Newly arrived Weller WS 81EU - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 11:24:50 am
content: Yesterday morning, after 'just' 23 years of honourable service my favourite soldering station handpiece fell apart. It was a WELLER WECP20/LR20 and I had never changed anything on it except for the tips.So I went to Farnell site and ordered a complete WS 81 EU station for 239€ + VAT and some LT K tips ant this morning the parcel arrived. I love the quality of Weller irons and, as always, I'm positively impressed.Using a K thermocouple on an Keysight 34465A I've measured:Room temperature: 21.15 degree CelsiusTip temperature (when set @350 degree Celsius): 339.28 degree Celsius19 seconds to go from room temperature to 300 degree CelsiusHandpiece temperature on the grip center after an hour @350 degree Celsius: 39.19 degree Celsius.The attached pictures show the unboxing.Best,0xfede

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 11:28:11 am
content: And these pictures show the comparison with the older unit.

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 11:36:31 am
content: Quote from: 0xfede on February 12, 2016, 11:24:50 amWhat happend? I've been using my WELLER WECP20/LR20 for 35 years now.After 30 years I had to replace the silicon cable because it broke. The new cable was even more flexible!It had better be too in view of its cost. But it was worth it.Yours - Messtechniker

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 11:54:26 am
content: Must correct myself.Please read "silicone cable" instead of "silicon cable". My bad...Yours - Messtechniker

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 12:08:31 pm
content: Hello Messtechniker,various parts of the handpiece including the silicone cable are broken or worn out from corrosion. A new LR21 cost 115€ on farnell so for about the double of the price I bought the entire station.Of course I will search the spare parts of the LR20 but now I'm not in hurry anymore, I've another 23 years of soldering time leftBest,0xfede

author: daybyter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 03:08:41 am
content: I am in similar boat, since the iron of my wecp 20 is falling apart. I guess one cannot use the old tips with the new iron?

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 12:53:14 pm
content: Hello daybyter,the WS 81 uses the LT series tips, the LR20/LR21 uses the ET series.On this page you can find the compatibility list (Weller Tip to Iron Compatibility table):http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/soldering-iron-tips/2788752/Best,0xfede

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 04:58:55 pm
content: I'm not sure that your new station will work for 35 years like the older one did.The station will have a very long life, but the iron and the iron's parts will not.I've had the same (both of them) and I see that the new iron plated metal parts are lower quality, and they corrode and oxidise a lot.At some time you'll find that the tube that holds the tip will corrode at the hotter point, and the tip will fall out..A new tube is available for about 10 euros, and I suggest to buy a second one for keeping in the iron stand with another tip inserted.This will let you change tips without burning yourself..Tips of the 80 W unit tend to corrode quickly, but at least they are inexpensive.Best regards

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 10:16:42 pm
content: Hello ciccio,Thanks for the advice, I'll add this part in the next order.Best,0xfede

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 06:44:16 pm
content: I had a Weller before getting my last one that used the magnetic tips. It was used when I got it and it lasted several years.What is the jack for?

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 06:59:06 pm
content: The jack gives you a choice to connect mains earth to the iron tip and barrel or not.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 07:07:44 pm
content: Quote from: TopLoser on February 14, 2016, 06:59:06 pmNever would have guessed that. Thanks.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 11:30:29 am
content: Quote from: ciccio on February 13, 2016, 04:58:55 pmAnother vote for having multiple tip retainer tubes for faster and more convenient tip changes (I've 4 for my WSP80).As per LT series tip quality, I've only seen issues with some of them coming from Bosnia (~30%), not those from the US, Germany, or Japan.

