Durability of Weller DSX80 Desoldering Irons? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chris56000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2017, 08:46:16 pm
content: Hi!My employer has equipped us all with those very expensive Weller DSX80 Desoldering Irons, one shared between two engineers, and myself and other colleagues are getting distinctly fed–up of the poor mechanical robustness of these things!We are now seeing more and more instances of the spot–welds that secure the heating barrel to the round plate securing the assembly to the handle fracturing, leaving the tool in a dangerous condition where the heating barrel flops about or could pull out of the handle altogether!Have other Members come across this and is any form of repair possible?These things are rocketing up in price all the time and my employer is getting distinctly fed up of buying replacements!Comments?Chris Williams

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2017, 11:43:53 pm
content: build quality must have gone downhill,i used a pair in the distant past and the only issues where the container clogging - solved by the chinese by putting a spring in to intercept the solder before it hit the backplate,and the sensor/element failing.i never had the metal come apart - and i wasnt gentle with it either.

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 11:38:55 am
content: I'm sadly thinking that Weller quality is decreasing.I have many Weller soldering stations, but I see that the newer ones (WS81) are showing small problems, that have a simple butalways expensivesolutions.I had to replace the heating element because oxidation had corroded the upper surface, where the tip has thermal contact. The spare part price was more than 70 Euros + VAT... You can buy a decent Chinese station with this sum.The tip holder (a screw-on tube) oxidises and at some point will not keep the tip in place.I do not see (or better feel) the reiliability of my 40 years old WTCP50 station.Now my old JBC desoldering station begins showing problems, but I do not use it very much, so I will replace it with a Chinese unit. A friend has one and it works...

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 04:32:15 pm
content: i am going to make one from stuff i have around.weller base unit for the transformer & pump,the electronics from an old Zong-Di station with nice led display - oldschool instead of cheap lcdand a brand new chinese handpiece i got from farnell for about £22.from bad experience, i will add an extra filter to protect the pump.i'm thinking maybe a fuel-filter for a bike would work well.

author: rbm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 06:00:28 pm
content: I'm not seeing the quality issues with fracturing that are described in this post, but my DSX80 handset failed on my a little while ago. When I plug it into the WRS1002 basestation, the iron is not recognized and the display just shows three dashed lines instead of a tip temperature. Any ideas as to what has gone wrong or how I can debug the problem?

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2017, 06:18:22 pm
content: probably what i experienced, but my base had no display.check the element and sensor with a meter across the plug.while your at it, check the cable for continuity - they break where it enters the handle.

author: rbm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2017, 09:24:28 pm
content: Update: I checked the heating element continuity right at the connection inside the DSX-80 printed circuit card. It's broken, showing open circuit. The element is nearly unobtainable and if I were to find a new one, it would be nearly the price I paid for the whole desoldering station.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2017, 09:53:06 pm
content: and that is how i ended with 2 bases doing nothing.so maybe it's time to see if you can mesh a zhong-di or xytronic handpiece onto the base.

author: Chris56000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2018, 09:59:26 pm
content: Hi!An update on these, and these Weller DSX80s aren't improving any – they're getting worse!I have had to ask my employer for two more replacement desoldering irons in as many weeks, the first because the top part of the metal glass tube housing broke at the spot welds where it's spot–welded to the remainder of the collection barrel metal framework, whilst the second iron had to be replaced because the whole metal barrel assembly sheared off from the threaded tube screwing it into the end of the heater element assembly!In the second case, I examined the fractured barrel and there's no sign of any spot–weld between the collection barrel and the threaded solder collection tube – it was simply pushed over the solder tube, and the weight of solidified solder in the glass tube pulled the barrel off the remainder of the barrel's screwed fitting!These irons are currently about £450 to buy new, and me thinks it's time Cooper Tools had a swift kick up the backside!!!!Both of these appallingly made tools had "Designed and Made in Germany" silkscreened on the handle – silkscreened in China perhaps???!!!Chris Williams

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2018, 09:56:16 am
content: as your in the u.k., cpc has a zhong-di desoldering station on sale for $50 !!