MOTM

In a message dated 11/30/99 8:16:34 AM, dbivins@... writes:

>I use the ST3 iron-plated copper tip. It came with the "consumer-grade"
>WLC100 Weller solder station I bought oh, a year-and-a-half ago? 


I have one of these super cheapo versions of a soldering station too. I'm not 
sure what kind of tip it has. I bought mine about 2-4 years ago, and 
immediately decided I wouldn't mind replacing the tip since it is just a bit 
too large and thick (a thick screwdriver type tip) for the "fine" work that I 
do. I therefore take absolutely no care with it beyond just tinning it just 
before I start soldering and right after I finish. I often leave it idle at 
about half power for hours on end. I have so far been unable to destroy the 
tip -- I really think these stations are good for the amateurs amongst us. I 
hope the thinner tip will have a similar long life, if I live long enough to 
replace it.

I set
>the
>temperature knob (which is arbitrarily marked) near maximum. I leave the
>iron on the whole time I'm working, several hours at a time. Once I left
>i
>on too long without re-tinning the tip, but some time with a damp sponge
>restored it to its glorious tinned finish. It works great, and I've never
>replaced the tip.


I never use mine this high (usually around the 3 mark on a scale of 5), but I 
agree that the tip does clean up pretty readily even by just having a 
marathon soldering session.

I used to use a Radio Shack soldering iron with interchangeable power 
elements -- a great iron, except that I kept burning out the low power 
element and RS no longer carries that type of replacement element, and the 
Ungar replacements are like $18. I found that the standard tips burnt out 
quite quickly, while the clad tips lasted a good long time and were well 
worth the price. And when the tips started dying, they went pretty quickly!

JB