Tech Tips Tuesday, Super Hot Soldering Gun

[@richard102879]

Dude seriously??? I have absolutely no idea why this video would be in my suggestion box but I’m a heavy line mechanic at a Toyota dealership and I’ve been having some issues repairing damaged wires in certain make and model wiring harnesses mostly because the wire gauge is to big making it take forever to solder a single joint with my propane iron and cumbersome if not impossible with my 120V iron. In addition to that, some of the crazy positions I have to twist my body in just to get to these wires under the dashboard is nothing short of hell on earth and you absolutely just gave me the solution to my problem when I least expected it. THANK YOU!!

[@kellystephenson5278]

I've had one of these for years, and I always hated using it. Found this video and it changed my soldering life! I have a ton of projects I've been avoiding and ones I want to redo now, and I'm excited about it! Thank you!

[@sheilamoore6255]

And don't forget 'SOL'dering! Lol

[@mikedambeck7136]

Been in the game 30+ years. Wish I had learned this 30+ years ago! One of the best tips I have ever seen!!!

[@willyrivero470]

Mr Carlson. You are a natural in electronics. I want to thank you for your excellent videos!! You are very clever.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks Willy!

[@gpgt1]

Thank you so much Mr Carlson. I first watched the video 2 years ago and this has helped me immensely in fixing generators. My solder joints end up so nice that I've gotten more work because of it.

[@Nexfero]

I just happen to have some 14 AWG copper wire and it fits great on my 80watt soldering gun. The best thing about using copper wire as the heating element is that, you can design what ever soldering bit you want. Great job on the video!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Nexfero Thanks!

[@621ELECTRONICS]

This is how I did it as a teen in the early 2000’s once the tip broke on my dads old Weller gun like that, and I wanted to use it / had a few feet of old house wiring. This was the only soldering iron I had access to at the time and used it best I could for tinkering with electronics until I got a cheap pencil style. I had a few feet of old Romex, and it made tips for years. Been subscribed for quite a while, have watched a lot of videos, but this one was just recommended for some reason and figured I'd comment as it brought back some memories.

[@maxenielsen]

Same here ;o)

[@Guitarkid1991]

Sir, there is absolutely no question that you make THE greatest videos on KZbin. They actually make my entire day better and for that I can not thank you enough. Cheers!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks!

[@greglivo]

Wow! I've used a Weller 8200N for almost 40 years and never knew that the first click on the trigger was the higher power. I also never realized that I needed to loosen and tighten the nuts periodically. Thanks!

[@J.C...]

And THAT is why you ALWAYS read the instruction manual.

[@jeffclark2725]

@@J.C... Manual?, I've inherited a couple of these, finding out they are a good unit

[@nicklikesradio]

I knew the first click was highest power because the bulb dimmed more on that setting. Boss didn't believe me... until i put a kill-a-watt on. 😏

[@Satchmoeddie]

My original Weller has a hole in the case, but it still works! Guns are great for chassis grounds, stained glass, cables, hoses, carburetor floats, toilet floats, toy steam engines, big resistor dummy loads, antennas, etc. Silly me, I go buy tips. No more no more! Thank you Mr. C!

[@levitezoe1804]

Sir your office is how I used to imagine my make believe office was when I was a kid gauges computers buttons and such absolutely amazing

[@vintagestereobuff7005]

When I was 12 in 1967, I bought my dad a soldering gun for Christmas. Since I could solder better than he could he just let me have it. It was the same model as the first one you showed. I still use it for heavy work like soldering larger wires together or to a board. I've never even changed the bulb.

[@nicklikesradio]

Original bulb 😂

[@nopenadanowaynohow]

started working in a tv repair shop back 1980 at 16 yrs old. learned and have been using this same tricks ever since !

[@Derrick6162]

Those tips were the Bain of my technical existence for 37 years. No more thanks to you. 2 thumbs up! 👍👍

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Glad to help Derek!

[@rolandwong6372]

On the original tips it was recommended and I did it was to silver solder coated the tip end to reduce corrosion of the tip and was tinned with solder using borax as a flux. Made the tips last a long time. Since the current in the tip was current limited by the transformer, you can hold the trigger continuously.

