[Lowfer] OT: Soldering Iron

[Clint Turner]

I have an adjustable-heat soldering iron that I've used for years and I 
often find the tip to be seized.

What has always worked for me was to work it loose while hot:  It will 
never even budge when cold.  The knurled part often gets stuck, too, and 
while it doesn't get nearly as hot, it's always been easier to break it 
loose when hot, too.

I've gotten things from MPJA and a while ago I did get an inexpensive 
adjustable soldering iron that I could keep in the bag for going to 
repeater sites, etc.

What I didn't pay close enough attention to was that it's description 
said that it was "adjustable"  rather than "temperature-controlled" and 
thus, it has no closed-loop feedback: Had I realized this I would have 
probably sprung an extra $10 or so for that feature!

* * *

For years I did use a Weller and when the magnestat finally died, I 
replaced it - and a few months later I replaced it again.  A friend of 
mine who runs the student lab at the university mentioned that his 
observation was that after Cooper bought Weller, the newer irons and 
parts didn't hold up nearly as well.

I've heard that they've since fixed their problems - and we have some 
10-ish year old Wellers at work that have held up fine, but it was back 
then that I bought the Xytronic station that I've been now using for 
about 20 years:  I've replaced the wand once, but that was because the 
cord got a bit short from my having cut it to replace a bad end 2-3 
times.  (I still have the old one as a spare, though...)

73,

Clint
KA7OEI/CT


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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