In article ,
Ross Herbert wrote:

On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:13:35 -0700, Smitty Two
wrote:

In article ,
Ross Herbert wrote:

On Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:52:48 -0500, clifto
wrote:

I never liked Weller. Never could get a tip to last a week.

It all depends on whether you use genuine Weller tips or not and
the
solder you use. I have used a WTCP since the 60's and for everyday
use
a tip would last at least 6mths when using rosin cored activated
solder such as Multicore Sav-bit.

Those replacement tips from Vanier were never any good imo - even
using Sav-bit.

One of the many, many problems with the WTCP is their uncanny ability
to
develop faulty temp switches. Then the tips run wide open and burn up
in
an hour or two.

I stopped devoting one or two days per month repairing soldering
stations, the day I threw all the Wellers in the dumpster and
replaced
them with Edsyn.


In all my years of experience with WTCP the ONLY problem which I came
across - and not all that frequently - was the switch mechanism. When
this happens it is all too easy to determine and do something about
it. I have successfully repaired switch units but only where the
spring contacts were the problem.

Nothing else seems to fail at all on the WTCP. Perhaps it has to do
with the country of manufacture? All the WTCP"s I have ever used were
manufactured in Australia.

You may have used them with care. Production soldering personnel tend to
be hard on things. The simple act of replacing the iron in its holder
resembles a javelin throw, for example. Do that 500 or 1000 times a day,
drop the iron or the whole unit on the floor once a day, whack it on the
table deliberately to loosen a tip, etc, etc. Then see how often the
cords go intermittent, the fuses go out, the heaters burn up, the
switches malfunction, etc.

Edsyn will stand up to that kind of abuse all day long, every day, and
last for years with no attention at all. When they do fail, they send
you a brand new one for about half price. YMMV, of course.