[@FireguyNtx]

Thanks for the great tip. I bought an exact gun on nextdoor for $5.00, and the tip was broken, so I just made a small loop as you did. Now it's my go-to for chassis and #0 gauge wire and big lugs. Or course the bulb was burned out, so I replaced it with an LED type. It's indispensable to me now. Thanks again.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Glad you found it useful!

[@nando_br]

Mr Carlson´s Lab is the number #1! Thanks for sharing your huge and solid knowledge with us! Greetings from Brazil!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks! Glad your enjoying the channel.

[@whynotme5926]

Thank you-I have an old weller/130/100 I've had for probably 30 years. I was just getting into soldering and never could use it!!!. It has been in my closet all this time until I saw this video. Like to have never found it. Because of you, I have brought it out again. Thanks.

[@xenia5101]

Bought my first one in 1955 and its still in use. Remember that electronics is not the only application for a soldering iron. Give it another 20 years and everyone will want one.

[@leosservice8706]

ELECTRONIC GURU: A PERSON WHO BUYS FLUX BY THE QUART.

[@Captain_Char]

My grandfather's weller which is now mine, takes no time to get to working temperatures, I remember when he didn't have a proper replacement tip, he used a metal coat hanger and trimmed it down to about 3" and it worked...

[@juanabreu5127]

Good tip. I´ve got a couple of that type of gun (75W) and when I needed to test CT ratio, I managed to inject more than 100 amps by replacing the tip with a short loop of 10AWG cable through the CT primary. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Juan Abreu Thanks for your comment Juan!

[@dantodd2205]

Make your own Soldering tip, who'd thunked & go figure! Thank you. I wish I could go back 47 some odd years and start over. I'm still excited about electronics. I started in 1968 and graduated US Navy, Treasure Island, as an ET and worked for Sylvania as a TV tech and Micro-wave GTE and so-forth.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Dan Todd Glad to read that you still have a spark for electronics..... (see what I did there :^) Welcome to the channel, your input is always welcome.

[@olradguy]

Been making my Weller tips using a 6 inch piece of 10ga bent to the same shape as the original Weller tips for 40 years.

[@Frankowillo]

Damn! You beat him to it. He must feel devastated.

[@codydowling1120]

I used to run through soldering irons like CRAZY in my younger days working as a mobile electronics installer at a car stereo shop. It didn't matter how much I spent, I could buy *anything* from any vendor and it would be clapped out within a month. The absolute *VERY* best non-HF soldering irons like these here, in my humble opinion, is the $19.99 jobber from Radio Shack. It had the janky cheap soft-metal screws which cinched down on the soldering tip, and they always stripped out (the head, not the thread), but a few twists with pliers on the outside shoulder of the screw head and they would work like a top. The weller, craftsman, and even the more expensive Radio Shack guns would always die within months, but I could get 2-3 years out of those $19.99 cheap radio shack guns, with continual use, in a car stereo shop, 5-6 days a week, with no problem. Enjoyed the video, as always, Mr. Carlson. Thanks for the tip... on tips!

[@Fishermanfred1]

Mr. C ,you are the greatest . I wish I could do 10% of what you know and can do !

[@garbo8962]

Back in the 1960's while in electric shop we used a longer wire in the think it was we!let's 100/140 watt soldering gun. Uses a #222 pre focused light bulb if my memory serves me right. My dad purchased one of these for me in 1967 and still have it. Became an electrician and seldom used it last 40 years. Keep a wet sponge to keep tip clean. Now stays would just drop a hole in chassis and use a crimp on lug for wire then instal a nut & bolt. Nice vidio. Did put together a 25" Heath kit TV, Tube & transistor tester & a scope back in the 1970's while taking a master correspondence class in electronics that the VA paid 90% of it.

[@fxstd000]

Outstanding Tip!! I have a new Weller 9400PKS and the tips it comes with were not getting hot enough even though this soldering gun is rated 100/140w. I simply used a 3 inch long piece of copper ground wire from of an old piece of Romex and perfect! Gets super hot really fast and I was able to heat up my application exactly the way I needed. Thank you for sharing this info!

[@davidsuzukiispolpot]

I just tried to this tip tip. This works amazingly well. I could not believe the instant powerful heat.

[@bradsmith1934]

Good stuff eh! My Electronics mentor used the higher watt gun you have, but always used o.e. tips. (He was an ex RCAF radar tech). I myself only have the low watt (Weller Gun, with standard tip) & a 100w heavy pencil for steel chassis, & a 25w pencil for boards. My 1st tech job yrs ago had a 65w Weller thermostatic controlled iron, & loved it.

