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Soldering Iron Woes



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 16th 03, 04:49 PM
Moonraker
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Default Soldering Iron Woes

For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder. After letting it
cool off, I found some small pin-holes in the big part of the barrel where
the heater is. Apparently, the heater shorted out and blasted it's way
through the outer skin of the barrel and tried to go to ground through the
stand.

This is the 3rd Weller I have had to go bad in the last year and a
half...and not from abuse.

The Wellers aren't 3-wire (meaning that they aren't earth grounded through
the shop wiring).

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.


The one reason I went with the Weller is the self temperature control
feature. My workbench is crowded enough without having a seperate
temperature controller and it's attendent wires in the way. I really don't
want to have to go that way if I can help it.

Suggestions, please, on a brand of irons that will handle daily
professional use.



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  #2  
Old July 16th 03, 05:41 PM
Charlie Spitzer
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Posts: n/a
Default


"Moonraker" wrote in message
...
For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder. After letting

it
cool off, I found some small pin-holes in the big part of the barrel

where
the heater is. Apparently, the heater shorted out and blasted it's way
through the outer skin of the barrel and tried to go to ground through the
stand.

This is the 3rd Weller I have had to go bad in the last year and a
half...and not from abuse.

The Wellers aren't 3-wire (meaning that they aren't earth grounded through
the shop wiring).

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.


The one reason I went with the Weller is the self temperature control
feature. My workbench is crowded enough without having a seperate
temperature controller and it's attendent wires in the way. I really

don't
want to have to go that way if I can help it.


make your own control that can be mounted where the plug is. it's really
just a light dimmer switch. get a duplex electrical box from home depot, a
plug, a socket, and a short piece of 2 conductor + ground wire. screw the
box to the wall near where you're already plugging in the iron. wire the
plug to the wire. attach the other end of the wire to the dimmer switch.
wire the socket to the dimmer switch. plug your iron into the new socket.

you could also just attach the controller to the wall. velcro if it doesn't
have any screw attachments available.

Suggestions, please, on a brand of irons that will handle daily
professional use.





  #3  
Old July 16th 03, 10:16 PM
Javahut
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Posts: n/a
Default


"Charlie Spitzer" wrote in message
...

"Moonraker" wrote in message
...
For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out

a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder. After letting

it
cool off, I found some small pin-holes in the big part of the barrel

where
the heater is. Apparently, the heater shorted out and blasted it's way
through the outer skin of the barrel and tried to go to ground through

the
stand.

This is the 3rd Weller I have had to go bad in the last year and a
half...and not from abuse.

The Wellers aren't 3-wire (meaning that they aren't earth grounded

through
the shop wiring).

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only

last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.


The one reason I went with the Weller is the self temperature control
feature. My workbench is crowded enough without having a seperate
temperature controller and it's attendent wires in the way. I really

don't
want to have to go that way if I can help it.


make your own control that can be mounted where the plug is. it's really
just a light dimmer switch. get a duplex electrical box from home depot, a
plug, a socket, and a short piece of 2 conductor + ground wire. screw the
box to the wall near where you're already plugging in the iron. wire the
plug to the wire. attach the other end of the wire to the dimmer switch.
wire the socket to the dimmer switch. plug your iron into the new socket.

you could also just attach the controller to the wall. velcro if it

doesn't
have any screw attachments available.

Suggestions, please, on a brand of irons that will handle daily
professional use.


Hakko, ceramic element, model 456, its a 60 watt iron that just plain works,
no controller needed, when you turn it on, use it, that will keep the heat
right. keep the tip clean, and there are 2 tips available for it, and if
you forget and leave for home and forget to unplug, while not safe, you will
still have an iron you can use the next day. You'll just have to clean the
tip.

I use them everyday, and like them. Light weight, and they work.

I also use American Beauty, but I have pretty good size arms too. All of
the above except light weight and ceramic heater apply to them also.


  #4  
Old July 17th 03, 03:00 AM
Howard
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Default

ah, yes the soldering iron conundrum...........

I use the 1140A (used to be unger) and now weller...have tried many(although
not of late) and after ONLY ABOUT 23 years of shade making, still like them
the best!

1,000 degrees at the tip regular
1,100 degrees at the tip high performance also available

get the heater and tip that is one piece......NOT THE SCREW ON TIP!!!!!!!!!

they are 45 and 50 watts respectively

and yes Martha, YOU CAN SOLDER WITH A 45 watt iron!

If you are doing a came....you may/will have to turn it down...........
If you are soldering HEAVY BRASS LAMP STUFF will not be enough staying power
heat for that..I use a propane torch to heat the brass lamp hardware and
then it flows real well with the 1140A

h









--

In the words of the IMMORTAL USED CAR DEALER:
THERE IS AN ASS FOR EVERY SEAT!


  #5  
Old July 17th 03, 04:10 PM
Charlie Spitzer
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Default


"Bart V" wrote in message
...
plug, a socket, and a short piece of 2 conductor + ground wire

Maybe my brain is off duty right now, but it seems to me the
iron itself will still be a 2 wire jobbie...


yeah, but you never know what someone else will plug into it when you're not
there. if the original socket is grounded, it doesn't take much to ground
the extended socket also.

check with a polarity testing plug to make sure you've wired it correctly
when you're done.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az


  #6  
Old July 18th 03, 03:50 AM
Clarke Echols
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Default

Weller irons are guaranteed for at least 90 days, if not a full year.
Contact them by phone (800 numbers at
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/custo...ress/index.htm )
or by email and explain the situation.

