[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
So a co-worker and I tried a bake-off with a pair of the Metcal ultrafine and a WES51 with the finest tip I could find. Compared the two irons and rework effort on a few two terminal SMD parts with 65 and 24 year old hands and eyes also in the mix. I worked with a stereo scope, my co-worker with bare eyes. You may draw your own conclusions on with of us is 65. I was able to use the Weller in one hand and the Metcal in the other to remove and replace a couple of 0402 parts. One iron touches each side of the part with a tweezer like action, melt both sides and lift. Clean up the pads, re-flux, grab the part with two irons and place it back on the pads. Not easy, but accomplished in not a lot more time than using two of the ultrafine. Significantly more challenge for me with the Weller... I'm much more steady using the ultrafine. As above, the Metcal is significantly easier for me to use where the main issue is shaking at the tip of the iron. The Metcal lets me have way less distance between my grip and the iron tip. That's the single major difference for me on this one quick test. The Weller did a great job in all other respects and seems a really good buy at the list price. I'd probably buy the Weller 40 years ago, for now, glad to have my existing Metcal and will buy a couple of the ultrafine wands. Greg - great suggestion of the WESD-51. It's a very capable iron with the very fine tips installed. B -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/5d9366de-3020-4ea9-ae22-e405d7ad6842%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
For anyone not noticing the difference, the WESD51 is the digital version of the WES51. Well worth the modest bump up in price... B -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/9ad3152d-0e4d-4afc-a434-86e21c73bfd4%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
Bought my Metcal stations on eBay during the telecom downturn... WAY below $800 per station... Really glad to have them. That said, I previously bought a few of the WES51 for work and they do well out of the box for around 0805 and up... at least for me. Your mileage may vary. Still... Thought about what you said and just ordered a few of the very finest tips I could find for the WES51. 2 each of the following from Techni-Tool for $4.10/ea plus $5.95 shipping... somewhat less expensive than the Metcal gear! > 272TI186 Weller Soldering Tip, 1/64", Single Flat, ET Series > 272TI168 Weller Soldering Tip, 0.015", Long Conical, ET Series Will report back on how they work for me. Optimistic! B -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/bc4cd965-260c-4953-9b9d-5fe31718c138%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
For those of us who dont need to shell-out $800 US for a soldering station, but still want decent SMT capability, try a Weller WESD-51 . I've had mine for over 2 years now and I have no regrets. It has enough power to solder larger objects, such as panel switches. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/24a389c9-9ee2-4e73-9dea-f60cabee6d60%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
I realize I wasn't clear... The standard power tips and wands have been superb in all respects and I've been using them for at least 15 years both at home and at work... very reliable and I have never had a problem of any sort. It's only with the newer ultrafine tips that I had problems... and I absolutely love the ultrafine tips once I have working examples. Rarely use the larger standard tips and wands for anything other than the occasional connector or really high power device. B -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/d575f448-6299-40c2-a36a-3f192877fe7a%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
Hi Nick, Metcal branded and bought from an authorized distributor... Reliability has been fine if not DOA. As I said, bought these some years ago and again considering the ultra-fine for my personal use. Bob -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/3014021c-e64d-421b-8778-a8143711a840%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
That's interesting - the MX-500 is only 40W and the MX-5200 is 80W - if you're using an ultra-fine handle & bits on an MX-500 they should be easily reliable - they're designed for 80W per tip. Are you sure that they're genuine Metcal bits? There's a cheap knockoff, Thermaltronics, which makes some compatible parts but reliability, so I've heard, is poor. Nick -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/64627b39-da7d-4982-9e2d-2f3ed4b30fa2%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
We use a few of the ultra-fine wands and tips on our MX-500 stations at work. Rework down to 0402 with patience and a few tricks. My only concern with these was an abysmal failure rate on the tips... Maybe 3 out of 8 tips were dead on arrival? Green tip detect light comes on on the supply, tip barely gets warm. They do seem solid if they work at the start. This experience was shortly after the ultra-fine were introduced. Considering buying a couple of the ultra-fine wands and a few tips to add to my home bench and hoping they have the tip quality control worked out. Great tips when they work! B -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/3434e94b-acc0-450c-898d-1e44dcf30985%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
We use a few of the ultra-fine wands and tips on our MX-500 stations at work. Rework down to 0402 with patience and a few tricks. My only concern with these was an abysmal failure rate on the tips... Maybe 3 out of 8 tips were dead on arrival? Green tip detect light comes on on the supply, tip barely gets warm. They do seem solid if they work at the start. This experience was shortly after the ultra-fine were introduced. Considering buying a couple of the ultra-fine wands and a few tips to add to my home bench and hoping they have the tip quality control worked out. Great tips when they work! B On Monday, May 22, 2017 at 9:26:03 PM UTC-7, Nick wrote: > > Just received my new Metcal MX-5211 - 80W per output simultaneously with > the standard and the ultra-fine handpieces. > > Been a Metcal MX-500 user for many many years but time for an upgrade > > It's a dream! Thought the old system would be difficult to improve on, but > this is lovely... > > Nick > [image: IMG_20170522_195635-756x1008.jpg] > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/c5b00517-69cb-4c67-9b0b-0b666005219e%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
I've used Metcal MX-500 series since 2000 - love Metcal stuff (use the desoldering, tweezer & rework stuff too) and the nice thing about the MX-500s is that they're all discrete and the schematics are available, so they can be easily repaired. The MX-5200 is micro-processor controlled, so hope I never have to try to fix that. The MX-RM3E hand-pieces from the MX-500 series still work with the new MX-5200 stuff, but obviously only up to 40W rather than the 80W available with the new MX-H2-UF (ultra-fine) and MX-H1-AV (standard) hand-pieces with associated bits. I do stuff down to 0603 by hand - 0402 is getting tricky and is done by IR reflow. No really for nixies - I do mostly ultra-low-power IoT stuff mainly... and the occasional nixie clock... Nick -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/ae9c7b22-f587-479e-a0be-35892f50ffa2%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[neonixie-l] Re: New soldering station... Happy chappie...
It's been 25-30 years since I used a metcal; it has the finest tip I've ever seen and is perfect for SMT work. Even the finest tip for my Weller (it's a decent one, not a cheapo) isn't as sharp as a Metcal. Not sure how small you plan to go, but this one will easily handle 0.5mm pitch ICs and 0603 passives. Building a watch ? This is the tool that will do the job. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/53e163dc-dcfa-4061-a4d4-8c2650bfa802%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
