Comments on: $15 Soldering Station Review

By: WD5GNR

WD5GNR — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:15:50 +0000

This looks just like a Weller WLC100 with a blue box instead of red. I wonder if they are the same or if it is just a knock off?

By: dfowler

dfowler — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:20:58 +0000

Tony,

I can measure the voltages on the model I have if that will help. I have not had to disasemble the units in the past so I dont know what the parts you are asking about are.

It seems like you are on the right track, posibly your base is bad and checking the voltages output there is a good step.

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:48:57 +0000

Just found and bookmarked your site through google and thought the review/comparison was very informative. I am sure this probably not the right forum to ask for help but you seem to be very knowledgable about Weller Equipment so I am hoping that you may be able to help me out with my weller wtcp series with a tc201 pencil. I have had it about 15 or so years and the tip finally fried. I got a replacement at Fry’s and all was good until yesterday, I was working on a project and the light was still on on the base unit but the pencil had gone cold. I opened up the base and saw that the 3 amp fuse was blown. I replaced it with one from Radio Shack and it would still not heat up. So after scouring the web for info I know have 3 questions: 1) What voltages should I see at the connectors 3 pins on the base unit to determine if all is well there? 2) Is it common to replace just the heating element for $20. + versus the $70-$90 for the entire replacement pencil? and 3) What exactly is the capacitor and other mystery components attached below the heating element and are those subject to failure and replacement as well? Thanks for your interest and time regarding my problem. BTW you have a great site, keep those cards and letters coming!!

By: dfowler

dfowler — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:15:48 +0000

Jim,

Thanks. The only income I have from this site is with the google ads and I spend that on the giveaways… Maybe some day uCHobby will be big enough to receive items to review. Would be cool to have that stuff to give away as well.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:43:41 +0000

great review,i liked the blow by blow comparison
also a video would be cool. i’ll be going HMC Electronics and possibly ordering the weller.
I’m surprised to read they don’t pay you for advertising there products.

By: Rann

Rann — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:15:12 +0000

I wish I had been as lucky as those guys that say they have never had the infamous welded tip on a weller Iron before. I’ve worked as a R&D tech for many big name contractors and weller Irons are a problem.
But for 15 bucks I could change the cord out. HA HA I’d take one of the welded Weller irons and steal the nice silicone cord and swap it out

By: Alan Parekh

Alan Parekh — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 07:35:45 +0000

Nice review, I look forward to reading more.

By: Mr. Meval

Mr. Meval — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:21:06 +0000

If you use them sporadically and are meticulous about caring for them they last longer but I still had issues with a tip lasting less than a month in many cases. I used it 12 or more hours a day every day except Sunday until we finally got fed up with the cost and bought one of the cheap ones that costs less than the element and tip for a weller.

The worst problem I had was with the tips welding themselves to the element. The element would be destroyed before the tip would come out. My fix for that was to use cheap zinc oxide heat sink grease on a cold tip and iron and then allow the iron to cook off the grease. I didn’t have the weld problem again and the tips came out easily. Heat transfer was a little better as well.

BTW, I appreciate the review and the articles here very much.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:50:35 +0000

I have an old weller WTCP series (circa 1990s) with the original tip. I’ve installed numerous sound stages and built studios with this unit. Thats apart from the 1000s of hours of electronics. And the tip is still like new, but I do coat the tip with solder (as recommended) before I turn mt iron off.

By: dfowler

dfowler — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:35:20 +0000

Meval,

Wow, I have not had that kind of experience with Weller. Have been using them for about 20 years and have never seen a element burn out or a bad base. I have not been using them extensively in the last 8 years or so, maybe things have changed.