Grumpy The Mule wrote:
Howdy,

I've managed several labs where we had dozens of WTCP stations
in daily use.

The only problem I found with WTCP is the connector between the
base and the cord. I usually remove the connector and hardwire
the cord at the base. It causes the intermittent operation that
you've decribed.

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.

At home I have a Pace soldering/desoldering station and a Metcal
SMT station. I've no complaints other than the price.

At work we have a Hakko soldering/deslodering station and it's a
real work horse. We also have a Metcal SMT station which is a bit
fussy but it has been though hell and back. We just bought a couple
Pace ST70 soldering stations for general purpose work. I think we will
buy a few more, they're great.

It's too bad that Wahl quit selling Sterling soldering irons in
the US. It's an odd little iron but I love it. Thirty years old
and it's still the first iron I reach for in my shop. The original
tip is perfect! I called Wahl about buying a second iron and no one
there knew what I was talking about. The most clever feature is an
aluminum washer between the tip and body of the iron. The difference
in coefficient of expansion keeps the tip from seizing. It says made
in England on the body. Google was no help... sigh.


73,
Grumpy

I remember the Wahl 'iso tip' battery irons. Nice portable tool for
field repairs (but useless for field day PL-259 assembly!). Only
problems were battery and tip replacement. The tips would eventually
fall apart as the ceramic insulation surrounding the heating element
cracked.

As for field day, once I figured out how to quickly assemble PL259's
onto RG8U, I got drafted by the radio club to handle this duty at field
day. (Strip back about 4" of outer insulation, tin the braid with a HOT
soldering gun (I used the BIG Weller gun), file down the excess solder,
cut down the braid with a tubing cuter or a razer saw, remove the center
insulation, cut the center conductor to size and tin it, then slip the
coupling ring over the coax and screw on the connector, then solder it
home (with the BIG Weller gun again!). Took about 4 minutes per connector.


ken scharf wrote in
:

Tim N3QE
I went through two WTCP's. They worked ok, but eventually got
intermittent and would not stay hot. I now have a WES51/PES51 setup.
No more changing tips to change temperature, just dial it in. No led
display, but the dial is calibrated close enough. Also the soldering
pencil is lighter and less bulky than the WTCP was. Still I did like
the WTCP's all in one construction over the two piece (power supply and
iron stand) of the 'ES51. The Coper group has destroyed Weller. I
collect old Weller guns whenever I find them, the new ones SUCK.