Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station – John’s Exclusive Review.

July 11, 2010 | Author: JohnC

Weller WES51

John’s overall rating: 4.5/5

Build Quality: 4/5

Comfort: 4/5

Value for money: 5/5

The Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station is without a doubt the all-round best value soldering station on the market. It is perfect for the home electronics enthusiast but the build-quality is such that you could even use it in an industrial workshop. The precise temperature controls give you the level of control you need to work cleanly and accurately no matter what the job. I have mainly used the Weller WES51 for repairing components and assembling new gadgets in my workshop at home but this unit compares very favorably with far more expensive soldering stations I have used in commercial and industrial assembly environments.

The Weller WES51 is currently on sale through this link to Amazon.

Lets take a look at the features:

Electronic temperature control, according to Weller it is accurate to within 9 degrees and it seemed spot-on to me. A temp. sensor in the tip keeps it right where you need it to be.
Temperature lockout – stops you from accidentally setting it hotter than is advised for the component you are working on.
Stainless heating element – extends the soldering iron’s life by minimizing corrosion.
Comfort – I found the pencil to be really quite comfortable to grip for extended periods.
Safety features – the WES51 has a handy inbuilt system to shut the power off if you leave it sitting idle for more than about 90 min.
Free of static charges – dont accidentally zap those delicate components!

Things I didnt like about the WES51:

Really my only criticism of the Weller WES51 is that it is a little ugly, it has some retro-styling with a really basic on/off switch and big red LED. Other than that I honestly cant fault it and have been using one for several years with no problems. The only thing that has needed replacing is the tip but that is to be expected given how much I have used the thing. You can also easily upgrade to higher-quality tips if you are more serious about your hobby, or a professional.

Things I do like about the WES51:

The first thing I noticed was how solidly-built it is – it just feels like a high-quality tool that isn’t going to fall apart after a few months of use. Also, what I particularly love is how comfortable it is to use – if you have been using one of those $15 cheapie soldering irons you will definitely notice the difference the soft grip and ergonomic design makes! Especially when you are doing lots of fiddly, detailed work you will notice your hand cramping much less than it would doing the same work with a cheaper, lower-quality tool. Another thing I love about this soldering station is that Weller have a huge range of tips to suit all kinds of jobs, there is nothing worse than using an iron with a limited selection of tips that actually fit and all of them the wrong size for what you need!

Heres another review of the Weller WES51 that I found:

D. Mejic: This little Weller has quickly become a best friend on my list of electronic tools. IT heats up very quickly, has an excellent fit and comfortable feel to the iron in my hand, and is just the right size for delicate work. I use this Iron about 30 hours every month and it has proven to be extremely reliable… Click here to read the rest of his review.

I really cant fault this soldering station, as a complete package it represents crazy value for money and it is a real step up in features from the cheaper WLC100.

Latest Review! Weller WLC100 Soldering Station Reviewed By John

August 25, 2010 | Author: JohnC

John’s overall rating: 3.5/5

Build Quality: 4/5

Comfort: 3/5

Value for money: 3.5/5

As a weller soldering iron aimed at the budget conscious home user the Weller WLC100 Soldering Station for Hobbyist and Do-It-Yourselfer is a respectable piece of equipment that will do most jobs you need it for without blowing you away or breaking the bank. This soldering iron’s variable control lets you adjust the power level from 5 to 40 W and is backed by the quality of Weller tools as well as their strong manufacturers warranty. The WLC100 is well made and in my opinion would be a great entry level soldering iron if you are wanting to get away from the cheapy all-in-one units.

The Weller WLC100 is on sale right now – click here to buy it through Amazon.com

Product Features:

The Weller WLC100 is a complete soldering station package with a lightweight soldering pencil, stand and base unit with variable power control.
Light weight pencil that comes inclusive of a copper tip, iron plated.
Easy to use power control – use the knob on the base unit to set the power anywhere from five to forty watts.
Light-up on/off switch ensures you dont accidentally leave the unit on without realizing
This soldering station comes complete with a stand and soldering sponge to make it easy to maintain, clean and keep in good condition.

Pros/Cons:

After using the Weller WES51 for so long the step down in quality and features was apparent after trying out the WLC 100. If this is your first soldering station you will no doubt be very happy with the WLC100 as it is about $50 cheaper however at that price you sacrifice some important things. Firstly, the temperature control is not as precise (the WES51 has a temperature sensor at the tip) and it takes a bit longer to heat up than the WES51. The grip is also slightly less comfortable.