Email at: http://www.cooperhandtools.com/custo...mail/index.cfm

Weller irons have been used for decades in the electronics industry. I
have a temperature-controlled iron that is over 30 years old.

Clarke

Moonraker wrote:

For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder. After letting it
cool off, I found some small pin-holes in the big part of the barrel where
the heater is. Apparently, the heater shorted out and blasted it's way
through the outer skin of the barrel and tried to go to ground through the
stand.

This is the 3rd Weller I have had to go bad in the last year and a
half...and not from abuse.

The Wellers aren't 3-wire (meaning that they aren't earth grounded through
the shop wiring).

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.

The one reason I went with the Weller is the self temperature control
feature. My workbench is crowded enough without having a seperate
temperature controller and it's attendent wires in the way. I really don't
want to have to go that way if I can help it.

Suggestions, please, on a brand of irons that will handle daily
professional use.

  #7  
Old July 19th 03, 01:34 PM
Byron Wells
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Posts: n/a
Default

I too used those irons for years then the temp controls started only lasting
a year or less so I went to plain inland irons and temp controllers... Guess
they are just making them out of crap nowadays...


--
Byron...
Wells Glassworks

"Moonraker" wrote in message
...
For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder. After letting

it
cool off, I found some small pin-holes in the big part of the barrel

where
the heater is. Apparently, the heater shorted out and blasted it's way
through the outer skin of the barrel and tried to go to ground through the
stand.

This is the 3rd Weller I have had to go bad in the last year and a
half...and not from abuse.

The Wellers aren't 3-wire (meaning that they aren't earth grounded through
the shop wiring).

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.


The one reason I went with the Weller is the self temperature control
feature. My workbench is crowded enough without having a seperate
temperature controller and it's attendent wires in the way. I really

don't
want to have to go that way if I can help it.

Suggestions, please, on a brand of irons that will handle daily
professional use.





  #8  
Old July 19th 03, 03:11 PM
Michele Blank
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

i use inland studio pros and they last a good while. when one does blow up i
send it back to inland and they ship me new one. Can't beat that!!! michele


"Byron Wells" wrote in message
news:3VaSa.97035$N7.11858@sccrnsc03...
I too used those irons for years then the temp controls started only

lasting
a year or less so I went to plain inland irons and temp controllers...

Guess
they are just making them out of crap nowadays...


--
Byron...
Wells Glassworks

"Moonraker" wrote in message
...
For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out

a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder. After letting

it
cool off, I found some small pin-holes in the big part of the barrel

where
the heater is. Apparently, the heater shorted out and blasted it's way
through the outer skin of the barrel and tried to go to ground through

the
stand.

This is the 3rd Weller I have had to go bad in the last year and a
half...and not from abuse.

The Wellers aren't 3-wire (meaning that they aren't earth grounded

through
the shop wiring).

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only

last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.


The one reason I went with the Weller is the self temperature control
feature. My workbench is crowded enough without having a seperate
temperature controller and it's attendent wires in the way. I really

don't
want to have to go that way if I can help it.

Suggestions, please, on a brand of irons that will handle daily
professional use.







  #9  
Old July 20th 03, 05:33 PM
Jerry Maske
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Posts: n/a
Default

Two points. I use the Weller SPG80 as my main iron, have for years and
never had any trouble with it. Which raises point two; when one of my
students shows up with one of those stands you described, I take it away
from them. Consider what is happening. Every time you take the iron
out or put it into that "spring" you run the risk of banging your tip
into the metal and damaging it. Beyond that, the "spring" concentrates
heat back onto the element section of the iron and, as you have so
graphically illustrated, causes them to burn out.

My recommendation is to buy a new iron but use the holder that comes in
the box; there's a reason it's in there.

Jerry

Moonraker wrote:

For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder. After letting it
cool off, I found some small pin-holes in the big part of the barrel where
the heater is. Apparently, the heater shorted out and blasted it's way
through the outer skin of the barrel and tried to go to ground through the
stand.

This is the 3rd Weller I have had to go bad in the last year and a
half...and not from abuse.

The Wellers aren't 3-wire (meaning that they aren't earth grounded through
the shop wiring).

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.


The one reason I went with the Weller is the self temperature control
feature. My workbench is crowded enough without having a seperate
temperature controller and it's attendent wires in the way. I really don't
want to have to go that way if I can help it.

Suggestions, please, on a brand of irons that will handle daily
professional use.






--
? Angel Antics Glass Crafters ?
Fine Art Glass, Kaleidoscopes and
Tiffany Lamp Reproductions
Jerry & Ann Maske
3 Garden Way
Sullivan, ME 04664
Phone (207) 422-2250
Email
Web site
http://www.angelantics.net/


  #10  
Old July 25th 03, 02:49 PM
Ron Moore
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Posts: n/a
Default

For the electrical consideration, you can optain an isolation transformer from
various surplus outlets inexpensively that will eliminate that sort of problem.
Also, a GFI (Ground Fault Interupt) outlet would be recommended.
Respectfully,
Ron Moore

Moonraker wrote:
For years now, I've only used the Weller 100w Pro iron with the Temp
controlled tips. Yesterday, while working, one of the Wellers let out a
huge spark and fireball while sitting in the iron holder.


SNIP

I'm getting tired of paying $50 to $75 for these irons when they only last
5-6 months....and now I'm concerned about the electrical safety of them.


 




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