author: 0xfede
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 02:31:25 pm
content: I checked the spare tips I bought from farnell and those are all from Bosnia.I'll let you know when the one on the iron will fail.It is sad when a well reputable company loose reliability and I hope that is not the case.Best,0xfede

author: Bunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 06:10:13 pm
content: Hi all. I hope this is a suitable place to ask this but has anyone else had issues with Weller iron and tip compatibility? Some time ago I picked up a boxed WTCP station with TCP-S Iron that looks almost new although it had seen a little use. The box was damaged but everything else is minty. Anyway I recently decided to change the tip for a smaller pointed one. I checked the compatibility chart and ordered up a PT 08 tip. When it came I was quite irked that it didn't fit. It 'almost' fits but the shroud won't screw up. Its like the length of the thread short. Whats more when I took the shroud off to change the tip I noticed that the existing tip is much shorter and there is an 'extension' piece that sits between the tip and the inside of the iron. Scroll forward a couple of months and I decided to double check their site and noticed that the chart now listed the PT 09 as suitable for the TCP-S iron. Ordered one, it arrives and you guessed it, identical to the PT 08.I've tried contacting Weller directly but I'm just getting sent in circles and no one seems to be able to answer my query. Customer Service anyone?The tips are genuine parts (One from Farnell and the other from RS I think?). The iron and station look genuine too but I'm not sure how to date them or tell if they've been modified. The iron has TCP-S stamped into the gold section where the iron fits into the handle if that makes sense?Thanks for looking and if anyone can seen my schoolboy error please shout up!Cheers.

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 08:22:41 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on February 14, 2016, 07:07:44 pmWhen you plug in the jack the tip is disconnected from mains earth. It is still connected to the jack, and you should wire a cable from the jack to your workbench equipotential point (the one connected to the ESD mat, for example).

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 10:49:46 pm
content: Quote from: Bunk on February 16, 2016, 06:10:13 pmCheck to see if they replaced the threaded tube with one that's a bit longer, has a different end finish (chamfer shape/spec that will give a little more depth), or even has a slightly longer thread. P/N's will probably even be the same as the original.I mention this, as I've noticed some differences in the WS-102 tip retainer tubes made in Germany v. Bosnia. Specifically, they have different chamfers on the end, so one allows the tip to sit deeper, leaving more threads available to screw onto the heating element. Unlike your situation however, one fully screws on, the other only half-way.If that doesn't turn up anything, you could also try to find 3rd party made tips, such as those fromPlato(Techspray).

author: Bunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 11:06:34 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on February 16, 2016, 10:49:46 pmThanks Nanofrog for your input! Wow, do I feed daft now. After you mentioned the retainer tube I started having a look around and saw thishttp://uk.farnell.com/weller/0058720787/tip-adaptor-pt7-lt-with-barrel/dp/1712869?ost=1712869&mckv=RQ57IShY_dc%7Cpcrid%7C78108379509%7C&selectedCategoryId=&CMP=KNC-GUK-FUK-GEN-SHOPPING-WELLER&CAGPSPN=pla&gclid=CI2j44Ox_coCFbMK0wodkE4Nnw&CAWELAID=120173390000079410&gross_price=trueSo it looks like my iron has been converted for use with LT tips! The item is essentially what I have (tube looks the same and it has the small "extension" piece) but I now realise with a PT tip. I didn't realise that there are 3rd party tips manufacturers that would fit a Weller (make sense tho!). Are the Plato ones considered 'better' than the OEM Weller tips or is that a bit subjective? Is the difference between the PT and LT just the size?Thanks again guys!

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2016, 12:09:37 am
content: Quote from: Bunk on February 16, 2016, 11:06:34 pmYou're welcome.FWIW, both the PT and LT series tips are currently being manufactured. That said, the PT series is older, so it's almost certain they'll be EOL sooner than the LT series (the LT series came out ~ 2004 IIRC, while the PT series goes back much farther). That said, this doesn't mean the PT series is going away anytime soon (PT will go before the LT series though).Quote from: Bunk on February 16, 2016, 11:06:34 pmThe "extension: as you call it, would actually insert the narrower diameter into the iron. The iron pellet in the end of that little portion is what regulates the temperature (note in the datasheet there are different P/N's for different temps). So if you want/need different tips, you'd require more than one of those adapter kits. The LT series tip would but up against the larger diameter portion of the included adapter, and all of this would be inside the metal tip retainer tube.As per tip quality, the 3rd party tips by Plato are quite decent IME (there are others, incl. some coming out of China; Plato's LT equivalents have a COO = Costa Rica). With Weller's own production, I've found the issues are with the Bosnian made tips, as have others if you search the forum (~30% defect/garbage rate IME), while those made in the US, Germany, and Japan are just fine.

