Soldering Iron Temp?

[BlackSwamp]

I got this new little toy, a Weller soldering iron and station, at an estate sale today.

can someone give me a frame of reference for tip tempeture and wattage? I've never had an iron that reads out the temp before.

 

[griz780]

Oldy but goody...

Howdy,
If I remember correctly, and if it is still working...

Set the switch to the left to set the desired temperature (somewhere around 625 should keep you from nuking stuff).

Then set the switch to the right to display actual tip temp. Easy.

Nice little setup! Tips are readily available, and pretty cheap too. Make sure you keep your tip "tinned", i.e. always coat it with solder when done and the tips should last longer.

regards,
griz

 

[N7SC]

What Griz said.

Also, use ONLY distilled water to wet and rinse out (after each session) the tip-cleaning sponge. This is per Weller's recommendation. The minerals in tap water can ruin a tip pretty quickly.

FWIW, I use a Weller WTCP-N with a 700 deg tip and sometimes I find it a little too hot, so Griz probably hit it right on the head.

Weller has a pdf file of soldering tips with lotsa useful info at their website.

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/electronic_applications/index.htm

The pdf files with the info are in the middle column called Weller Useful Information

 

[BlackSwamp]

It works great!

I also got about 12-15 various tips with it, most never used.

Thanks for the input! :thmbsp:

 

[BlackSwamp]

Hey, that weller info is great.

I used this thing on a project yesterday. Hot Damn, so much nicer than what I had before.

Brad

 

[Gibsonian]

700 deg. is the sweet spot for me.

 

[markthefixer]

Been soldering for years, used many types (at work) .

Weller has always been the best... love those tapered conical small tips...
done my best work with them.

Congrats on your good choice and your good luck.

P.S. I'm looking for one now, have been stuck with an old pace for the last few years.

 

[EchoWars]

Eh...I use 650 in an effort to make the tips last a little longer.

 

[hpsenicka]

I recently acquired a Weller WLC100 solderstation, which has a variable output from 5W to 40W..... and the maximum temp is apparently 900F.

I've only done a bit of very basic soldering with it so far.. not much experience with it to date. Haven't yet attempted to use it on a PCB.

How can I tell when my iron is at 650 - 700F? Any idea what setting on the adjusment knob would correspond with that kind of temp? Also, how much variation in the operating temp should I expect when using different size tips?

 

[EchoWars]

No way to tell. I'd just start with a setting of about 1/2 way on the dial and call it good.

 

[ANACRUSIS]

Got a temperature probe on a multimeter?

Got one of those neat non-touch jobs?

One of those would do wonders.

I, myself was looking for a better iron, as I'm getting more into repairing, modding, and prototyping. The one I was going to choose would also be the WLC100, for it shares its tips with the professional boys. I too was wondering what would be a good place to start as far as temp wise.

The cheaper professional jobs cost the same, take the same tip replacements, but are not adjustable. However, a lil variac could easily, though bulkily, solve this prob.

Is bulkily a word?

 

[kerozene]

Depending on your skills with the iron and what you're soldering, anywhere between 600F+ and 800F, my sweet spot is at around 750F without nuking any tracks or pads.