Album Weller WSM 1 from .:madworm:.

That tip has had it - Weller WMRP RT3

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:21:29 +0000

I've had difficulty soldering properly with well-established settings for quite some time now. I had to set the temperature to 400°C to get just decent operation. I measured the temperature as well and it was fine.

Looking at the tip closely revealed significant erosion, hence lack of physical contact with the PCB and miserable heat transfer.

For the time being I chose to grind the little peaks away, fully knowing that the plating will deteriorate even faster, but at least I can get stuff done for now. I'll need a replacement pretty soon.

After just 3 years of moderate usage, the plating is gone. I have a feeling most of the damage was caused by the brass shavings used to clean the tip.

Now I'll have to fork out 40 something to buy a new one, as the heating element is inseparably fused to the tip.

You cannot just replace the tip itself and keep the fully functional heater / sensor / pencil, you have to throw away perfectly good hardware, just because the tiny tip is EOL.

Weller WMRP RT4 - New tip

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:23:38 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

The old RT3 lasted 3 years of moderate use. The brass cleaner may have sped up erosion.

Weller RT3 pencil

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:27:37 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

The socket.

Weller WSM 1 - soldering pencil

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:33 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

The pencil is very light and the cord is flexible ;-)

Weller WSM 1 - soldering stand

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:35 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

Weller WSM 1 - soldering pencil

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:37 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

Weller WSM 1 - soldering pencil

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:39 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

Weller RT3 tip

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:41 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

The heating element and a sensor are in the very tip. Heat up time from ambient to 400°C is 4 seconds.

Weller RT3 tip

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:43 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

Weller RT3 tip

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:45 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

Soldering the ATmega works great at 240°C with Sn60Pb40 solder.

Using lower temperature keeps the tip shiny much longer compared to my old 350°C soldering iron. I like it.

Weller WSM 1 - soldering station

nobody@ipernity.com (.:madworm:.) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:52:47 +0000

.:madworm:. has posted:

YES! Finally!

My old ERSA TIP260 soldering iron isn't bad at all. I've used it for the last 15 years or so. But it is fixed at 350°C and for some SMD RGB LEDs that is way too much.