@West Side Joe posted:

I'm happy with the Weller, too. My only issue with it is that I haven't been able to find out what temps correspond to each of the 5 dial settings. My instruction sheet doesn't say.

Easy enough to do with a infrared laser thermometer, …..if you’re really that curious, …….

Pat

@GG1 4877 posted:

This is the soldering iron I purchased recently.  Since I do not do a lot of soldering in any given year, I have been very pleased with this one and it comes at a great price.  Granted, it may not be as nice as the one that has been mentioned most, but for my needs this more than fit the requirements and it was highly rated.

Question regarding that iron (and other similar "bargain brands")... Where do you find replacement tips? 

@harmonyards posted:

Easy enough to do with a infrared laser thermometer, …..if you’re really that curious, …….

Pat

You mean like the kind for fevers? Are they accurate much past 110 degrees?

@West Side Joe posted:

You mean like the kind for fevers? Are they accurate much past 110 degrees?

No, the digital kind the tool stores sell,…..they’re super cheap, and read well past 500 + …..we use them in the shop all the time, ….handy gadget for finding cold cylinders with pin point accuracy,….

Pat

i have used the Hakko and its an excellent device but mine still sits in the box it came in three years ago. Little room on the bench. I continue to use my antique Ungar, now with a 45 watt heater, for everything from soldering micro circuits to building brass engines. Even skipped the variac control.

Pete

@West Side Joe posted:

I'm happy with the Weller, too. My only issue with it is that I haven't been able to find out what temps correspond to each of the 5 dial settings. My instruction sheet doesn't say.

These are as cheap as $10 on AliExpress.com.  It's just a K-type thermocouple, and is accurate to within a few degrees.

@Mallard4468 posted:

Question regarding that iron (and other similar "bargain brands")... Where do you find replacement tips?

For my situation, and I can only speak for myself, I am not as concerned due to the amount of soldering I need to do.  I still have an Archer 100 watt iron that I bought new in 1994 and I have never needed to change the tip on that. 

@GG1 4877 posted:

For my situation, and I can only speak for myself, I am not as concerned due to the amount of soldering I need to do.  I still have an Archer 100 watt iron that I bought new in 1994 and I have never needed to change the tip on that.

WOW!

I've lost count of all the tips I've swapped over the years, I buy them in quantity!

The difference is you are a professional and I am an amateur.

I have an EDSYN variable temperature controlled 951SX, they are made in the USA and are competitively priced and the tips are at reasonable prices too