"Grumpy The Mule" wrote in message
...

I couldn't agree with you more concerning the damage Cooper
did to the Weller brand. Since they moved production to Mexico
the quality control is nonexistant. Some of the design changes
which I believe were intended as cost reductions were ill advised
too. The old Weller soldering guns are indestructable.


I have the Weller guns in 3 differant wattage ranges. I think this is one
of each that they made. The 8200 I have is over 40 years old. The middle
wattage gun is one that does not have the hollow nuts that screw into the
end of the rods comming out of the gun. It is labled intermittent duty
where the other 2 do not have this lable. It seems to be lighter than the
smaller rated gun also. I don't use them much any more except to put the
connectors on the PL-259.
I really like the guns for the bigger stuff the pencles will not work. I
even used the 8200 on some of the older and larger PC boards.