A soldering iron station: any experience here?

[Bushbaby]

I have a similar unit that I am pleased with BUT when compared to Weller solder station that I now use there is no comparison. The Weller is powerful, always at the required temp and quite frankly does the intended job. it is unfortunate that what appears to be a bargain often isn't.

I still use my 'clone' for small very fine soldering operations so this does suggest that these units have been designed for light PCB work.

Only my opinion so please dont shoot me!

Regards

Rob

[Skywave]

Thank you Rob. I asked for people's opinions & those based on their experiences: that's what you delivered.

The Weller TCP is 45-watts; this W.E.P. iron is rated at 60-watts. Provided that its temperature control loop is reasonably fast-acting / regulating, the heat capacity of the iron itself is matched to its wattage rating, and with a suitable type of bit fitted, then I would expect it to match (or even exceed) the performance of the Weller TCP on a like-for-like soldering exercise. However, I will be surprised if it out-performs my Metcal. But as I mentioned earlier, I'll report back on this soldering iron when I can. Then perhaps we can compare performances of them all.

Al. / Nov. 5, '13 //

[Refugee]

The Weller TCP has part of the thermostat on the bit so that half the thermostat is replaced each time you change the bit.
They have been popular for a great reason for a very good reason.
I took a couple of broken ones home and made one up and built a wooden station for it back in the 1980s.
I was using it this evening and it is still working as well as it did all those years ago. You can still get bits and elements for the early ones. It is the mechanical thermostat one.

[Skywave]

Yes, I am quite familiar with the principles on which the Weller TCP works and have repaired many over the years. I first met the Weller TCP in 1968. My second / spare TCP recently failed: open-cct. heating element. The cheapest replacement heater that I could find was £35.00 + p & p. This entire soldering station, manufactured by 'W.E.P.', is less than £40.00 including p & p. Other relevant comments that I could make, which to my mind justify buying this, as opposed to repairing the broken Weller iron, I've previously made in earlier posts: post 9 and post 12.

Al. / Nov. 6, '13 //

[Stockden]

Yes, I use a Weller TCP too but like Al have found that the cost of replacement parts makes it uneconomical for me to keep it going (at least with new parts). I'll therefore be very interested to see how Al feels about the W.E.P. station after he's used it for a while.

Incidentally I was amused to see that it has "a heat resistant silica gel cord". Presumably that'll help keep the workshop nice and dry as well!

[camallison]

It seems that Dancap are an official distributor of Hakko in the UK. They list the 937 as a discontinued model, as noted earlier in this thread. Spares and spare tips are available from Dancap too:

http://www.dancap.co.uk/Discontinued/dis...-units.htm

Price lists and manuals can be seen there.

Colin

PS - I have ordered one too - seems a good deal, and will serve as my spare for non-transistor work.

[Refugee]

I have found that the Weller tips last me about 10 or more years and they are about 6 quid.
The price you have quoted looks a bit steep.
http://uk.farnell.com/weller/he1/heating.../dp/417440

[Skywave]

Refugee: I'm confused by that last post of yours. Who, here, quoted a price for Weller 'tips'? Who said that they had a need for Weller tips?

Perhaps I blinked & missed something: if I did, please accept my apologies.

Al.

[Refugee]

Message 14. The price of a replacement element for the Weller.
They have put the VAT up now so it is a bit much of a muchness really.

[Skywave]

But your post 17 referred to Weller tips. Now you're referring to the heating element.
Sorry: I'm even more confused now!

Al. / Nov. 6, '13