author: Bunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2016, 08:44:43 pm
content: Thanks Nano!I'll look into some of those after market tips and possibly pick up a Weller one too. Do you think that any LT tip should work with the 'extension' piece I already have? Thats the impression I get from the Farnell listing. (Temp rating aside). Come to think of it what would you say is a standard tmp. rating for general purpose Through Hole work? I rarely work on SMD so yeah, its pretty much common or garden stuff. I prefer conical tips rather that chisel tips which is what I've got at the mo. Thy just feel more 'cumbersome' if you know what I mean?BTW I'm sorry for these newbieish questions; I've used a succession of cheap irons over the years so when I finally decided to spend a few quid and went down the Weller route I never even thought to look into issues around tip compatibility etc. In my naivety I thought is would be a tip for iron affair and choosing would be easy. I wouldn't mind but I usually research the heck of of anything I'm looking at buying and I suppose I thought "Weller - Can't go wrong!" Another life lesson learned!Thanks again for you input!

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2016, 10:11:07 pm
content: Quote from: Bunk on February 17, 2016, 08:44:43 pmYou're welcome.Quote from: Bunk on February 17, 2016, 08:44:43 pmAssuming it's the same P/N as the link you posted, then YES.BTW, that particular P/N (ends in ...787, is for 700F <~371C>), which is perfect for general purpose soldering with lead-based or even lead-free alloys.Quote from: Bunk on February 17, 2016, 08:44:43 pmI solder at 600F, but my iron can recover fast enough that this temp without an issue (can even do 500F, but it pushes the limits on time; ~3 seconds on single or double sided boards). Regarding PTH or SMD, it doesn't matter generally speaking (highly temp sensitive devices can come in any package, though they're not common).As per conical v. chisel, I prefer a chisel for general purpose work (tip has more surface area to contact the pad = better thermal transfer). I've other profiles meant for particular jobs, whether it be due to ergonomics, or is designed for a specialized use, such as drag soldering.For a basic kit of tips (i.e. starter set), I usually recommend the following:A few chisels, which will be used most often (i.e. 1.6, 2.4, and 3.2mm to start; works with either PTH or SMD).Fine point conical for tacking corners on SMD IC's, or better yet, a bent conical, which works even better ergonomically, and also does passive SMD parts.Hoof/Bevel or a specialized drag soldering tip; the former has the benefit for being more versatile, while the latter does an even better job of holding molten solder for drag solderingFrom this (i.e. 5 tips), you'd be amazed at what you can do with them.And you can add tips as needed; whether it be for improved ergonomics, such as using a bent chisel for cup terminals in connectors instead of a standard chisel, or a particular profile for a specific purpose/group of tasks.Also,Hakko's Tip Selection Pagewould be very useful to you IMHO to see what tip profiles are used for.FWIW, there's no need to fear SMD. There's cheap practice boards available on sites such as eBay, Aliexpress, and DX.com for example (some as cheap as ~$1.00 per board shipped).Last but not least, invest in top quality supplies (solder, additional flux for tinning wire and/or drag soldering, and desolder braid/wick). It's much easier to work with, and will actually save you money in the long run due to reduced time for a given task v. cheap crap, a notable reduction in damaged boards/parts, and reduced aggravation (think wasted man-hours if you look at things from an accountant's POV). Look for brands such as Kester, AIM (American Iron & Metals), Alpha Metals (owned by Cookson), Indium, Multicore (owned by Henkel), and MG Chemicals for example.Plenty of threads with lots of details on all of this if you search.