My 45 years old Weller Soldering Iron / Station - Part 1: The Base Station

Hello everyone!
This is a peak of the soldering station i use almost daily...
Thought it would be interesting to take it apart and give a good clean!
It is a:
Brand: Weller
Type: 2102199 T40/E
Handpiece: TCP 50W/24V
#soldering #solderingiron #solderingstation

[@KingKong-mp6gj]

My father used it's predecessor (Deep blue case, black handpiece) for at least 30 years daily until he died. I inherited it from him, still works. Personally i use a Weller PU81 with WSP80. Made 2007 i bought it heavilly used but works perfectly, just needed a new tip collar for the handpiece. Weller was the shit back then, Made in Germany. Now not so much anymore.

[@varnasfix]

Indeed they were the shit back then! Served and serving hours of soldering :)
I think now they are overpriced, but on the other hand all the good ones are...

[@shadowdestroyer7774]

We also have a really old weller, though ours has some issues... it can no longer regulate the temperature (termistor died) so it will get bright red if u leave it on. we keep it for emergencies if the modern ones fail : )
(turning it on/off while doing basic emergency work is still possible)

[@varnasfix]

It is remarkable that Weller still sells parts for these irons which is the magnetic switch (one part) and the heating element (2nd part)...

[@jeroenvaneekeres9339]

I also use the exact same station for 30 years. Weller excellence.

[@varnasfix]

It is amazing! Just switch it on and it works every time!

[@krellft]

I got the exact same iron that I "borrowed" from work back in the 80's ... I've recently just refurbished mine but didn't change/replace anything, except the soldering iron cable, to a longer round silicon lead ... I love this iron ... it has just the right wattage to cover a lot of the work I do ... I also have a small tip iron station for micro soldering ... Weller is a good make ...

[@varnasfix]

Yes it just works! And it is very versatile with all the different tips... On the Hakko knockoff i have a small tip for the same reason... But most of the times i prefer the Weller with the small tip.. Speed wise in soldering it just does not compare...

[@Ruzgar_K_]

My soldering iron was broken after 5 min use

[@varnasfix]

That is interesting.. was it the same model?
The only way it could brake so "easily" is if the wrong tip is used, as it won't be able regulate temperature and the heating element would burn...
In Part 2 we will take a look at the handpiece specifics...

[@Ruzgar_K_]

@@varnasfix it was wellhise ky40. I don't connect any tip it was have tip. And have caramic resistor.

[@varnasfix]

That is a bummer!@@Ruzgar_K_

[@cls9474]

@@Ruzgar_K_ wellhise ky40 is a chinese Weller knock off. No wonder it breaks.
I have the exact same Weller station as Varnas and it still works after more than 40 years. It was already used by my father to solder prototypes of some very early pace makers ... And I have a more recent one too from around 2000 which also still works and probably will continue to work till I'm dead :)