Semi-OT: Soldering Iron recommendations

From: Dwight Elvey <elvey_at_hal.com>
Date: Thu Aug 31 13:32:44 2000

Dave McGuire <mcguire_at_neurotica.com> wrote:
> On August 31, Tony Duell wrote:
> > > I'm thinking I want a WES50 Weller Soldering Station, as it looks like a
> > > good balance between cheapness and high-end. Of course anything would be
> a
> >
> > While I can't comment on that particular model, I'd certainly go for a
> > Weller. I'm still using one of their Magnastat TCP irons, and it's never
> > given me any problems.
>
> Yes, I have a TCP here too...I got it fifteen years ago, and it was
> old then! It has yet to give me any trouble...and for such a simple
> mechanism, the temperature control works very well! Kudos to Weller
> for making such an indestructible tool.

Hi
 The only problem I've had with the tips that are controlled
by the magnetic Currie point is when someone doesn't use the ground.
The switching spikes can be quite high and many don't realize
how much it stresses the parts. We had a bunch of power FETs
that had no input protection damaged when the assembler use
an iron without the proper grounding. The person that had cut
the ground lead said that they worked fine without the ground.
We talked about putting the $5K cost of damaged parts against
his pay check. We didn't have any more problems of missing
ground wires.
Dwight
Received on Thu Aug 31 2000 - 13:32:44 BST