Soldering iron repair?

[Swerd]

Last week, I plugged in my soldering iron, and it was dead cold. I have one of these:

Stahl Tools SSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Station | 374-100

I've never tried repairing a soldering iron, and suspect the heating element is dead. It was cheap and may not be repairable. Any ideas to see if it can be fixed?

 

[Adam]

You can get a new one for $15, and you're asking about fixing it? You must be bored.

 

[ImcLoud]

I think you can buy a replacement heating element for $15 lol...

Take it apart, what can it hurt, inspect it and test where the power ends it may end at some silly circuit that radio shack sells for $.20? look for anything brunt or broken, the bad part is you may need an iron to fix it...

Look into replacing it with a Hakko fx888d, I have that one and the fx951 they are great..

 

[Swerd]

I guess I am bored. I was annoyed because I bought this 2 or 3 years ago, haven't used it that much, and it's already dead.

I was looking for something to unscrew or pull apart, but nothing is obvious.

If I buy anything else, it won't be one of these Chinese wonders (as in I wonder why I bought this?).

Last week, my old "deluxe" iron did work. It's been promoted from backup to first-line.

Deluxe 30 Watt Soldering Iron | 370-320

Interestingly, a new spool of tin/lead solder now costs more than that iron.

Any ideas for a replacement? I have initially eyeballed these

Has built-in LED lights in the handle
Weller SP25NKUS Standard Duty LED Soldering Iron Kit, Red/Black - Amazon.com

Or this (I don't know if throwing more cash at this will make it last longer)
Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station - Amazon.com

 

[ImcLoud]

Well you always have the "ghetto" return policy option, buy one from amazon and return your broken one, you can justify the action by telling yourself "I only used it a couple times...

 

[Adam]

Well you always have the "ghetto" return policy option, buy one from amazon and return your broken one, you can justify the action by telling yourself "I only used it a couple times...

Good to see that your soul is going for about $15 these days. If I ever need a body moved, I'll pick up a $20 from the ATM.

 

[ImcLoud]

Good to see that your soul is going for about $15 these days. If I ever need a body moved, I'll pick up a $20 from the ATM.

Ill admit I did this once before, I bought a food processor for my wife as a gift for her birth day then ended up getting a great deal on a hand bag she wanted, so not wanting to double up gifts and figuring the hand bag would be out of style by xmass I saved the food processor for xmass and gave her the bag for her birth day, xmass comes around and she opens the blender {which was stored in my office closet for 9 months untouched} and it doesn't work, DOA...So I call the company I bought it from and they are no help, I call the manufacture and again no help, so I bought another one, put the broken one in the box and returned it. I ended up with 2 of them because they only exchanged the broken one, but I would rather have 2 working food processors for $600 than 1 broken one for $300....

I donate over 10% of my companies net profits to over 8 different charities and I gave the other working blender to my mother, so I think the soul is still good... thats how it works rite? You break a commandment then pay a little here and there and you are good again..

 

[Alex2507]

I like the variable temp job with the stand and sponge tray. Mine is similar but cheaper. The shop selling it advised to only run it for 15 or so minutes at a clip and then let it cool.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I bought this 2 or 3 years ago, haven't used it that much, and it's already dead.

...

I think there is a saying: use it or lose it

 

[Irvrobinson]

I donate over 10% of my companies net profits to over 8 different charities and I gave the other working blender to my mother, so I think the soul is still good... thats how it works rite? You break a commandment then pay a little here and there and you are good again..

Oh really? Would you accept that explanation? Let's say that some customer screws you on a business deal somehow, and when you catch him he tells you that he tithes and he gave part of what he screwed you out of to his mother, so all is good. Would you be so forgiving?

 

[ImcLoud]

Oh really? Would you accept that explanation? Let's say that some customer screws you on a business deal somehow, and when you catch him he tells you that he tithes and he gave part of what he screwed you out of you to his mother, so all is good. Would you be so forgiving?