[@badbanano]

You can also twist and flatten the #14 a bit to make a bulkhead tip. A butane torch can also be used to preheat the cabinet.

[@poikaa3]

My dad showed me this 40+ years ago! he was an electronics repairman who got his start in WWII as a radar technician / operator and went on to repair radios and early televisions. His first amateur radio transmitter was made from an old Setchell-Carlson television. I've saved much of his old tools including his old 550!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

That's great, your father sounds like an interesting man.

[@jarekjagielski366]

This is a great tip for anyone using a soldering gun like this. I have an identical Weller gun, and it's great for doing quick ad-hoc repairs especially of stuff like cables, wiring etc. I'll often help a friend in his motorcycle workshop, and he just happens to hate doing electrical work - the Weller is perfect for that. I also figured years ago (based on similar transformer-based guns produced in Poland) that replacing the original tip with something slightly thinner and shorter might make heat up much quicker. With a tip made from some scrap wiring, it heats up in 2-3 seconds, and produces enough heat to solder even quite thick wiring (I think we once used it for 4mm thick multistrand, and it worked fine). So yeah, it might be a 60's design made of bakelite, but it can still be plenty useful.

[@chrismetcalf9937]

I especially enjoy the use of the "L" in the word solder. He doesn't miss a single opportunity.

[@FireguyNtx]

That explains the label "BLACK" on the bottle, old ink bottle, thought at first it was some kinda new fangled flux...lol. Brings back memories with the old Weller gun, I think everybody from the 60's had one of those. Came with different tips, a big flat one for like seams on plastic, and a knife edge one for cutting, things like that, all in a steel container. Very cool you can roll your own tips, did not know, thanks. Neat trick swapping the two speed wattage switch wires, I hated the order as well. Yes, do a video of replacing the antiquated incandescent bulbs to the LED kind, I want to do that as well. Seems like a habit that every time I pick up my gun, the first ting I do out of habit is make sure the bulb is twisted all the way in before I do anything else...haha. Thanks for another great video.

[@tima3556]

Yes, I too was hoping to find a video on replacing the incandescent bulbs with LEDs. I located your extensive "AKAI AM-2950 Amplifier LED Modification" video, but would welcome a simpler mod for the Weller. And thanks for these wonderful videos.

[@soctnights]

I still have the Weller like yours I received as a Christmas gift in 1968. I built my first shortwave with it. It still works like new.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+soctnights Sure are dependable!

[@Travis141123]

i have had the same Weller soldering gun for 42 years. Still works great.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+scott king They are great!

[@ITSNOTMEITISYOU]

Seems I’m a late commenter but your “tip” is new to me as was searching for new tips for my 8200 and Sears 5366 that have been using for plastic repair lately so a lot of abuse on the business end. Looks like I found the solution and try some different ideas with making a pan of sorts to puddle better. So from a non electronic use side of the industry thanks and have a great New Years

[@joshuacox1046]

I was kind of exited when I noticed we have the same D-550 Weller. I found it interesting that mine says 240/325 watt. not a big deal but surprising non the less. I love your work, good job.

[@doyle4170]

Great tip on making your own tips! I'm becoming addicted to Mr. Carlson's videos.

[@rontopsvoort7277]

Nice to see the old Weller gun again. I used to make my tips for it exactly the same way! (since the 1970s :-)

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Ron Topsvoort Thanks for your comment Ron!

[@paulkielt9301]

I've done the same with my old Russian soldering gun. It works really great with that kind of copper wire.

[@RickRose]

I just bought a Hakko and wondered if I would ever use my Weller gun again. Now you show me a way to use it. Perfect. Thank you!

[@Nas_Atlas]

Very useful. Thanks. I built one and it stopped working. It turns out the screw terminals got loose from me mashing the tips so this walkthrough helped me figure it out. The old tools often work better but you have to know how to use them!

[@RicochetRichard]

Wow that's great. I have a very old soldering gun like the large one you have and I'm going to fix it up right away. Thanks

[@jagardina]

I learned to solder using the same 100/140 gun. I've made soldering tips in a pinch using 14 or 12 gauge wire except I tried to shape them into the same shape as the factory tips which worked well enough. Never tried the short loop like this and can see it could be quite useful. Thanks for the video.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+jagardina Thanks for your comment!

