[sdiy] Bad Weller soldering iron

Tue Apr 8 03:13:24 CEST 2003

Ok will check the connector tomorrow.

Theo

From: The Peasant <epeasant at telusplanet.net>

> I have seen a lot of Wellers fail at the plug that connects 
> the iron to the base unit. This is not the most rugged 
> connector that could be used by far.
> 
> Take care,
> Doug
> ______________________
> The Electronic Peasant
> 
> www.electronicpeasant.com
> 
> 
> Quoting Theo <t.hogers at home.nl>:
> 
> > For the last 6 months or so my 4 year old Weller WTCP
> > also has problems.
> > Quite often the tip doesn't heat up after some time of
> > use.
> > I can't find what's wrong with it :(  ,doesn't seem to be
> > the switch.
> > 
> > Lucky there is a "spare" station on the bench and I use
> > that one more often
> > now.
> > Its a Voltcraft LS50, about one year old and working
> > without problems.
> > 
> > Although the Weller WTCP feels better "in the hand",
> > the Voltcraft isn't bad either.
> > - 50W rating
> > - 3 programmable temperature presets, programmed values
> > stay visible in the
> > display.
> > - Clear readout of actual temp.
> > - A power bar shows how hard the heating element is
> > working, useful!
> > - Temp display in F or C.
> > - Electronic temp measurement at the tip, stable within 2
> > degrees.
> > - Some standby/off timer features, might be handy for
> > some pp.
> > 
> > At roughly half the price of a WTCP the Voltcraft LS50 is
> > a winner in my
> > book.
> > Definitely worth looking into.
> > Though honestly, IF it works I enjoy working with the
> > Weller more, but that
> > is IF...
> > 
> > In Europe the Voltcraft is available from www.conrad.de 
> > (or www.conrad.nl)
> > 
> > 
> > Theo
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > From: l.a.j.p. vermeulen <l.vermeulen at hccnet.nl>
> > 
> > 
> > > I agree, Wellers are bad today, but not obly the irons
> > but also the
> > compagny
> > > sucks.
> > > I have one which is working for now 30 years and my new
> > one is broken for
> > > the third time in 3 years. Always the "FAMOUS" switch
> > what is broken.
> > > I send mails to the compagny, but no respond at all.
> > >
> > > Bert
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Batz Goodfortune" <batzman at all-electric.com>
> > > To: "patchell" <patchell at silcom.com>;
> > <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
> > > Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2003 3:35 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [sdiy] Perverse Nature of Equipment...
> > >
> > >
> > > > Y-ellow Jim 'n' all.
> > > >          My heart goes out to you...
> > > >
> > > > At 12:31 PM 4/5/03 -0800, patchell wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >     I can't believe it...the heating element in my
> > WTCPT Weller Iron
> > > > >just died...just when I needed it not to fail me. 
> > Doing some last
> > > > >minute work on stuff I am going to bring to the
> > below meet.  Similar
> > > > >thing happeded last June...while finishing up the
> > Mikado, my crimping
> > > > >tool broke.  A new iron should be here on
> > Wed...(fortunatly a
> > > > >replacement iron is not overly expensive...I could
> > have replaced the
> > > > >heater for $15, but after looking at this thing,
> > over 20 years old, it
> > > > >seemed best to replace it, the plastic is cracking,
> > the cord is showing
> > > > >signs of wear...).
> > > >
> > > > I'm glad you could get replacement bits so cheap.
> > That's what I would
> > have
> > > > done a few years back when mine gave up the ghost but
> > it wasn't to be
> > so.
> > > > It was a Friday morning when it died. I'd planned on
> > doing a lot of
> > > > soldering over the weekend. I managed to find the
> > only one available in
> > > the
> > > > whole frigging town and get them to send it to me by
> > currier.
> > > >
> > > > Right from the start I didn't like the design of the
> > new irons. The
> > pencil
> > > > was the same but having the holder separate to the
> > transformer was
> > really
> > > > annoying. Every time I'd go to pick the iron up I'd
> > drag the base and
> > all
> > > > with me and the transformer box it self is shaped
> > stupidly so you
> > couldn't
> > > > even glue or strap the base to it. This thing cost me
> > just under 200
> > clams
> > > BTW.
> > > >
> > > > Maybe a year later I was working one day and it died