Depends on how you look at it, someone calls my office or me with a problem and I take care of it, if I don't and they can figure out a way to get it out of me, good for them... I can honestly say I never screwed a customer, about a month ago I had a customer that I installed a Rinnai unit for call me with a problem, they had an electric issue {buried wire browned out his entire house}, the unit is not under warranty for that not to mention his unit is past warranty by about 2 years. I replaced it for cost of materials, so he bought the new unit and I paid labor and had it done within 8 hours of his phone call... Because my customers are important to me....

If you think the large electronics company that sold me a $300 blender that was doa is the one getting screwed then we will just have to agree to disagree on that one Irv... I remember the conversation with the CSR on the phone, I explained it was brand new just opened the box and it was doa, wont light up nothing, he said to check for fuses, there are NO fuses, lol its a blender, I asked if he wanted me to open it up he said no, so I gave him the SN and he looked it up and said it was not under warranty because they go by production date not sales date. I checked online and they are known for problems, but by the end of the conversation the csr and his manager let me know without a doubt I was on my own, so I dealt with it how I thought was fit, I'm not sorry for that. If others on here are saints and would have just thrown it away and ate the $300 then good for you, but not me...

 

[Alex2507]

Oh really? Would you accept that explanation? Let's say that some customer screws you on a business deal somehow, and when you catch him he tells you that he tithes and he gave part of what he screwed you out of to his mother, so all is good. Would you be so forgiving?

Depends on what his mom looks like.

 

[ImcLoud]

Depends on what his mom looks like.

uhhhhh.........ok

 

[Swerd]

I love it. I write a simple B&M (not brick & mortar ) post about a cheap soldering iron that died, and the two Irvs run deep with it.

I already ordered a new one after I realized that new tin/lead solder costs more than my dead iron. This time I splurged and got something I hope will last longer. I was attracted by the iron with the LED lights built into the handle, but that will only be good if they don't fail.

Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station - Amazon.com

 

[lsiberian]

You made the right choice. Spending a day to fix a 15 dollar piece of equipment isn't worth it IMO.

 

[ImcLoud]

Not sure if you are interested in different options, but the Yihua 937d is a steal at almost the same price the weller sells for, Soldering Iron Station with extra heating element &5 tips 937D+ - Amazon.com not sure if amazon sells the 936 too but at $55 the d+ is a good deal.. My son has one, it works well.. I like the hakkos a lot but they are costly... If you didn't order already its IMO a great iron, just the addition of the solder reel is worth the extra couple bucks, never mind being able to dial in your temp and having a hot iron is 8 seconds, plus the cable is more pliable and lighter than the std iron cable, makes moving around and positioning a little easier...

 

[Swerd]

Thanks for tip, but I already ordered that Weller model. Amazon is well staffed for the holidays, so it's too late.

 

[ImcLoud]

The weller is also a nice unit Im sure, and nothing better than simple I suppose... Im sure it will work great...

 

[slipperybidness]

I love it. I write a simple B&M (not brick & mortar ) post about a cheap soldering iron that died, and the two Irvs run deep with it.

I already ordered a new one after I realized that new tin/lead solder costs more than my dead iron. This time I splurged and got something I hope will last longer. I was attracted by the iron with the LED lights built into the handle, but that will only be good if they don't fail.

Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station - Amazon.com

Yup, Weller is the way to go. I'm late to the party, but this is the one I use (it is kind of pricey), but it is rock solid!

Weller WES51 Analog Soldering Station - Amazon.com

 

[lsiberian]

Not sure if you are interested in different options, but the Yihua 937d is a steal at almost the same price the weller sells for, Soldering Iron Station with extra heating element &5 tips 937D+ - Amazon.com not sure if amazon sells the 936 too but at $55 the d+ is a good deal.. My son has one, it works well.. I like the hakkos a lot but they are costly... If you didn't order already its IMO a great iron, just the addition of the solder reel is worth the extra couple bucks, never mind being able to dial in your temp and having a hot iron is 8 seconds, plus the cable is more pliable and lighter than the std iron cable, makes moving around and positioning a little easier...

I wouldn't call that a steal, but I got my dual temp 50 watt Hakko for 20 bucks of CL One of the better steals. They are great irons for sure. They really changed their product lines since mine was made.