[@annaplojharova1400]

What I'm using is a compact tip soldering pen (e.g. Hakko T12 series,...; practically all major soldering tool makers have this style, the hakko are available for really low cost; the replacement tip itself contains not only the soldering tip itself, but also the heater and temperature sensor, the handle is just really just the handle, connector for the tip and maybe a motion sensor for the idle function). These not only warm up quickly, but mainly have the temperature sensing junction directly in the bulk of their tip (it is all permanently assembled together). That means when you use it on something really sucking in a lot of heat like tye chassis, the thermostat immediately sees the cooling and blast the heater full power. As result, it becomes able to heat up even a thick chassis within a second, without needing to crank the temperature up at all (I use 275..300 degC all the time, only when stripping magnet wires, I crank it up to about 320degC because there it is just the temperature needed to decompose the insulation layer). So it warms up everything well, at the same time it does not overheat, so you don't have to bother with maintaining the temperature. I just swap the tips during use, as it takes just barely 10..15 second to warm up a completely cold one. For normal soldering (like point-to-point wiring,...) I use D3 (3mm "flat head screwdriver" style), for heavy chassis work a D5 (5mm), for fine job D1.2 (1.2mm). Plus they warm up very fast, so you may set the idle temperature of about 200degC after just 15 second (setting my thermostat allows me to do) on the stand, but when you pick it up, before you touch it on anything it is back on temperature, so it degrades the tin on it way slower. These are a bit more expensive, but you won't ever face problems like bad thermal contact, high thermal resistance, need to crank the temperature setting to insane values to be able to solder anything heavier and then face the short life of the components because exposed to such temperatures. My guess their seemingly higher cost will offset by just their longer life, not speaking about the amount of frustrations you save yourself from...

[@electricalscarecrow]

my man how have i never seen this before. Thank you. Made my night.

[@kg2nc]

I thought I was the only one that did those tip's. I use to use mine for putting PL-259 on the coax. I made my tip's in the shape of the original tip. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Ruben Thanks Ruben!

[@adolforosado]

I made one of these a couple of years back after watching this video and I still use it to this day to solder tin tabs on 18650's for small power packs. Thanks!

[@SargentRay]

My dad had the same exact soldering gun. Man that just brought memories :-)

[@sp1d3r_gamer]

I have the exact model that is like an heirloom. 3 generations of my family have used that beast

[@gerryk3114]

I’ve Got the Same Weller Soldering Gun ! Way back in 1966 I built a Heathkit guitar combo amp head with that gun !! I now have a Hexacon Station !

[@n1k1george]

I still have one of those weller guns that I bought as teenager in 1974! Thanks for the tips (pun intended!) on getting more life out of this old tool!

[@jp-um2fr]

I was given a gun like yours. It had had a tin of paint over it which took hours to remove. If you think yours looks tired mine looks like it's been used for knocking fence posts in. I have stripped it and internally it looks fine. Mine is a bright red and about to be given the Carlson treatment for battery soldering. I have an LED lamp that says the 3 x AA batteries cannot be replaced and then tells you how to remove them for recycling - just 2 screws and 2 wires. Thanks again Paul.

[@MRDEEPAKVASWANI]

You are so detailed,informative,educational,and I love all your videos and watch them every night before I sleep to inspire me in the morning.Thank you so much for being our teacher that really knows his stuff,and every ready for sharing.Keep it up Sir and we all will keep watching and learning and loving you.

[@johnwest7993]

I built my first Benton Harbor Lunchbox with one of those 200 W Weller guns back in 1963. I was 13, and it was all I had. Fortunately, back then everything used tubes and long-leaded components, not SMT's.

[@hadireg]

just loved those soldering guns! i'll manage to get one soon! Thanks Paul for the Demo!

[@qzepher]

Very interesting video about this Gates transmitter. I actually found one of these transmitters at an abandoned transmitter site some 20 years ago. Unfortunately most of the iron was gone, the tubes were gone and it had some issues with rodents too. Really a shame that happened to this great broadcast transmitter. I would really like to see a video on how you modify the frequency on these transmitters for amateur use. Great video as usual Paul.

