My 35+ year old Weller 140-100 watt soldering gun just gave out today. It owes me nothing and has been a good reliable tool for all this time even though the bulb burned out in the first year. It seems as if the coating on the windings has deteriorated and shorted. I have already ordered a replacement and very surprised in how cheap they are. I hope the replacement is as reliable as my old friend was. Even though the light didn't work and the housing has been glued two or three times and the cord taped up where it was either burnt or cut, I feel as if I lost a good friend. All those years at work fixing heavy equipment was none too kind on any tool. I guess relegating it to the hobby box when crimp connectors and smaller wires became more prevalent prolonged its life and you will get no complaints from me on its performance.
Good bye old friend. You will be missed.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Pete!
My Weller is at least that old and is still going strong, although I don't think mine has had as much use as you describe with yours. They were (are still hopefully) well built tools. My only complaint is that recently the replacement tips don't seem to last very long.
Your suggestion that you are losing an old friend is appropriate. There is nothing better than a reliable tool, and nothing worse than one that is not, just like human friends!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I too have the same Weller guns that I picked up at flea markets, one I use almost daily the other is my back up and a 3rd I found for parts. Can't beat them, you would be surprised at how many there are at the flea markets, must just be too heavy for folks to use. My daily gun I added a longer cord to so I dont have to use an extension cord, just when you need it it never fails you run out of cord. I too run out of the tips but Radio Shack has them 2 for 1.99 I think and Harbor Freight also carries them. Jim.
They don't make them like the used to, or even where. They used to be made in my home town (which is where Carl Weller was from - he and his wife contributed to the construction of several medical facilities in the area which bear his name. And he invented the soldering gun.). The final plant priot to Cooper Industries completing removing all presence in the area was only a few blocks from my house. Cooper diluted the name by applying it to all manner of equipment across a wide quality range, now nowadays, just because something says "Weller" on it doesn't mean it's the best. The gun I cuttently use on my layout is a 150 watt "Weller" branded one - but the early-60's vintage one I have, at 100 watts, itr at least twice as heavy. Ganted, the old one is Bakelite not just basic plastic, but the transformer core inside is where most of the weight difference is. I'd still use the old one, but there is a chunk of the casing missing, esposing some fo the primary winding inside and I don't liek to live that dangerously. I guarantee though that only one drop will kill the new one, that old one was dropped many times before it finally cracked, and it DOES still work, but an errant finger, or even worse - the end of a piece of bus wire, could touch inside and either light up the gun or worse, my entire layout. So, it stays stored away.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have one about the same age. Many years ago switched to the plated tips.
Found a set of two tips some years ago that I used for cutting & forming plastic as long as I kept the temperature under control. Made some nice loco tender draw bars using the slippery plastic, the plastic that MEK does not soften.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I have only ever seen the basic copper tips. Who makes the plated ones?
Thanks
EDIT:
I have answered my own question - of course Weller makes the more durable tips. They are part # 8125W.
My problem now is that they don't seem to be stocked in any local retail stores, so it looks like another internet order.
As an old electronics engineer, I actually collect old Weller guns as well as use them. I have some of the earliest guns with two bulbs in original boxes. I really love the instant massive heat on the giant high watt guns.
I both collect and get all manner of spare, new weller tips and even repalcement cores from "hamfests". These are large local area flea markets held once a year, often at fairgrounds, for radio amateurs and electronics buffs. (Much like a big yearly train show) Some weller guns cost only a buck or two as such high watt solder pistols are just of little value in the modern surface mount electronics world and are pretty much never used in electronics anymore. They are often a drug on the market at such flea markets, but a trend is taking over where the prices are slowly climbing via nostalgia. This is especially true of the old monster straight irons which are often in bad shape, but priced outrageously high.
Same is true for nostalgic items in MR, too.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed