was cost effective and I like the variable tip temperature.
>
> Stan, W1LE     on Cape Cod
>
>
> On 1/16/2013 9:48 AM, JJ wrote:
>> Hey everyone,
>> Sorry for the OT post but what better place to ask this.
>> My almost 30 yr old Weller WP25 may need to be replaced.  The original
>> conical tip needs to be replaced.  The knurled locking nut is seized.
>> I have put some penetrating oil on hoping I can break it free.  I see
>> that Weller does have a replacement heating element but the price with
>> shipping and a new tip nears the cost of a new iron.
>> If I need to replace the iron does anyone have any recommendations?
>> I'm hedging to staying with a new WP25.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jon WS1K
>>
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> End of Lowfer Digest, Vol 95, Issue 33
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