Repairing Soldering Irons

[blown240]

I have 3 Weller soldering irons and they are all starting to give me troubles.

They dont get hot enough to really get nice clean solders.  And when they do, I only get 1 or 2 connections before I have to let them warm back up.

Is there an easy fix for these, or should I just get a new one?  One of them is a big 40 watt, and one has the point worn off. 

[John]

You might be able to just get the new tip. On my old one once the tip got worn down it didn't conduct the heat well enough.  Also, be sure the tip is in the socket the whole way.

[blown240]

I will check that.  I can always grind a new tip onto it...

[HotBluePlates]

Depending on the specific model, the tip may need to be tightened.

I have had some tips that you could file all of the oxidation off, get back to a solid and clean metal surface, and re-tin.

Depending on what you're trying to solder, you may not have a big enough iron anyway. 30-40w is about what you need for most tube amp jobs. If you have to solder to the chassis, you need 100w minimum. If you solder to the back of pots, you'll need the same unless you unbolt them from the chassis (it acts as a heatsink). If you need to solder so sensitive caps, transistors, or transformer windings, you need a 15w iron or so.

I use a combination 15w/30w iron for most jobs, and a 60w iron for soldering pots out of the amp.

[FYL]

Is there an easy fix for these, or should I just get a new one?  One of them is a big 40 watt, and one has the point worn off. 

Wellers can be refurbished and parts are easy to find at decent prices.

Change the tip if it's worn or clean it if it's oxidized. Change the heating element or the Magnastat if worn. Your iron will be good as new.

[Willabe]

What's a Magnastat? Is that just the proper name for the heating element?


            Thanks,     Brad       

[FYL]

Weller either uses Magnastat, which regulates temperature thru a built-in ferro-magnetic sensing device and associated switch, or standard heaters controlled by an external power supply station.

[Willabe]

Thanks FYL