Metcal in EU - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 05:02:41 am
content: Where do you buy Metcal in EU? It seems like solder connections only ship inside UK.. And with Conro you have to ask for a price.I've been looking at a MX-5210. It should be 80W vs. 40W on the MX-500.So where to get it?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 05:14:40 am
content: Quote from: cs.dk on January 13, 2017, 05:02:41 amFarnell, for a start.The MX-5210 is 80W because it drives both ports simultaneously - performance on a single channel is unchanged.Don't think 40W is underpowered. It's really, really not.

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 06:38:50 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on January 13, 2017, 05:14:40 amHard to believe, but very very true. I have a 5210, and it has a bar graph, so you can have an idea of power flow.When powering up a cartridge from cold, the graph usually saturates around 60-70% for a 700-series cartridge (even the large ones like the hoof or the 5mm chisel). Even the massive desoldering heads don't pull more than 70-80%. So assuming this is linear, with 40W, you'll get cold-to-700F in 6sec instead of 5s?Then, once hot, forget it. Putting the full-size hoof tip on a solid piece of metal with lots of solder to make contact, you'll peak at 40-50%. And a square cm2 solder blob on that solid piece of metal will go cold>liquid in a couple of seconds.So... 40W should do just fine. It'll still be ridiculously fast.One thing to note is that the price of the old 5000 or the new 500 are not that much lower than the 5200.Also note that the new Metcal supplies use switching power supplies, so you can use US-bought units anywhere. Might be worth importing if the import duties make sense (also, Metcal sells refurbished units in the US at a good price - contact them for that).

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 11:16:45 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on January 13, 2017, 05:14:40 amSo it's not 80W when used in single channel mode? I have to solder some 10 mm2 wires to solarpanels. My Weller WHS40 is hopeless - It goes better with a chinese 75W like this one;http://yihua-soldering.com/product-1-3-3-hot-air-rework-station-en/147664EDIT: Seems to be 80W;Quote from: Metcal.comQuoteThe MX-5210 is ~£470 + VAT. MX-510S is £335 , so not a big difference, taken their hopefully long lifetime in the calculation.

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 11:35:36 am
content: Anyone got experience withhttp://www.weidinger.eu?They seem to have a good price on Metcals.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 04:47:10 pm
content: Quote from: cs.dk on January 13, 2017, 11:16:45 amAs I recall, the majority of tips will not actually accept that much power - that's why they put together a new handpiece and special tips with two connections.

author: Frost
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 05:42:28 pm
content: Quote from: cs.dk on January 13, 2017, 11:35:36 amYes, they ship fast and also to home addresses.I have bought all of my JBC stuff from them.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 07:26:39 pm
content: Quote from: cs.dk on January 13, 2017, 11:16:45 amIts how the power is delivered, rather than heating a huge tip right up to the handpiece and then trying to deliver that through to a small point on the tip as old fashioned irons do, with curie point technology all the power going into the joint is delivered right to the tip where it contacts the joint. The "40W" supply with a tip that provides good contact to the joint will have no problem soldering 10mm2 cable, I've regularly soldered to copper sheetmetal directly.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 08:19:01 pm
content: Also look at Thermaltronics, which are tip-compatible

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 07:17:04 pm
content: Aren't they now called Oki Metcal?

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 10:13:48 am
content: I've ordered fromhttps://europe.okinternational.com/- That page does not show up in google, if the search term is Metcal EU or similar. I found it by a coincidence.660€ for a MX-5210 and some cartridges/tips. Thats not to bad.Hope they will send it tomorrow.

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 24, 2017, 04:52:21 am
content: I forgot to update this..I have recieved my MX-5210. So far, i am really impressed