Help with soldering iron temp...my Rad Shack iron better than my Weller?!?

[Hiwatt25]

I sort of posted on this a while ago so sorry if some of this is review.

I finally got my Weller WES50 back in service but I'm finding that I'm having a heck of a time using it with any success (it wasn't broken it just needed a new tip).  For some reason, I'm having to leave the tip on the joint forever.  When I stopped using the Weller, I went and bought a Radio Shack 15/30W iron and I was soldering like a champ.  I was in and out in nothing flat but not so with the Weller.

The difference is that the Weller is temperature controlled and I am beginning to fear if I turn it up any more, I may start to damage components. 

Does anyone know what temperature a 30W iron runs at so that I can set my Weller to the same temperature?  I'm pushing 700 degrees with the Weller already.  I really like my weller (it was a gift from my wife) and I'd like to use it instead of the big ol' clunky Radio Shack version.

Anyone else have this model?  What temp do you use it at?  Why do I suck!  Arrrgggghhhh!

[Dai H.]

maybe it's the heating element (that is worn out)?

[captntasty]

Hey there, I used a RS 25w/40w for a number of years with good results.  I always used it on the 40w setting.  I probably would have kept on using it had I not left my DIY amp on while debugging in rush and fried the heating element - ZAP!  That scared the crap out of me...  anyhow, I got a temp controlled unit to replace it and find that 700 deg is about where it needs to be.  There was a very recent post by RG describing why higher temps are desirable and I agree - high temps allow you to get in and out quickly rather than leaving the iron on a component for more than just a brief moment.  Setting the temp so low you have to keep the iron on for more than a second or so is going to ensure you fry components.  Higher temps allow you to heat component leads up quickly and get out fast and let the component cool down.  So, I wouldn't worry about getting up to 700, I might even go so far as to say it is desirable.  It's really a matter of finding the highest temp at which solder will flow quickly then backing down just a tad.  The actual temp probably won't be what you set it at according to what's indicated on your unit (unless you have an expensive digital unit).  You may set the temp at 700 but in reality are only getting 600 or maybe 650.  It's like a 10% resistor - it's 100k but you might get between 90k and 110k in actuality.

maybe it's the heating element (that is worn out)?

This is possible too, depends on how old the unit is...
Peace

[Hiwatt25]

Cool, thanks for the feedback.  I'll experiment a little more before I call it quits with the Weller.  It's just so much smaller and lighter than the clunky old RS one. 

Coincidentally, I was able to find the manual and "unlock" the temperature control function.  I guess this model has a means for locking out the temperature adjustment so that operators dont's change it at their will.  I've disabled that so hopefully I can be sure that the temperature I set it at is near to what I want.

It's still pretty new and it does get hot as hell but if all else fails, I'll replace the pencil. 

Thanks again for the replys. 

[dosmun]

I finally got my Weller WES50 back in service but I'm finding that I'm having a heck of a time using it with any success (it wasn't broken it just needed a new tip).  For some reason, I'm having to leave the tip on the joint forever.  When I stopped using the Weller, I went and bought a Radio Shack 15/30W iron and I was soldering like a champ.  I was in and out in nothing flat but not so with the Weller.

I just replaced the tip on my Circuit Spec. solder station and am having the same results.  I just turned up the temp a bit but I would like to know what is causing this.

[ranchak]

Maybe the replacement tips are better quality or have more tinning on them than the OEM tip.