On the plus side the WLC100 is a massive improvement if you have been using a standard $10 soldering iron. The temperature control is very useful and the cushioned grip is nice and soft – if you are tired of your hands cramping while using a cheap plastic iron then you will love the custom soft grip on the WLC100. The WLC100 is also very nicely built, it seems to be solid and feels like a well-crafted tool.

What other people are saying about the Weller WLC100 soldering station:

K. Keller writes: “This is a great product, Weller makes the best soldering stations, I use it all the time and have no complaints about its quality. I always wanted a solder station with a temp control for the iron and although this is hobby grade its works Great for the price. I do recommend buying a assortment of soldering tips for it, the one it comes with is rather large for intricate soldering but good for melting stuff together when needed.” Full review here.

Austin S. says “This Weller station is a step up from a stand alone iron. The price is right and it has lasted several years so far without fail. I use mine for making speaker crossovers and small amplifiers, and it is perfect. The tips last longer than the bargain brands I had used in the past. If you are on a budget, this is the soldering station for you!” You can see Austin’s comments here.

John’s Conclusion:

Weller make great soldering stations, this one will not be replacing the WES51 as my soldering iron of choice but it represents great value for the casual home hobbyist who is looking for more control and more comfort than their cheapy $10 soldering iron. Anyone upgrading from a basic soldering iron will not be disappointed, but if you have the extra money to spare you wont regret spending a bit more on the WES51.

Free shipping on Amazon – Click here to buy it now

Advances in Soldering Technology – Resistance Soldering

August 2, 2010 | Author: JohnC

In the world of mechanics and electronics, many incredible advances that have been made and one of the most most interesting advances in the soldering field is the development of resistance soldering. Electrical resistance soldering irons are made for specific purposes and the heat for them is generated by the passing of a high amperage electrical current through a resistor. Resistance soldering is perfect for those jobs that normally take a long time and that are difficult.

There are lots of benefits to using a resistance soldering iron. It is far faster to do and you will get a much more professional solder. The elements last a lot longer which means that you will save a lot of money on replacement costs. It is a very easy soldering iron to use and will actually require very little training . You will also find that you can use a unit wiring diagram to help you make your circuits correctly.

When you want to get a resistance soldering iron you can also choose from micro ones and portable ones. Some have batteries that power them and some are gas powered. Some run off electricity. The portable ones are easy to use and you will find that they are also a lot safer to use.

It is tiring when you have to work for long hours on a fiddly soldering job. This is why the resistance ones are much lighter than some Weller soldering irons and other ordinary ones. This is great because you will be able to make sure that your soldering jobs are perfectly and professionally done. It is also great for saving electricity and you will find that the resistance soldering irons conserve power so that are great to use for lots of projects and more complicated soldering jobs.

Keeping Your Weller Soldering Station Tip Clean

July 29, 2010 | Author: JohnC

One of the most important things to keep in mind when using a Weller soldering station is to make sure that it does not get dirty, especially on the tip. No matter which soldering station you are using, knowing how to get a clean tip on soldering iron is the same.

Looking at the cleaning options you have you should find and read some solder station reviews because you will find that many stations actually come with a small cleaning sponge at the end of the holder. Usually this is the main thing that is used for the cleaning of the soldering iron tips. Another option that you have for the cleaning is to use a special tip cleaner that comes in a pot. You should be aware that this does cause a bit of smoke.

When you go about choosing the cleaning item you want, you should go to your local hardware store or electronic supply store. Most of these places will stock the correct sponges and tip cleaners that you are looking for. To get a clean tip on soldering iron you will need to use these or you can also get some online along with your soldering iron or with your solder station.

You might notice that some tips are completely oxidized and this is hard to fix. The trick is to keep your tip cleaned at all times while you are using the soldering iron and always make sure that it is clean after you have finished using it. This will ensure that your soldering iron or Weller soldering iron is always in perfect condition. With a high quality soldering station you shouldnt have to worry about the tip becoming brittle and oxidized as long as you keep it clean while working.

Cold Solder Guns

July 24, 2010 | Author: JohnC

If you are sick of burning yourself with a soldering iron you will find that you do not need to with the cold heart solder gun. There are a number of people out there who use soldering in their daily lives, but most of them do not know that your pronounce solder as soder, with a silent L. If you work with solder you will find that, sometimes, you have to do soldering in places that do not have electricity, or is the job you are doing requires you to turn the electricity off, how do you get around that? You go out to get the cold heat solder gun.

