Soldering Irons

Married2Allis

Well-known Member
Seems like it's a big deal to make a decent soldering iron or gun these days that doesn't cost a bundle. In the 1970's my brother had a Weller 100/140w (a real one, US made). That thing got HOT and lasted 20 years. Bought my own 100/140 a few years ago but it never made enough heat, so I got fed up yesterday and tossed it in the trash. Why can't they make a reasonably priced soldering iron that does the job? Who needs a 25 watt? How about a 200 watt!
 
Did you take the tip out and clean the contact areas before you chucked it? That will sometimes help. Have a Weller here and a Crapsman at the other house. Both are moved 30. Both still work, but have had to clean he tips a couple times.
 
Hello Marriesd2Allis,

Chances are you had a good gun. Go get it out of the trash! Bet you the element was loose. I was given a practically new one with just that....loose tip. My hold 100 140 lasted many moons, like the one you had.Most of the time the 100 watt setting was all I needed. Ungar makes a pencil type soldering iron. Hobby shop should have them. Very reasonable, and good heat from the 80 watt units,

Guido.
 
Bet you the element was loose.
That's what I thought too but I had just replaced the tip and tightened it -- still weak heat. I don't think it was ever put together right. I'd like to get a 200 watt pencil tip iron, something that's hot all the time. Never have liked waiting for the tip to warm up.
 
Married toAllis '
I use a wood burning iron(electric) that gets hot and stays hot as long as it's pluged in. Just a thought.
 
I have used a 25 watt one far more then I have used any of my bigger solder guns but then again I was Micro mini qualified in the Navy to do soldering on computer circuits. I habve a 25 watt soldering iron that is probably 35 plus years old and 2 soldering guns that are about as old and they keep working just fine
 
have a soldering iron not gun from 1949 craftsmann just replaced 3/8 tip works great i believe it is 1200 watts if not more was my dads
 
Micro mini as in 32 leg IC chips that had wires so small that you where almost soldering a wire as thin as a human hair. Had to be careful not to melt the wire and talk about having to be able to see well
 
WELLER is by far the best soldering iron on the market.
I have the small 140 watt and the large 200 watt. I use
the large one every week.

You can buy them cheaper off amazon than anywhere else.

I had a Craftsman one and some German made piece of junk.
Went back to WELLER.
 
I use soldering irons and guns everyday. I have 4 or 5 weller 100/140 watt for general use. Have to work the nuts all the time. Had to get a new case for one and they sent a plastic case. Guess how long that lasted. I try and buy all I can with bakelite cases at yard sales. With a weller, you can make your own tips in a pinch with copper wire. I have a wen at home with a single rod tip and never use it. I also have a 200w weller and It doesn't get very hot very fast like your iron. Need to work on it. I like lots of heat fast.
 
I have one of those my grandpa left me. How do you use it, does they work for radiators? I had to cut half of the top tank off a 450 radiator that was smashed by something that fell out of a loader bucket. I used a propane torch, took a long time, after I straightened it, the gaps were 1/4". I soldered about 20" of seam on that one, it turned out great

Ross
 
(quoted from post at 17:07:33 10/18/15)
What are you trying to solder?
I was replacing some tractor instrument panel wiring and the fuses were soldered together. Didn't help that it was 40 degrees and breezy!
 
Propane is good. either a torch or on a stove burner. I learned to solder with one by heating it in a wood stove.
 
(quoted from post at 06:37:01 10/19/15) Propane is good. either a torch or on a stove burner. I learned to solder with one by heating it in a wood stove.
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I need tips for this old bell system iron.
 
You just can't find big irons like that anymore. I have to get them used. It seems they don't make really large like that. I need them to solder grounding braids on high voltage cable splices. Harder and harder to get even used.
 
another option instead of an electric is a butane soldering iron. i have a snap on that i use a lot at the shop, really handy and totally portable. heres a link
poke here
 
Hello Married2Allis,

You can't solder without one of these. After you do a solder joint, your tip becomes passive/not conductive...no heat. You have to thin the tip and wipe it every time you do a joint, Heat the solder joint and put the solder there, Not on the solder tip. Solder will only flow if the joint is hot enough. Once the joint is full of solder, stop feeding the solder first, the remove iron...........you're done,

Guido.
a203669.jpg
 
Your title says soldering irons but you seem to be talking about soldering guns. Anyway, I have several of each and I have had them for decades and they all work fine. You do need to do tip maintenance on either of them.
 
(quoted from post at 13:02:32 10/20/15) Your title says soldering irons but you seem to be talking about soldering guns. Anyway, I have several of each and I have had them for decades and they all work fine. You do need to do tip maintenance on either of them.
Thanks for all of the replies. The Weller 100/140w GUN I had was simply not working. Like I mentioned earlier, I put a brand new tip on it and tightened it as required. Still very weak heat, maybe it got dropped or something and a component was cracked inside. I still think Weller is a good name so today I bought a 60w soldering IRON for like $22. We'll see how it does!
 

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