On Fri, 15 Sep 2017 00:39:53 +1000, Chris Jones
wrote:

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.

Hmm, ok, this is just the sort of thing I needed to know, thanks.

Just OOI, I have these measurements of my existing barrel:

55.5 mm long (including the nut).
8.6 mm outside diameter of tube.
7.9 mm inside diameter of tube.
12 mm across the flats of the nut.
8.6 mm inside diameter of the thread.


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).

Well, that's a very kind offer and it's the thought that counts Chris.
;-)


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.

Googles Metcal 'Metcal PS-900 Soldering System, £185.39', ouch!


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.

Erm, I don't know if mine has aged hotter or somesuch but just
yesterday (and with the tip falling out) I easily soldered some mains
cable to some solid metal terminals (inside an IEC plug) with the .8mm
tip with no real issues?

You want a number 7, and I think
that will do nicely for lead free as well.

I'm not sure I'll be actively using any lead free but may well come
across it etc.

Number 8 will burn tracks off
the board unless you are very careful and quick.

Not good.


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.

Great! (not). ;-)

Cheers, T i m

p.s. A mate has a nearly unused soldering / rework station spare that
he said he will give me first refusal on, as / when he finds it! It
has a hot air gun, temp controlled soldering iron and smoke
extraction. I think it was bought locally and they also stock the
spares etc but I have a small electric hot air gun for heat shrink and
don't solder enough to bother too much about the fumes (along with not
breathing when soldering etc g). The problem is it's a bit big so
sot something I could just pop down on the kitchen worktop to do a
quick soldering job? ;-(

Cheers, T i m