Problem with new Weller TCP tips - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dzseki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2017, 10:41:53 am
content: I am using Weller TCP soldering iron as main. I have bought a new tip in this june a PTH7 type from trusted source, this one lasted only one month! I thought maybe I melted some plastics that eat the tip, so I ordered a replacement. Now I see again this newer tip also started to degrade... I also have some other older tips those are 10-20 or more years old and still doing fine, I even have good experience with replacement Plato tips as well. So I am curious if anyone have experienced similar tendency with these new tips? It is not funny to replace them in every other month considering they are not exactly cheap...

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2017, 03:18:27 pm
content: Quote from: dzseki on December 29, 2017, 10:41:53 amWhat do you mean by degrade? Is solder not wetting to the tip or did the tip actually fall apart?

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2017, 06:01:05 pm
content: What solder are you using? Most people that have tp work with both leaded and lead-free solder agree that you should use separate tips. also, I saw new tips advertised explicitely as 'for lead-free soldering, but also fully usable with leaded solder' which seems to imply, that some other tips aren't.

author: dzseki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2017, 07:42:41 pm
content: David, Here is a -not so good- close up on the new tip, as you can see it already started to eaten away, it is still usable, but this one will eventually die soon, too.I use exclusively leaded solder.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 12:18:16 am
content: Quote from: dzseki on December 29, 2017, 07:42:41 pmThat looks more like a buildup of something rather than a loss. How will the tip fail? Will the end fall off?What flux are you using?Is there any problem with wetting of the tip?Even when mistreated, those tips should last years to decades of continuous use.QuoteThe tin and flux part of the solder is what does the most damage.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 01:10:06 am
content: Is your temperature control working, your barrel looks like it's been way too hot. Is your tip cracked? Cleaning it on a flooded watery sponge?I use PTA7 and no problems with them. When they get old, a pothole or divet forms.Really stubborn, tough slag I use a piece of wood to rub that off.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 01:35:30 am
content: I've read a lot of complains about issues with weller tips made in the last few years, some basically dissolving in a few days. Especially tips made in Mexico.

author: dzseki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 09:45:19 am
content: Quote from: floobydust on December 30, 2017, 01:10:06 amThe iron is rather old (and eventually went through a lot of things...), the original heating element has theold style logo, this heater is still working. Although I now switched to 12V 35W heating element, this tip have never been overheated.Indeed I use wet sponge, but not flooded at all, only barely wet. Also I used this method for years without problem until now.I use pure pine resin as flux.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 10:27:52 am
content: I bought a new TCP iron last year and the "quality" tips now consist of a separate tip and slug. The slug sets 700/800oF etc and the tip sits on the top. I don't have the part numbers but they are pretty reliable. Mine have taken a right bashing and are still as good as new after a year.I use mine with a Xytronics brass wool cleaner instead of the sponge. This actually makes the tips last a lot longer!

author: dzseki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 03:53:28 pm
content: At work we have the brass wool too, but I don't really like it, maybe it's just me but it happened me multiple times that the wool threw back the -still hot- solder like a little catapult on my hand, once almost into my eyes...BTW I made a deal on 4pcs. of Plato C-462-7 tips including shipping for the price of about 2 Weller tips (without shipping).

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 05:28:24 pm
content: Yeah it does burn you with solder blims occasionally

author: 636steve
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 30, 2017, 06:09:17 pm
content: We used weller TCP soldering irons for years at work. When everything went lead free we noticed we were going through loads more tips than normal. Nothing we did managed to stop them from failing. Some would last a month or so others would only last a couple of days.In the end we changed all the soldering irons (25 off). This paid for itself in the first year.I just don't think the TCP tips are suitable for using lead free solder.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2017, 12:50:10 am
content: Quote from: wraper on December 30, 2017, 01:35:30 amThis was an issue a couple of years ago, I had a couple of the effected tips (platting) . I also recall the being an issue only with tips from Mexico, but I understand the problem was fixed. I've not had further issues.