[@carlzimmerman8700]

Eevblog eat your heart out this channel is awesome! Just did this to my 180watt Chicago Electric (harbor freight) gun using 10 gauge wire and it is a beast. Might blow up, but whatever it was 15$

[@Cesarsound1]

I have one soldering gun exactly like yours (120watts). Used it on repair of TV sets on 80s years. It still works, thanks for the video.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+J Cesarsound Glad your enjoying the video's!

[@jp-um2fr]

Update. My soldering gun is not a Weller and I think it's lower wattage. I had some strange looking tips which I thought I might modify. I cut one end off and used just one leg bent in the same fashion as yours. The wire is slightly thinner and this has resulted in a much faster warm up time. They are plated but it must be the new style tip plating as it takes solder very well. Thanks again for this tip. I don't like the idea of cooking batteries and quicker is better.

[@gregorywest2029]

enjoyed the tip on the soldering guns. also it is possible to solder to ALU. I have read a process, but one has to use oil to shield the ALU while heating. food for thought. Keep em comming , Greg

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Gregory West Thanks Greg!

[@CheezyDee]

Just tried this with my old Weller 8200N 100/140, but all I had on hand was 12 AWG. It took a little while, like 45 seconds for it to flow, but I was able to make a nice connection to an old 2 gang electrical box, at least 1.5 mm steel. Nice tip!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Cheezy Dee Glad you enjoyed!

[@noelguerrero2770]

I got one of those for Christmas in the 60's and still with me. Before that I used a soldering iron which I was taught to hold like a dagger.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Greenfield 54 LOL, Like Clives Tig welding video :^)

[@WillArtie]

c u next Tuesday! watch out with the acronyms there Mr.C ! love your stuff. don't ever stop making clips- you are establishing a video database of a dying art and wealth of specific knowledge. I have learnt so much. :)

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Andre Gulbis Glad your enjoying Andre!

[@eugenetheodore2956]

Great video...just what I needed to do the job! Thanks again , you are the best.

[@SuddenImpact53]

I remember these, my replacement tip was a coat hanger, worked great.

[@theonewease]

Quite the awesome tips on that Jurassic gun! I still have one around here somewhere... I learned how to make cables with one of those 44 years ago! And Yes! the original tips are crappy. Thanks Mr Carlson!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+G Morgan Glad you enjoyed!

[@terryhill6935]

I’ve listened to your patreon channel promo, but as a novice, that is looking for a hobby, I need to know that if I put the time and money into your channel that I’ll be able to do basic electronics repair,, meaning ..I’m 55, I’m well skilled any many areas outside this field but due to some unforeseen accident. I’m trying to refocus into something I absolutely love to use, and that’s audio equipment..but I’m lost as a ball in high weeds here, and have watched countless videos but keep coming back her. I have an equalizer similar to the one you just fixed, although it was the Sound Shaper One-Ten IC NO METER, and I can’t find schematics anywhere.and I have taken the capacitor out..well...I celebrated..not looking for ya to say oh yes you’ll be the best in the business, but just direction and help..Thank you, Sir

[@ve1idx]

My old Weller D550 gun has 240/325 watt settings. They are much harder to find than the ones you show in the video but they work GREAT.

[@WalterGreenIII]

They have D550's and D650's on Amazon and on the Weller website. They also have Kits for both that include cases and a few accessories.

[@grandpadean542]

I HAVE ONE LIKE THAT WORKS GREAT!!! MINE IS A CIRCA 1960'S. STILL KICKS ASS AND TAKES NAMES!!!

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

Kicks ass and chews bubblegum!

[@burningXtheXchip]

wow it's the soldering iron I learned on. It was my moms grandfathers lol. I could never remember the brand but I loved that light bulb.

[@JamesHalfHorse]

The engineer who helped me replace the final in a Harris FM30HD this weekend had his gun rigged the same way. I am totally going to find mine and do the same. I never thought about it and surprise this showed up in my video list today.

[@caddyguy5369]

I will be trying to fix my first alternator soon. I think this may come in very handy.

[@izzynutz2000]

This is a good tip Mr. Carlson I just got done rebuilding a Lionel transformer for my son and somebody had rewired it kind of goofy and globbed up all the solder. And the Weller 140 100 gun that I have the tip is wearing out and it's not getting as hot as it should so I'm going to try this out...👍

[@denniss9620]

I bought my first 140 watt Weller when I was 13 years old (50 years ago).It is used regularly in the field and I have kept it in nearly brand new looking condition. I dont think waiting 5 to 6 seconds is asking to much for the normal tip to get hot. My 200/260 Keller iron I just put a dab of hot glue on the side of each bulb that resolved the loose bulb issue.Hot glue is readily removed using regular rubbing alcohol.

