soldering iron story

[Steve Jackson-5]

Plane is to pilot as soldering iron is to electronics
hobbyist.  You can get a nice controlled-temperature
soldering station at Sears, these days.  Weller
WLC-100 I think.  Handy.

I've had my Weller WTCPL since 1979 and would buy a
new one, if I had to.  But I don't have to, ha!  This
one still works perfectly!  I have co-workers who
aren't as old as my soldering iron.  And to have the
thermal mass on demand that only a Curie-effect
thermostat can provide, is worth it to me.  If I
bought something else, I'd be wary that tips and other
parts might eventually become inaccessible.  The value
is remembered long after the price is forgotten.


               
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[G3VVT]

The Weller TCP soldering iron must be the best thing since sliced  bread. Got
mine in 1971 or 1972. Has a black hard bakelite cased PU1D 24V  PSU with a
Bulgin miniature 3 pin power connector on the side for  the TCP-1 soldering iron
which also uses bakelite for the handle. This version  may be UK specific,
not sure.
 
Still works fine after all these years, though could do with the 3 core  
silicon rubber soldering iron cord being replaced. Not seen these listed by  UK
Weller spares sources of late. Have also inherited a later TCP soldering iron  
with the thermoplastic cased PS2D PSU from my late father in law, G3UUA. The
new  thermoplastic though it may look smart does not hold up to abuse like the
old  hard bakelite did unless dropped. Not sure if the term bakelite is used in
the  USA, but a similar material was used for panel meters, tube bases and  a
multitude of other uses throughout the world.
 
Picked up the matching desoldering attachment that replaces the TCP element  
tube at a junk sale. The rubber bulb has now finally perished with age.
 
Anybody know of a source of replacements for these rubber bulbs?
 
Checks with dealers at later junk sales have drawn a blank apart  from
thoughts they may have been used by the military in the UK.
 
Bob, G3VVT
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[Nigel-14]

Snip
>Picked up the matching desoldering attachment that replaces the TCP element

>tube at a junk sale. The rubber bulb has now finally perished with age.
 
>Anybody know of a source of replacements for these rubber bulbs?

www.farnellinone.co.nz

Have them listed as parts No 419-096 at NZ$19.72

Regards

73s,  Nigel ZL2DF

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