There are a number of pros and cons to this type of soldering iron, but most people buy it because you are able to use it without plugging it in. If you have seen the commercial for this tool you will also be attracted to the fact that you can use it instantly and do not need to wait for it to heat up. As soon as you turn it on you are able to melt solder metal and fix the problem that you have.

The best part of this soldering iron is that you will not get burnt when you touch it. The commercial also shows that you can use it to melt solder to fix a problem and than touch a balloon with the tip without having the balloon pop. That is because the cold heat solder gun does not make use of heat to melt the solder.

Okay, so now you are trying to figure out just how it works for detailed write ups you may want to find solder station reviews, but we are going to go into a little detail here. You will find that one of the great features of this tool is that it is absolutely portable, and that you do not have to use electricity, but you will also find that the interchangeable tips will come in really handy too.

These soldering guns work with current, this means that you have to use your cold heat guns with batteries. So, how does the non-heating factor work? It all has to do with resistance soldering. This means that the soldering gun or soldering iron sends a small electric current through the solder, thus making it melt. This also means that you do not have to use any sort of pressure, but it also brings us to our first disadvantage of this tool.

Because it send a current through the split tip of the gun, you are not able to use the gun on a circuit board, because there is a great chance that the current will blow quite a few of your onboard components.

Weller Soldering Irons – Which One?

July 19, 2010 | Author: JohnC

If you’re looking for a soldering iron to complete any projects that you have there are many name brands that you can get including one of the range of Weller soldering irons. With these soldering irons you should be able to make or repair anything including stained glass among other things. With a wide selection of soldering irons like the Weller soldering irons, you can be sure to get the job done perfectly every time.

Another great thing about using Weller brand soldering stations is the wide selection of tips that you can use to make sure that you do the job right the first time. This is easy with a brand like Weller who have been around since the 1940’s and was one of the first companies to develop and produce soldering irons. The main components for any modern day electrical circuit are made by soldering tin which melts very easily. Weller soldering irons started with just the original Weller soldering gun which was perfected by the genius of German engineering using a transformer in the primitive gun of the time.

Once you get your Weller soldering iron you will have the ability to solder anything you like with precision. There are cordless ones that you can get which will be an easier option if you work in smaller places and this will be safer as well. These are battery powered though, and therefore perhaps not as reliable as the gas ones or the electric ones.

There are lots of places where you can get these Weller soldering irons from and you will probably find the most affordable ones online. There are also a lot of other top name brands that you can get. You will find that solder station reviews will be very helpful when you are looking at getting the best soldering iron. It will do you well to find out what other people have to say including those who are professionals in the industry. You will get details about which solder irons are best for each kind of soldering project.

If you work in the engineering field or in electronics, you will do well to get one of the Weller soldering irons. If you are just a student or amateur, then you don’t have to just go for the cheap brands. If you use a good product that has stood the test of time you will be able to be successful in your endeavors. When you make your decision you should check out a few different applications and see what you can do with your new soldering iron. You might find that you want to get more than one or one that is larger than another. Whatever kinds you want, brands like Weller will have it all.

Weller Soldering Iron Advice

July 14, 2010 | Author: JohnC

Soldering irons become very hot so could easily be dangerous, so this is why you should first get advice on soldering if you don’t know how to solder already. You should always make sure that you know exactly what you are doing to ensure your safety and those around you if you have kids or pets. First of all you will need to know about the different types of soldering guns and how powerful they are. You can get 60W, 100W and up to 125 Watt or more. There are also resistance soldering irons that you can use.

Now when you want to start soldering you should know what kind of equipment you have. There are certain makes and types that use copper pipe to get your solder and you can also use a special solder metal alloy. When you start you will have to know how to hold the solder and how to apply the iron to it gently so as to make a smooth solder. This is something that takes some time. Remember that once you have touched the metal and soldering iron to the circuit board or other item that you want to solder, it will start getting hard. You have to work quickly but carefully.

When you are looking for the best possible tips on soldering you can search through a number of different websites. You can also get ideal tips from a professional, experienced person such as you will find on this site. There are some good books that you can find at your local library that will detail how to go about soldering and I will make sure I add a post about the books I recommend when I have time.

Once you have the details that you need and you are sure that you can complete a soldering project you can go ahead and get all your materials and equipment ready. Make sure that you will not be interrupted and make sure that you do not ever leave the soldering iron unattended, especially if you have children or pets that can knock it over and hurt themselves.