[@davidallen2573]

Thanks, very informative and just what I needed to know for my scanner antenna project. I needed to weld some #10 solid copper wire together for an attic multi-band scanner antenna. The hottest iron I have is a Weller 8200N gun I've had since tech class about a hundred years ago. I was considering using a butane hand torch but this will solve my problem nicely. I normally use a Weller W60P iron for most of my work but your video will give more purpose to my old Weller gun. EXCELLENT VIDEO!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks Dave!

[@JerryEricsson]

Many years ago, my good wife of 50 years gave me a Weller Soldering gun for my birthday. It took me may tries to even get it to heat up because of those stupid screw holders for the tip. I finally realized I had to clean the contact area of the tip before tightening those screws, I had turned them so tight that I actually bent the ends of the tip. I rarely if ever use the thing, but hesitate to sell it, as it was a gift, and I don't wish to hurt the good wife's feelings, her heart was in the right place.

[@JROrg2009]

Ahh, Paul has spent years using roll-your-own copper tips, as a lot of fellow users have with our Weller and other brand solder guns. I utilize 10 ga here as a usual, 12 ga only if I run out of the 10. I usually solder with my temp controlled solder station, but a Weller soldering gun is a staple of need here as well, especially for any older or newer chassis work. Thank you, sir, also for ID'ing the "RA" liquid flux you use and discuss. After using paste flux when needed for so many years, I tire of it, and will locate some of the 835 1L pronto.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Glad you enjoyed Joseph!

[@JROrg2009]

Paul, can you verify You Tube message and maybe also in your Channel page that this is the 835 flux that you use and refer to ? : www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR6.TRC2.A0.H0.Xliquid+flux.TRS0&_nkw=liquid+flux&_sacat=0 The prices vary a bit, but although it's not very "low" in cost, being used sparingly seems to make it a fairly good value ??

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Hi Joseph. The "835" is the part number and the "1L" is the size. What's at the top of the page *looks to be* the product. My bottle is different as it's the 1L size. The price for good RA is always a little high.

[@toddtonis]

I found two of these old Weller soldering guns in antique stores. I paid $10 each and both work very well.

[@peteschreiber9517]

Great tip. I was about to buy another solder gun, so now I know what options I have with it. Thank !

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Pete Schreiber Your welcome Peter!

[@0x00zero]

I have made many different style tips like this....coils, folds, hammered-flat blades, bends, even wrapped the wire around a larger solid to make a 'standard type point.'

[@seanhazelwood3311]

I tried this today, I have a newer model of the same 100/140w weller gun. It's now hot enough to solder coax connectors and 1ga copper lugs (battery cables). With a slight amount of effort, 12ga wire will fit in the connector nuts, which is what I went with. Nice trick.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Sean Hazelwood Glad this helped! I use this all the time to solder PL-259 barrels. Works slick!

[@seanhazelwood3311]

I used to use a weller 125 iron (looks like a 1/2" cold chisel), the gun trick works better

[@TekkGnostic]

I was thinking of doing this with a regular iron just because I don't have any fine enough tips for smaller-pitched or SMD components, glad to know it works. Although makes me wish the coil in the ancient Weller I had around didn't burn and weld itself together. Beyond easy repair at this point I think.

[@TekkGnostic]

One great tip is air in a can. For a quick and messy desolder, heat up the through-hole, quick blast with the straw tip near the hole and you get a perfectly cleaned lead/pin hole while instantly taking the heat off the component. For extra cooling turn the can upside down and spray on some of the butane (pending extreme heat/open flame/sparks.)

[@Larsi1997]

could be pretty dangerous of the heat or a malfuncioning soldering iron ignites the butane

[@TekkGnostic]

Erdnusschokolade Hadn't thought of that but valid concern, altho I'm not too worried. Not using excessive amounts or around open flames/live boards.

[@paddywansan]

I've watched many of your videos in the last year, but this was the first one!

[@hassanburrows8535]

No messing Paul, your videos are ace! I just hope that it is possible to still get this type of soldering iron. Many thanks for your time making these videos. Saludos

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Hassan Burrows The gun type irons are still pretty popular, just make sure you get the one with the bolt style tip retainers like shown in the video. They last the longest! Thanks for the kind words!