> > again. Last time it
> > > > was the element in the iron that died so naturally
> > that's where I
> > started.
> > > > It took me some time to figure it out but eventually
> > I figured I was
> > > > chasing a red herring and opened up the transformer
> > box.
> > > >
> > > > Inside I discovered a transformer which was only a
> > bit over half the
> > size
> > > > of the original one. They'd scrimped on the
> > transformer to the point
> > where
> > > > it was right on the edge of the current needed to run
> > the iron. So to
> > safe
> > > > guard that, they placed this stupid "SOLDERED IN"
> > in-line fuse between
> > the
> > > > transformer and the socket. For a start, the only way
> > to get it out is
> > > with
> > > > a soldering iron. DER!!!! And of course it was the
> > fuse that was blown.
> > > >
> > > > But it was not an ordinary 3AG or whatever. It was
> > some damn cheap-assed
> > > > proprietary thing and it had no rating stamped on it.
> > The only other
> > iron
> > > I
> > > > had to unsolder it was something a friend dumped on
> > me at some point.
> > > She'd
> > > > bought it in Holland so it had the wrong plug. So
> > first I had to modify
> > > that.
> > > >
> > > > After looking at the fuse and all things considered,
> > I just thought.
> > > > "Bugger this!" And decided to crack out my old
> > transformer. But there
> > was
> > > > one more snag waiting me. The cheap plastic
> > proprietary plug on the
> > thing
> > > > had broken years ago. I replaced it with the only
> > suitable (current
> > wise)
> > > > plug I had at the time. A 4 pin Jones plug. So in
> > essence, what I had to
> > > do
> > > > was pull the connecting hardware out of the new one
> > and put it into the
> > > old
> > > > one. Which meant even more modifications. Grinding,
> > cutting and shaping.
> > > >
> > > > I have to say that the net result is brilliant. The
> > transformer's in the
> > > > base so the holder is stable. You don't have to fill
> > the sponge with
> > half
> > > a
> > > > liter of water just to keep it wet. And the
> > transformer is pokey enough
> > to
> > > > handle the job.
> > > >
> > > > But here in lies my beef. Comparing the old one to
> > the new one, they've
> > > > scrimped so much over the years. The old one was/is
> > ergonomically
> > designed
> > > > and had more than enough grunt so as it wouldn't
> > fail. The new ones are
> > > > right on the edge and really badly designed IMHO. The
> > things are made so
> > > > cheaply these days that I'm sure I'd never buy
> > another one. Except, what
> > > > else is there? Some cheap-assed Dick Smith or Tandy
> > crap that's even
> > > worse?
> > > > And you can always get Weller tips. Chances are that
> > 2 years down the
> > line
> > > > you won't be able to find anything that actually fits
> > a Tandy or Duck
> > > > Smuth's iron. (Which has been known.) And is there
> > even anything better
> > > out
> > > > there?
> > > >
> > > > Considering the money I had to pay for the thing. And
> > this was from the
> > > > distributor here BTW. And their insistence that If I
> > did want just the
> > > > pencil it would only be 20 or 30 dollars less than
> > the whole thing
> > anyway.
> > > > I feel considerably cheated.
> > > >
> > > > The old one has this nice big furgie flat pack in it.
> > The new one has a
> > > > transformer that even dick smith wouldn't put on the
> > shelf. With just
> > over
> > > > half the VA. I feel that Wellers aren't what they use
> > to be. And like so
> > > > many other companies these days, are trading on the
> > reputation they use
> > to
> > > > have. We buy Wellers thinking we're getting the best
> > and most reliable
> > but
> > > > that just isn't the case anymore it would seem.
> > > >
> > > > Bad Weller. Naughty Weller. Grrrrr.
> > > >
> > > > Be absolutely Icebox.
> > > >
> > > >   _ __        _       ____Happiness is a warm
> > penguin____
> > > > | "_ \      | |
> > > > | |_)/  __ _| |_ ____       ALL ELECTRIC KITCHEN
> > > > |  _ \ / _` | __|___ |  Yeti music by Yetis for
> > Yetis
> > > > | |_) | (_| | |_  / /
> > > > |_,__/ \__,_|\__|/ /    Disgusting->
> > http://all-electric.com
> > > >                  / ,__   Music ----->
> > http://mp3.com/electrickitchen
> > > > Goodfortune    |_____|  Cult  ----->
> > http://www.subgenius.com
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > 
> 
> 