Shocked that the Weller WLC100 isn't here - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AlienRelics
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2024, 12:12:01 am
content: The thing is a lamp dimmer/phase control power controller with no temperature control on a 40W unregulated iron. The cord is vinyl, stiff and in danger of melting easily if it touches anything hot. It takes forever to heat up, plunges in temperature in use, and takes forever to come back up to temperature. Turn the power up and you are in danger of burning the tip. The sponge is just sitting in the plastic, so you are pretty much guaranteed to drag the tip across the plastic when wiping it, fouling the tip. Because the temperature is uncontrolled, some report the handle just falls apart.Weller themselves sell it on Amazon as a "digital" soldering station when it is no such thing. If you look at the reviews, Weller pulled a tricky one and got good reviews by listing a slightly better soldering station, then all reviews combine to this piece of junk.Now they also sell a 30W fancier looking iron that is still a lamp dimmer power control. And worse, the iron holder is plastic!But even the 70W station with a digital temperature display has some bad reviews... stiff PVC cord, falls apart, pencil holder doesn't hold the iron properly.I have lost all respect for Weller.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2024, 02:07:44 am
content: Quotecourse its is,it can only be in 1 of 2 states,on(1) or off (0)

author: Kim Christensen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2024, 02:52:15 am
content: Quote from: themadhippy on June 06, 2024, 02:07:44 amPlus, you use your fingers (digits) to hold it. I guess that makes all handheld tools "digital"....Not to mention what your doctor calls a "digital exam".

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2024, 08:54:58 am
content: "The base also includes a "power-on" indicator light and on/off switch"Hah, there you have it - won't get any more digital than this.Still not sure what to expect from a (major brand) 30USD station - "not a lot" is probably the right answer. But is it worse than a 15USD LIDL soldering station? I have the LIDL one (as a throwaway station to be used on stuff that might damage my other stations), and it is not great, the tip is a nightmare. I certainly expect the Weller to be better.

author: AlienRelics
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2024, 03:23:44 pm
content: It's like I'm talking to the marketing department!Seriously... Weller made a new version, only 30W so maybe less likely to burn the tips off. WLSK3012A Same grubscrew holding the tip on, likely to freeze up.Fancy red and black with what may be a better iron older, as at least the heat doesn't go up into the handle. But same old lamp dimmer uncontrolled power control.The only thing worse are the cheap Chinese knock-offs that are even worse than the WLC100, yes that's possible. I was in a makerspace that was given probably over a dozen of the knock-offs over the years. Every single one failed, often spectacularly. The tip retainer is a locking ring right up at the tip, it would unscrew itself while in use. The heating core was held into the sleeve with some dents in the metal, they would sometimes just fall right out while in use.Then again, this sounds like the 1 and 2 star reviews of the Weller WLC100, WLSK3012A, and WLSKD7012A (an actual digital temperature controlled station).