[@davemckim6236]

Great Tips on tips!!! I have a couple of those guns that I am gonna mod now.

[@jlucasound]

This is the most useful tip anyone has given me. (Pun intended). I had one of these Wellers decades ago. It didn't work. I should have hung onto it. It was probably fixable. Darn! Hindsight is 20/20.

[@goodun2974]

Jlucasound, I loaned one of my Weller soldering guns to my brother, and his kid got hold of it and was playing around with it, trying to solder to a nail for some reason (just to see what would happen, as kids will do). The soldering gun stopped heating up, and so my brother assumed his son had broken it, and threw it out. He did not know that the tips oxidize where they make the connection to the gun and usually all you have to do is loosen and then re- tighten the nuts that hold the tip in place, in order to punch through the oxidation and make a good electrical contact to the tip, and then the gun will work properly again.

[@k5edd128]

Smiling! Tricks I have done for years. Nothing more frustrating than to have a tip go bad and no replacement. The wire doesn't last as long but in a pinch it a good solution. Got the new Weller 260/200 and not only is it made cheaper but that reverse on the switch makes no sense to me, when I have used the 100/140 of mine for 50 years the other way.

[@HenauderTitzauf]

That is one heck of a radio you have in that shop! Thanks for the tips/video, so I subbed!

[@chrismosley409]

hey, all. I just tried this with my 100 watt weller junior and a piece of number ten wire and it worked surprisingly well. the wired heated almost instantly. the chassis took a tiny bit longer to get hot enough to melt the solder but still a lot better than what I had. think I'll get a bigger wattage gun from eBay .they seem to be plentiful there. thanks for the tip, Paul .

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Chris Mosley Your welcome Chris!

[@gregsz1ful]

I always used a longer copper wire with sharp bend in middle to reduce resistance and make hot spot like Weller should.

[@TheRadioShop]

Paul, good to know I am not the only one that does it this way. I busted my case on my D550 10 years ago. Since I have lost many pieces of it lol. Got to find me another one soon. Great tip :)

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+The Radio Shop Thanks!

[@daleburrell6273]

Replacement cases for the Weller D550 cases are available on Ebay.

[@stormlight4184]

Great Tips! Thanks for sharing your knowledge as always

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Billy “stormlight” Steen Glad your enjoying the video's Billy!

[@atbglenn]

Excellent video. I tried your tip on my (pre-set screw) 100-140 watt soldering iron and I have to say it works fantastic! BTW, I reversed the switch leads on mine as well since I never use the 100 watt setting.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Glenn Martin Glad to read Glenn! Thanks for your comment!

[@KozmykJ]

Ages ago I bought a pot of flux for soldering to aluminium chassis' and brackets. LA-CO brand. Now, they make fluxes for all sorts of metals but I found that their Aluminium Flux lets me solder to Steel and Iron too. It's pretty nasty stuff, you have to be careful using it. Keep it from skin or eye contact, corrosive, toxic etc. But it works a treat. I commonly used a brute of a 100W element iron for heavy work but I managed to melt some cheap connectors with it. Probably plated pot metal. So, I bought a gun type just to apply a little Less heat ... I have nice regulated bench irons but my long time favourite for lighter work is still my trusty 25W Antex. Never let me down that model. Eminently portable too.

[@bonzeno85]

You're so cool!! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge.

[@eugenetheodore2956]

It worked like a charm...thank you again!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

You're welcome!

[@materialsguy2002]

Paul, I am liking the concept of this series. I will be following it with great interest. Regarding the Weller gun, I have done as you demonstrated for many years. I am not sure when I last purchased an actual stock tip for my Weller gun :-) It is also possible to fabricate tips for specific purposes: hard to reach areas, higher heat requirements, etc. Thanks for the video!!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Shaun Merrigan Thanks Shaun!

[@josephcote6120]

The way I learned to do this is to make a sharp U-turn bend in the wire as tight as possible without shorting the legs. After that same as shown here. Bending the wire like that changes the structure of the copper crystals and introduces a small region of higher resistivity, therefore more heat. You can also turn your soldering gun into a styrofoam or foam rubber cutter. Bend the wire into the cutting shape you want and mount on the soldering gun. You don't want to burn it, just melt it.