76 replies to this topic

[Jairus]

I have just tossed my last Weller soldering iron in the trash.

I sent this message to the parent company of Weller, Cooper Hand Tools:

I will never buy another Weller soldering iron again!!!
I have burned up 4 of them so far and all were made overseas.
Of the 4 irons... I have also burned up nearly a dozen tips which split and fall apart.
Weller soldering irons are CRAP and I will never own another and you will never get
another cent of my money!

The irons are SP80's.
The work that I do is building brass slot car chassis for customers.
I can maybe get 10 to 15 chassis built before the iron simply stops. The cute little
indicator light continues working but NO heat.
I average about 5 projects before a tip splits and begins disintegrating.
My irons do not stay on for long periods.
I turn them on only long enough to accomplish a soldering session of about an hour a
day.

You can all go f**k yourself with the money you are saving by producing your inferior
sh*t overseas!
I am choosing another manufacturer!
Ciao.

I have many projects waiting construction and now I am searching for a GOOD soldering iron. Got any suggestions that DON'T cost an arm and a leg because I am already in debt with most everyone already!!!

[MSwiss]

http://slotblog.net/...?showtopic=8596

[Jairus]

Mike,
do you use one?

[Noose]

Inland for sure. Tony SWEARS by it. I love it.

[MSwiss]

I use the Hakko 936/907 combo for light/normal work.
Unfortunately it's around $100 and not easy to find the
heavier duty element & tip.
I use the Inland for heavier duty Retro work.
It work's great but you would definitely need to keep it
on a heat control for normal work.

An affordable and easily replacable tip is one of it's great features.
(and the fact I haven't needed to do it,yet )

[4laneron]

I had the Inland it lasted about a year. Now I have a HAKO 456-16 its a great Iron price is around 54.00.

[MSwiss]

I'm used to holding an iron like a pen on the fatter diameter of the handle.
When I tried the Hakko 455 years ago,I kept burning myself on the metal ring.
While I realize some guys hold their iron different, every other iron I've used
(including my Hakko 936/907) and seen is designed to prevent this.

[Dan Ruddock]

Get a Goot, I have been doing this for 15 years and tried them all and the Goot holds up better than them all. Never have I burned out a element. They get very hot and have the HP to soldier on lugs screwed to large heat sinks. Most of the time I run mine at 1/2 power (diode on one leg) and when I want it to kick butt I flip the switch taking the diode out of the circuit I mean HOT. The CXG series is what you want. They are very reasonable. Ignore the wattage there rating is very conservative. Get 38 watt has plenty of HP and some extra tips. Dan

Goot

[68Caddy]

How about variable heat control?
I see lot of racers using them.


Nesta aka 68 Caddy

[Dan Ruddock]

I tried one of those radio shack variable controls, lasted about six months. My diode setup will last forever and can be built for little $$$. Two power setting is all you need. Dan

[team burrito]

Get a Goot, I have been doing this for 15 years and tried them all and the Goot holds up better than them all.

I got a Goot too, but the tip is even bigger than the Hakko unit & there's nothing smaller in the catalog. Bummer.

[Dan Ruddock]

I got a Goot too, but the tip is even bigger than the Hakko unit & there's nothing smaller in the catalog. Bummer.

Look again tips in all shapes and sizes. The blue ones are what come with the iron. Dan

tips

[Horsepower]

Is it really dat goot?
You mean there's no iron made in USA that's worth a darn anymore?

[68Caddy]

That's why its cheap.
You want guilty you pay for it, it's called global economy.


Nesta aka 68 Caddy

[Phil Irvin]

Never heard of them till today. My UNGER died last year & was looking for a replacement & GOOT never came up. I am not REAL happy with my Unger (WELLER) but it has lasted 8 months so far...KNOCK ON WOOD.........

PHIL

[team burrito]

Look again tips in all shapes and sizes. The blue ones are what come with the iron. Dan

Yeah, I got the biggest tip & I needed the next size down. I'll give it another try.

[Pablo]

If you are getting 15 chassis out of an SP80 I think you got your money's worth.

My Hakko 455 continues to work very well for me.

[munter]

Ive been buying and using cheap ($NZ20) irons for a while because there was nothing easily available locally.
These irons would work OK for a while,maybe a few months and then for no apparent reason just not heat up any more.
Ive been through half a dozen of these so far.
Currently trying the Dremel brand butane soldering torch...seems OK too.
Nice to hold with no heavy lead.
It has a variable heat control and works OK on Light to medium chassis building.

[rickdownunder]

Hi , I was given my first "Scope' over 30 years ago and it is still going . In that time I picked up another used one as a back up and set it up with a smaller tip (still going too) . Parts are available at http://www.wiltronic...hop.php?cid=509
I am an auto mechanic and they have gotten a good amount of use with both work and hobbies . Worth a look ! Thanks Rick

[Tex]

If you are getting 15 chassis out of an SP80 I think you got your money's worth.

My post was deleted again. It's gettin' so a guy can't smart off at all at Slotblog!. What are y'all afraid of? If I start pointing out other posts that don't follow the straight and narrow, will you delete them for me?

[MantaRay]

Hi , I was given my first "Scope' over 30 years ago and it is still going . In that time I picked up another used one as a back up and set it up with a smaller tip (still going too) . Parts are available at http://www.wiltronic...hop.php?cid=509
I am an auto mechanic and they have gotten a good amount of use with both work and hobbies . Worth a look ! Thanks Rick

Rick.........I checked out the wiltronics link..........I thought the 12v DC Soldering iron was cool........$88.00 was a little steep.........
It would be a must have item for thrashers camping in the parking lot...........

[Pablo]

Rick and Ray, your timing couldn't be more perfect As Hurricane Gustav threatens, this will be the perfect choice for evacuee (sp?) scratchbuilding on a plastic folding table next to my car in a parking lot in Tennessee

[Rick]

One only needs a few minutes on the web to find tons of soldering iron alternatives.

Being is the bidness for 15+ years, I saw about every iron out there come into the track. American Beauty was popular and long living too.

Here's some links to get many and priced right for th builders...........

http://store.allstai...100watstan.html

http://www.howardele...nic/137ESD.html

http://www.alpinegla...oldering-irons/

[MantaRay]

Rick and Ray, your timing couldn't be more perfect As Hurricane Gustav threatens, this will be the perfect choice for evacuee (sp?) scratchbuilding on a plastic folding table next to my car in a parking lot in Tennessee

Paul, I certainly hope that yourself and others are spared the wrath of Gustav.........Just make sure you have enough Butane for your torch.

[Pablo]

Thanks Ray.

The minitorch does not require a power source