One of the important aspects to finding the right equipment to help you is to look at some solder station reviews. These will give you all the right advice about what kinds of soldering guns there are, and you will also be able to learn about types that are used for different kinds of soldering jobs. You should look at a large number of different websites where you can get the best reviews possible and also ensure that you have a few different reviews to compare.

When you want to get the best tips on soldering, you should make sure that you use all these resources and other ones that you can find. You will eventually learn all you need to know about soldering and how to do it professionally and easily. In no time you will be able to repair and make whatever you need.

7 Tips on How to Get The Most Out of Your Weller WES51 or WESD51

June 3, 2010 | Author: JohnC

As with any equipment, a little bit of common sense when using a soldering station like the WES51 will go a very long way towards properly maintaining your tools and ensuring you get many years of use out of them. I have compiled a quick list of suggestions collected from my experiences over the years – learn from my mistakes and don’t risk damaging your own equipment!

1. Never drop the soldering iron while it is hot. It may sound obvious but due to the way soldering irons work dropping them can damage the thermal components.

2. If your soldering iron is going to be left on for some time while you are not actively using it, set the temperature to the lowest possible setting. This is especially easy on units like the Weller WES51 and WLC100, just turn the temperature dial all the way down.

3. Never, ever disconnect your soldering iron from the station while it is switched on, it could short out and ruin your soldering station.

4. In the same vein – never take the soldering tip out of the iron while the power is on. This can completely destroy the thermal equipment or severely shorten its lifespan.

5. Don’t use a sponge that is soaking wet to clean the tip – make sure it is just damp. If you use a sponge that is really wet for your tip you will a) lower its temperature quickly and b) damage it.

6. If you have a soldering iron that is broken or faulty, do not plug it into a working base station.

7. To extend the life of your tip always keep a good layer of solder on the end of the tip – this will stop it from oxidizing and help extend its life.

That’s it, just keep a few points like this in mind while soldering and you will find your equipment keeps on going strong for years.

Here’s a handy video I found about tip maintenance:

Weller WLC100 Soldering Station

June 1, 2010 | Author: JohnC

Finally – the complete review of the Weller WLC100 Soldering Station – Read it Here

Coming soon – our full and in-depth review of the Weller WLC100 Soldering Station for Hobbyist and Do-It-Yourselfer.

For now, if you simply want to purchase a Weller soldering station WLC100 you can get them on sale through this link at Amazon.

Until my proper review is completed here are some real comments from actual users of the Weller WLC100:

Sean A.

“I major in Computer Engineering Technology and I have got to say that this is the best soldering iron that I have ever used. It is well worth its price. These soldering irons are perfect for my electronics work. They are so perfect that every single soldering iron at my college is this same brand and model. Trust me when I say that this is well worth the purchase.”

You can read Sean’s original and complete review by clicking here.

Sharon B.

“The Weller WLC100 Soldering Station For Hobbyist And Do-It-Yourselfer
is just what it advertises itself to be; an extremely functional tool with variable heat settings and ease of operation. I would highly recommend it to the professional as well as the hobbyist. Weller has long been a trusted name in the industry and the WLC100 has confirmed my trust in their products. “

You can read Sharon’s original review by clicking here.

Weller WES51 Soldering Station

June 1, 2010 | Author: JohnC

Coming soon – our comprehensive review of the Weller WES51.

The review is done – Weller WES51 Soldering Station Review – click here.

If you just want to purchase a Weller WES51 Soldering station they are currently on sale through this link at Amazon.

Otherwise read on for other user reviews of this product.

What other users of this soldering station have said about it:

Rob F. said:

“The Weller WES51 is without a doubt the absolute best soldering iron that a working man can justify spending the money on. It’s the ONLY heavy duty iron you’ll ever find that allows exact temp settings for under a hundred bucks. It allows you to set the temp only a few degrees above the melting point of the solder, greatly enhancing the quality of your work. And it’s a heavy duty unit, so unlike the cheap lightweight ripoffs. The rugged and user friendly design reminds me of something made in the 1950s or 1960s. Well done, Weller!”

You can read Rob’s original review by clicking here.

D. Mejic said:

“This little Weller has quickly become a best friend on my list of electronic tools. IT heats up very quickly, has an excellent fit and comfortable feel to the iron in my hand, and is just the right size for delicate work. I use this Iron about 30 hours every month and it has proven to be extremely reliable. An amazing bargain for what I paid.”

You can read this original review by clicking here.

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