On 14/09/2017 23:45, T i m wrote:
Hi All,

The tip has come though the barrel on my trusty Weller iron (I've had
and used it regularly since my days with British Telecom 40+ years
ago) and I think it's a function of wear on both.

So I'm looking for a new barrel and probably a new tip [1] but I just
wondered if anyone could confirm the part number for the barrel
please? I believe it's '0051031199' but I thought I'd check before
ordering.

Can't recall the numbers but you'll probably need a new element as well
as barrel. They changed (increased) the outside diameter of the
replacement TCP elements around 2003, and consequently also the inside
diameter of the barrels. Maybe the old element would work in a new
barrel but I wouldn't be surprised if the thread or something else
doesn't fit properly.

I had the opposite problem, the element burned out so I needed to
replace the barrel too. I'd consider sending you my old barrel, but I am
too far away (Australia) (and I can't guarantee that I would be able to
find it).


And whilst I can find PT-H6 tips (on eBay etc), I wondered if anyone
knew of an alternative that might be better for slightly bigger jobs
and with 60/40 please?
I pretty much only use two sorts, I think they are PTDD7 and PTAA7 but
not sure any more as I mostly use a Metcal these days.


Like, I believe the PT-H6 is a .8mm 'screwdriver' tip and 310 or 315
DegC?

I think the number on the end determines the temperature with:
6=310, 7=370, 8=425, 9=480 DegC so a 6 should be good for 60/40 with a
melting point of about 190 DegC?
No, 6 is too cold even with tin-lead. You want a number 7, and I think
that will do nicely for lead free as well. Number 8 will burn tracks off
the board unless you are very careful and quick.


I'm guessing the 'PT' is probably the series and the other letter
defines the shape and size of the tip so is there a nice chart
somewhere please?
Not easy to find with google. It doesn't help that Farnell uses the
wrong photo for most of the tips.


Cheers, T i m

[1] I have several other irons, including a 250V temperature
controlled / (screwdriver) adjustable Weller (somewhere), a big Weller
(75W), an Iroda Pro-50K gas iron (very handy) and even a 'hot knife'
for cutting synthetic rope, however I was wondering if there was a
mode modern workhorse general purpose iron that could match the PU-1D
for reliability and spares access etc?