In article ,
Martin Gregorie   wrote:
>On Mon, 25 Jun 2018 15:42:14 +0100, Peter Percival wrote:
>
>> I think I want one with a straight conical tip and the soldering iron
>> that I already own has a tip which looks like a cylinder cut off at an
>> angle (does that make sense? If not, see
>> https://www.gearbest.com/soldering-supplies/pp_248246.html).  Any
>> recommendations?
>
>The best electronic soldering irons I've used have been 45 watt Wellers
>with conical 0.8mm tips - but they weren't cheap, but that was a while
>back. The current range are even more expensive and 90 or 120 watt irons.
>The best feature of the Weller range is that the temperature control is
>nearly failproof, being a magnetic microswitch just behind the tip. There
>is a magnet at the rear of the tip. Like all magnets, it loses its
>magnetism when heated to its Curie point: this turns the microswitch off.
>It turns back on again as the tip drops below the Curie point and regains
>its magnetism. IOW you specify a tip by the shape, diameter *and* the
>temperature you require.

I miss my old Weller. I bought it 2nd hand and I had it for 35 years and
used it very regularly and one day it just stopped. I think the
transformer decided to give up after all those years. Used a wet sponge
on it all the time without any issues.

https://unicorn.drogon.net/weller.jpg

In desperation, I bought a cheapish temp controlled one (from Maplin)
with a view to replacing it with a Metcal one day - but that was 3 years
ago and I'm still waiting for it to stop working or need a new tip,
despite near daily use with a wet sponge.

Gordon

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